[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 12 (Thursday, January 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2423-2424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1226]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


North American Energy Working Group

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of public workshop.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces a public workshop sponsored by the US

[[Page 2424]]

delegation (Department of Energy, Department of Commerce and Department 
of State) of the North American Energy Working Group (NAEWG) 
Electricity Regulatory Issues Group of Experts, and a request for 
comments.

DATES: The Department of Energy will host a public workshop to hear the 
views of U.S. stakeholders at the following date, time and location. 
Those planning to attend the workshop should register by calling 202 
586-5125,

--February 13, 2002/9 a.m.--4 p.m./Washington, DC.Department of Energy, 
1000 Independence Ave., SW, Room 1E-245

    Public Participation: The workshops are open to the public. Written 
comments can be submitted at the workshop or to the address below on or 
before February 13, 2002. E-mailed comments are preferable.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to: [email protected] or Debra Smith, US 
DOE, Office of Policy and International Affairs, PI-32, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20585.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: President Bush and Mexican President Fox, 
during President Bush's visit to Mexico on February 16, 2001, and 
President Bush and Canadian Premier Chretien, during a subsequent visit 
to Washington, DC, agreed to the development of a North American Energy 
Initiative. The Initiative is being developed by the NAEWG. In March 
2001, Secretary Abraham, Minister of Natural Resources Canada Goodale, 
and Mexican Secretary of Energy Martens, met in Mexico City and agreed 
to the overarching principles and approach that would govern the NAEWG. 
President Bush's National Energy Policy, released in May 2001, directed 
the Secretaries of Energy, State, Commerce, to engage in a dialogue 
with Canada and Mexico through the NAEWG.
    The broad goals of the NAEWG are to foster communication and 
cooperation among the governments and energy sectors of the three 
countries; enhance North American energy trade, development and 
interconnections; and promote regional integration and increased energy 
security for the people of North America. The NAEWG agreed to three 
areas of work to be carried out by three Groups of Experts. One such 
group, the Electricity Regulatory Issues Group of Experts, was formed 
to examine key regulatory issues associated with North American 
electricity markets, such as reliability, regional transmission 
organizations, and transmission access. Canada led the Electricity 
Experts Group which drafted a discussion paper and made recommendations 
to the NAEWG as to further actions. One recommendation accepted by the 
NAEWG suggested soliciting stakeholder input regarding the Experts 
Group discussion paper and other issues identified in this 
Supplementary Information section.
    The purpose of the workshop is to solicit public comments on the 
issues raised in the Draft Discussion Paper with a view to better 
enable the Group of Experts to further its work and, in particular, to 
solicit public comments on the following question, drafted by the Group 
of Experts, to facilitate discussion:
    What issues present challenges to Regional Transmission 
Organizations with international members? Issues that should be 
explored by stakeholders include, but are not limited to, organization, 
governance, rates, reliability standards, enforcement, and dispute 
resolution and transmission access.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on January 11, 2002.
Vicky Bailey,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy and International Affairs.
[FR Doc. 02-1226 Filed 1-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P