[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 70 (Wednesday, April 11, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18758-18759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8897]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. EA-196-A]


Application To Export Electric Energy; Minnesota Power, Inc.

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Application.

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SUMMARY: Minnesota Power, Inc. (Minnesota Power) has applied for 
renewal of its authority to transmit electric energy from the United 
States to Canada pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act.

DATES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene must be submitted on 
or before May 11, 2001.

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: Rosalind Carter (Program Office) 202-
586-7983 or Michael Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-2793.

[[Page 18759]]


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 February 11, 1999, the Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the 
Department of Energy (DOE) issued Order No. EA-196 authorizing 
Minnesota Power to transmit electric energy from the United States to 
Canada. Minnesota Power is a Minnesota cooperation, owns electric 
generation and transmission facilities and sells and distributes 
electricity within its northern Minnesota service territory.
    Minnesota Power proposes to arrange for delivery of electric energy 
to Canada over transmission facilities owned and operated by Basin 
Electric Power Cooperative, Bonneville Power Administration, Citizens 
Utilities, Detroit Edison, Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative, Joint 
Owners of the Highgate Project, Inc., Maine Electric Power Company, 
Maine Public Service Company, Minnesota Power and Light Co., Inc., 
Minnkota Power, New York Power Authority, Niagara Mohawk Power Corp., 
Northern States Power, and Vermont Electric Transmission Company. That 
two-year authorization expired on February 11, 2001.
    On March 2, 2001, Minnesota Power filed an application with FE for 
renewal of this export authority and requested that the authorization 
be granted for a two-year term (or for such other period as the 
Department deems appropriate) and that the international transmission 
lines owned by Long Sault, Inc. 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 the Minnesota Power request to export to Canada should 
be clearly marked with Docket EA-196-A. Additional copies are to be 
filed directly with Steven W. Tyacke, Esq., Minnesota Power, Inc., 30 
West Superior Street, Duluth, MN 55802.
    DOE notes that the circumstances described in this application are 
virtually identical to those for which export authority had previously 
been granted in FE Order No. EA-196. 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-196 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,'' from the 
Regulatory Info menu, and then ``Pending Proceedings'' from the options 
menus.

    Issued in Washington, D.C., on April 4, 2001.
Anthony Como,
Deputy Director, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal & Power Im/
Ex, Office of Coal & Power Systems, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 01-8897 Filed 4-10-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P