[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 57 (Thursday, March 23, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 15621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-7182]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket Nos. EA-176-A]


Application to Export Electric Energy; Sempra Energy Trading 
Corp.

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Application.

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SUMMARY: Sempra Energy Trading Corp. (SET) has applied for renewal of 
its authority to transmit electric energy from the United States to 
Mexico pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act.

DATES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene must be submitted on 
or before April 27, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office of Coal & Power Im/Ex (FE-27), Office of 
Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, 
Washington, DC 20585-0350 (FAX 202-287-5736).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Xavier Puslowski (Program Office) 202-
586-4708 or Michael Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-2793.

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. 
824a(e)).
    On March 25, 1998, the Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the 
Department of Energy issued Order No. EA-176 authorizing SET to 
transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico as a power 
marketer using the international electric transmission facilities owned 
and operated by San Diego Gas & Electric Company. That two-year 
authorization will expire on March 25, 2000.
    On February 28, 2000, SET filed an application with FE for renewal 
of the export authority contained in Order No. EA-176. SET has 
requested that the authorization be issued for a five-year term and 
that the international transmission facilities of the El Paso Electric 
Company, Central Power and Light Company, and the Comision Federal de 
Electricidad, the national electric utility of Mexico, be added to the 
list of authorized export points.

Procedural Matters

    Any person 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 
each petition and protest should be filed with the DOE on or before the 
date listed above.
    Comments on SET's request to export to Mexico should be clearly 
marked with Docket EA-176-A. Additional copies are to be filed directly 
with Michael A. Goldstein, Esq., Senior Vice President and General 
Counsel, Sempra Energy Trading Corp., 58 Commerce Road, Stamford, CT 
06902.
    DOE notes that the circumstances described in this application are 
virtually identical to that for which export authority had previously 
been granted in FE Order EA-176. Consequently, DOE believes that it has 
adequately satisfied its responsibilities under the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 through the documentation of a 
categorical exclusion in the FE Docket EA-176 proceeding.
    Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, 
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above or by 
accessing the Fossil Energy Home Page at http://www.fe.doe.gov. Upon 
reaching the Fossil Energy Home page, select ``Electricity'' and then 
``Pending Proceedings'' from the options menus.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 15, 2000.
Anthony J. Como,
Deputy Director, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal & Power Im/
Ex, Office of Coal & Power Systems, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 00-7182 Filed 3-22-00; 8:45 am]
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