[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 237 (Thursday, December 10, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68260-68261]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-32904]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[FE Docket Nos. PP-195, EA-195]


Application for Presidential Permit and Electricity Export 
Authorization Wilson-7 Energy Systems, Inc.

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Wilson-7 Energy Systems, Inc. (Wilson-7) has applied for a 
Presidential permit to construct, connect, operate and maintain 
electric transmission facilities across the U.S. border with Mexico. 
The proposed facility is a direct current (DC) transmission with an 
operating voltage of between 600 kilovolts (600 kV) and 1,200 kV. The 
facilities would originate at a new electric powerplant to be 
constructed in Hudspeth County, Texas, and cross the U.S.-Mexico border 
in the vicinity of either Fort Hancock, Arcala, or Indian Hot Springs, 
Texas. The proposed facilities would be used to supply electric energy 
to Mexico and unnamed countries south of Mexico. In addition, Wilson-7 
seeks authorization to export 6,000 megawatts (MW) of electric power 
from the United States to Mexico.

DATES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene must be submitted 
on or before January 11, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office of Coal & Power Import and Export (FE-27), 
Office of Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585-0350.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The construction, connection, operation, and 
maintenance of facilities at the

[[Page 68261]]

international border of the United States for the transmission of 
electric energy between the United States and a foreign country is 
prohibited in the absence of a Presidential permit issued pursuant to 
Executive Order (EO) 10485, as amended by EO 12038. In addition, 
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 October 14, 1998, Wilson-7 filed an application with the Office 
of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) for a 
Presidential permit and an electricity export authorization. The 
application was supplemented by another application filed on November 
18, 1998. Wilson-7 proposes to construct a DC transmission line of 
either 600 kV, 800 kV, 1,000 kV, or 1,200 kV DC from a location in the 
vicinity of Fort Hancock, Hudspeth County, Texas, adjacent to the 
United States border with Mexico, to Mexico and to other unspecified 
countries located south of Mexico. The electric energy to be 
transmitted to Mexico and/or other countries will be generated by three 
(3) 2,000-MW gas-fired electric powerplants to be constructed by 
Wilson-7 in Hudspeth County, Texas.
    The Wilson-7 application notes that there are no firm contracts in 
place for the sale of power to any foreign government or foreign 
private concerns.

Procedural Matters

    Any person desiring to be heard or to protest this application 
should file a petition to intervene or protest at the address provided 
above in accordance with section 385.211 or 385.214 of the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (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 of such 
petitions to intervene or protest also should be filed directly with: 
Mr. Frank H. Wilson, 62 Thicket Street, Irvine, California 92614.
    Before a Presidential permit or electricity export authorization 
may be issued or amended, the DOE must determine that the proposed 
action will not adversely impact on the reliability of the U.S. 
electric power supply system. In addition, DOE must consider the 
environmental impacts of the proposed action pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). DOE also must obtain the 
concurrence of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense 
before taking final action on a Presidential permit application.
    The NEPA compliance process is a cooperative, non-adversarial 
process involving members of the public, state governments and the 
Federal Government. The process affords all persons interested in or 
potentially affected by the environmental consequences of a proposed 
action an opportunity to present their views, which will be considered 
in the preparation of the environmental documentation for the proposed 
action. Intervening and becoming a party to this proceeding will not 
create any special status for the petitioner with regard to the NEPA 
process. Notice of upcoming NEPA activities and information on how the 
public can participate in those activities will appear in the Federal 
Register. Additional announcements will appear in local newspapers and 
public libraries and/or reading rooms in the vicinity of the proposed 
transmission line.
    Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, 
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above. In 
addition, the application may be reviewed or downloaded from the Fossil 
Energy Home Page at: http://www.fe.doe.gov. Upon reaching the Fossil 
Energy Home page, select ``Regulatory'' and then ``Electricity'' from 
the options menu.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., on December 4, 1998.
Anthony J. Como,
Manager, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal & Power Im/Ex, 
Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 98-32904 Filed 12-9-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P