[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 13, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31909-31910]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-14874]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Intent To Relieve Path 15 Transmission Constraints

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Request for Statements of Interest.

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SUMMARY: The National Energy Policy Report announced on May 17, 2001, 
recommended that the President direct the Secretary of Energy 
(Secretary) to authorize the Western Area Power Administration 
(Western) to explore relieving the ``Path 15'' bottleneck through 
transmission expansion. The Path 15 bottleneck refers to transmission 
system constraints which severely limit the flow of electric power over 
the existing north-south transmission lines located in central 
California. These existing lines are owned and operated by Pacific Gas 
and Electric Company (PG&E).
    On May 28, 2001, the Secretary directed the Administrator of 
Western to complete its planning to relieve Path 15 constraints, and 
determine whether outside parties are interested in helping finance and 
co-own the necessary system additions, including transmission lines. 
The level of interest will be a factor in the decision by the Secretary 
whether or not to build the system additions necessary to relieve the 
constraints. If the system additions are built under this process, 
Western will be a project manager for the construction efforts.
    In this notice, Western is requesting Statements of Interest from 
parties interested in helping finance and co-own the system additions.

DATES: To be assured of consideration, all Statements of Interest 
should be received at Western's Sierra Nevada Regional Office by July 
13, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The Statements of Interest should be mailed to: Mr. Howard 
Hirahara, Acting Regional Manager, Sierra Nevada Region, Western Area 
Power Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630-4710. 
Statements of Interest may also be faxed to (916) 985-1934 or e-mailed 
to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For further information concerning the 
Statements of Interest, contact: Mr. Howard Hirahara, Acting Regional 
Manager, Sierra Nevada Region, Western Area Power Administration, 114 
Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630-4710, telephone (916) 353-4416.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: It was recognized in the 1980s that, under 
certain power system conditions, the flow of electric power over Path 
15 could be severely limited. Western, the Transmission Agency of 
Northern California (TANC), and PG&E studied the possibility of 
constructing system additions to relieve Path 15 constraints as part of 
the planning effort for the California-Oregon Transmission Project 
(COTP.) The COTP was authorized by the Energy and Water Development 
Appropriation Act, 1985, Public Law 98-360, 98 Stat. 403, 416, (1984). 
In 1988, Western released a final Federal environmental impact 
statement (EIS), and TANC released a final environmental impact review 
under California law, on the transmission facilities needed for the 
COTP. The plan included system additions, known as the Los Banos-Gates 
Transmission Project, to relieve the Path 15 bottleneck. At that time, 
the Los Banos--Gates Transmission Project would have consisted of 84 
miles of new 500-kilovolt (kV) AC transmission line, realignment of the 
existing Los Banos-Midway No. 2 500-kV transmission line into Gates 
Substation, modification of the Los Banos and Gates Substations to 
accommodate new equipment at several existing substations, and 
reconductoring of portions of the Gates-Arco-Midway 230-kV Transmission 
Line. It was subsequently determined in the Final EIS that the timing 
and need for the project were uncertain and if its construction was 
deferred it would be necessary to make minor modifications to the 
transmission system south of Tesla Substation to accommodate the 
increased power transfer demands that would be placed on the system. 
The COTP was built and placed in service in March 1993. For a variety 
of reasons, the Los Banos-Gates Transmission Project was not built.
    Given the current energy problems in California, including the 
bankruptcy of the PG&E, the Secretary has now directed Western to 
complete its planning for the transmission project and to determine 
whether outside parties are interested in helping to finance and co-own 
the system additions. Western has general authority under the 
Department of Energy

[[Page 31910]]

Organization Act to construct, operate, and maintain transmission lines 
and attendant facilities. Western has project-specific authority under 
the Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act, 1985, supra, to 
construct or participate in the construction of system additions in the 
Los Banos-Gates area to relieve the Path 15 bottleneck.
    Western's initial step is to identify all entities interested in 
participating in the financing and co-ownership of Path 15 system 
additions. For this initial step, interested parties should assume that 
the system additions would be very similar to those proposed in 1988 
for the Los Banos--Gates Transmission Project. Western estimates that 
the cost of the Project today would be approximately $200-300 million. 
Those entities should submit Statements of Interest including the 
following:
    1. Name of requesting entity and experience in financing electric 
utility transmission projects.
    2. Name, telephone number, facsimile number, and e-mail address of 
management contact.
    3. Name, telephone number, facsimile number, and e-mail address of 
technical contact.
    4. Amount of financing they are willing to contribute to the 
project.
    5. Amount and type of ownership rights they seek.
    6. Description of non-monetary contributions they are willing to 
offer to the project.
    7. Description of the proposed participation in sufficient detail 
to enable Western to evaluate the proposal.
    8. Amounts and types of transmission rights they wish to purchase.
    Western then will analyze the Statements of Interest. The level of 
interest will be a factor in the decision by the Secretary whether or 
not to build the system additions necessary to relieve the Path 15 
constraints.
    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, 44 U.S.C. 
3501-3520, Western has received approval from the Office of Management 
and Budget for the collection of this information under control number 
1910-1200.
    Western will prepare the necessary environmental and feasibility 
studies and review easement and land acquisition issues related to the 
project. Western will review the 1988 COTP EIS and 1991 Supplement 
Analysis to determine what further action must be taken to comply with 
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and other environmental laws 
and regulations.

    Dated: June 2, 2001.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 01-14874 Filed 6-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P