[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 193 (Tuesday, October 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53649-53650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-26760]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. EA-98-F]


Application To Amend Electricity Export Authorization; Western 
Systems Power Pool

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: The Western Systems Power Pool (``WSPP'') has filed an 
application on behalf of its members to amend its electricity export 
authorization issued September 5, 1996, in Order EA-98-C. The 
application requests that five new members of WSPP be authorized to 
export electricity to Canada. The application also reflects name 
changes for six WSPP members already authorized to export electricity.

DATES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene must be submitted on 
or before November 5, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office of Coal & Power Im/Ex (FE-27), Office of 
Coal & Power, Office of Fossil Energy, Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585 (FAX 202-287-5736).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Russell (Program Office) 202-
586-9624 or Michael Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-6667.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Exports of electricity from the United 
States to a foreign country are regulated and require authorization 
under section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. Sec. 
824a(e)).
    On September 5, 1996, in Docket EA-98-C, the Office of Fossil 
Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) authorized 42 members of 
the WSPP to export electric energy to Canada. On March 24, 1997, and 
again on May 5, 1997, FE amended the authorization issued to WSPP to 
add additional members. The facilities utilized for these exports are 
the international transmission facilities owned and operated by the 
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), also a WSPP member. The 
facilities consist of two 500-kV transmission lines at Blaine, 
Washington, and one 230-kV transmission line at Nelway, British 
Columbia, that interconnect with facilities of BC Hydro, and one 230-kV 
line, also at Nelway, connecting to West Kootenay Power, Limited. The 
construction and operation of these international transmission 
facilities was previously authorized by Presidential Permits PP-10, PP-
46, and PP-36, respectively.
    On September 11, 1998, WSPP submitted an application to amend the 
export authorization by adding five new member companies to the list of 
authorized electricity exporters. The new members are: Avista Energy, 
Inc. (Avista), El Paso Electric Company (El Paso), MIECO, Inc. (MIECO), 
Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative (PNGC), and PP&L, Inc. In 
addition, the following companies currently authorized to export 
electric energy to Canada as part of the WSPP authorization have 
undergone changes in company name: (1) Citizens Power Sales, formerly 
Citizens Lehman Power Sales, (2) Engage Energy US, L.P., formerly 
Coastal Electric Service Company, (3) Koch Energy Trading, Inc., 
formerly Koch Power Services, Inc., (4) PanCanadian Energy Services 
Inc., formerly National Gas & Electric L.P., (5) Puget Sound Energy, 
Inc., formerly Puget Sound Power & Light Company, and (6) TransAlta 
Energy marketing (U.S.), Inc., formerly TransAlta Enterprises 
Corporation.

Procedural Matters

    Any persons desiring to become a party to this proceeding or to be 
heard by filing comments or protests to this application should file a 
petition to intervene, comment or protest at the address provided above 
in accordance with Secs. 385.211 or 385.214 of the FERC's Rules of 
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of 
such petitions and protests should be filed with the DOE on or before 
the date listed above.
    Additional copies are to be filed directly with: Michael E. Small, 
Esq., Wright & Talisman, P.C., 1200 G Street, Suite 600, Washington, 
D.C. 20005.
    A final decision will be made on this application after the 
environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and a determination is made by the DOE 
that the proposed action will not adversely impact on the reliability 
of the U.S. electric power supply system.
    Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, 
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above.


[[Page 53650]]


    Issued in Washington, D.C., on September 30, 1998.
Anthony J. Como,
Manager, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal & Power Im/Ex, 
Office of Coal & Power Systems, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 98-26760 Filed 10-5-98; 8:45 am]
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