[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 16, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49973-49974]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20786]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration


Regional Transmission Organization West

AGENCY: Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Notice of meetings.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces BPA's intention to hold two public 
meetings to consider issues associated with BPA's proposal to join the 
Northwest Regional Transmission Organization (RTO West).

DATES: As part of the public process associated with the formation of 
the RTO, BPA has established a public comment period. Written comments 
are due to the address below no later than September 8, 2000. In 
addition, BPA will host two public meetings: the first in Spokane, 
Washington, on August 22, 2000, and the second in Portland, Oregon, on 
August 25, 2000. Comments may also be made at these public meetings.

ADDRESSES: BPA invites comments and suggestions on the major issues 
associated with BPA's proposal to join RTO West. Send comment letters 
to Communications, Bonneville Power Administration--KC-7, P.O. Box 
12999, Portland, Oregon, 97212. The phone number of the Communications 
office is 503-230-3478 in Portland; toll-free 1-800-622-4519 outside of 
Portland. Comments may also be sent to the BPA Internet address: 
[email protected].
    The meetings will be held at the Ramada Inn, Spokane International 
Airport, Spokane, Washington, on Tuesday, August 22, 2000, from 1:00 
p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, 
Columbian Room, 8235 NE Airport Way, Portland, Oregon, from 1:00 p.m. 
to 4:00 p.m.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT: Mike Hansen--KC-7, Bonneville Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 3621, Portland, Oregon, 97208-3621, phone 
number 503-230-4328, fax number 503-230-5844. Additional information is 
also available on the official RTO West web site at www.rtowest.com, or 
BPA's web site at www.bpa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In December 1999, the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (FERC) issued Order 2000, which encourages the 
formation of RTOs. The goal of that order is to promote efficiency in 
the wholesale electricity marketplace and to ensure that consumers pay 
the lowest price possible for reliable service. The order also requires 
utilities to file RTO proposals with FERC by October 15, 2000, with the 
RTOs to be fully operating by December 15, 2001.
    FERC encouraged the federal power marketing administrations (PMAs), 
including BPA, to participate in RTO development. In response, on May 
16, 2000, the U.S. Department of Energy directed the PMAs to 
participate in the development of RTOs and to file with FERC by the 
October 15 deadline. BPA began working collaboratively with Avista, 
Idaho Power Company, Montana Power Company, Nevada Power Company, 
PacifiCorp, Portland General Electric Company, Puget Sound Energy, 
Inc., and Sierra Pacific Power Company to form an RTO. These Filing 
Utilities have reached consensus on the structure of RTO West, 
developed a set of RTO principles, established an RTO Collaborative 
Process Plan, and clarified roles, responsibilities, and process 
related to the formation of RTO West. The Collaborative Process Plan 
committed RTO West to host Regional Workshops to encourage broader 
participation in the development of RTO West and to receive input on 
issues associated with RTO West formation.
    Interested regional parties are included in the RTO West Regional 
Representatives Group (RRG), which is charged with reviewing and 
discussing issues and recommending approaches to the successful 
formation of an RTO in the Northwest. In addition, the several 
technical workgroups, working in conjunction with the RRG, are 
developing papers that will be shared with the region in August. The 
papers will also be available on the RTO web site at www.rtowest.com.
    BPA, as a Federal agency, has responsibilities under the National 
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Environmental information must be 
available to decisionmakers and to the public before decisions are made 
and before actions are taken. In response to a need for a sound policy 
to guide its business direction under changing market conditions, BPA 
prepared the Business Plan Environmental Impact Statement (Business 
Plan EIS, DOE/EIS-

[[Page 49974]]

0183, June 1995). In the subsequent Business Plan Record of Decision 
(Business Plan ROD), issued August 15, 1995, the BPA Administrator 
selected the Market-Driven alternative.
    The Business Plan EIS was intended to support a number of business 
decisions, including transmission system development and operation. The 
Business Plan EIS and ROD also documented a NEPA strategy for tiering 
subsequent business decisions. Consistent with that strategy, BPA will 
review the EIS to determine whether the environmental impacts 
associated with participation in an RTO-like organization are 
adequately analyzed. After incorporating information received during 
the public process associated with RTO West, BPA intends to prepare a 
ROD tiered to the Business Plan ROD, explaining any decision to join 
the RTO. The RTO West ROD will provide a summary of potential 
environmental impacts with reference to the appropriate discussions in 
the Business Plan EIS.
    The comment period and the two public meetings are an integral part 
of BPA's decisionmaking process for whether or not to join the RTO. The 
Spokane public meeting will also incorporate an RTO West briefing as 
part of the RTO's commitment to host regional workshops.

    Issued in Portland, Oregon, on August 8, 2000.
J.A. Johansen,
Administrator and Chief Executive Officer.
[FR Doc. 00-20786 Filed 8-15-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-U