[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 77 (Monday, April 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19571-19572]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-9765]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Post-2005 Resource Pool, Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, 
Eastern Division

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice for Letters of Interest.

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SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western), Upper Great 
Plains Customer Service Region, a Federal power marketing agency of the 
Department of Energy (DOE), is publishing this notice to solicit 
Letters of Interest from entities interested in an allocation of power, 
and/or in providing comments regarding a proposed resource pool, and to 
gather information to aid Western in determining the appropriate 
purposes for this proposed resource pool. A Federal power resource pool 
increment of up to 1 percent of the long-term marketable resource of 
the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, Eastern Division (P-SMBP-ED) may 
become available January 1, 2006, under the Energy Planning and 
Management Program (Program).

DATES: Western will hold four public information forums (each not 
exceeding 3 hours). The public information forum dates are:

1. May 14, 2002, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Billings, Montana.
2. May 15, 2002, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Fargo, North Dakota.
3. May 16, 2002, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Omaha, Nebraska.
4. May 17, 2002, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Pierre, South Dakota.

ADDRESSES: Send Letters of Interest to Gerald C. Wegner, Regional 
Manager, Upper Great Plains Customer Service Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, 2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59107-5800.
    The public information forum locations are:

1. Billings--Sheraton Hotel, 27 North 27th Street, Billings, MT 59101.
2. Fargo--Best Western Doublewood Inn, 3333 13th Avenue South, Fargo, 
ND 58103.
3. Omaha--Holiday Inn Central, 3321 South 72nd Street, Omaha, NE 68124.
4. Pierre--Best Western's Kings Inn, 220 South Pierre, Pierre, SD 
57501.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon R. Horst, Public Utilities 
Specialist, Upper Great Plains Customer Service Region, Western Area 
Power Administration, 2900 4th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59107-5800, 
telephone (406) 247-7444, e-mail [email protected].
    All documentation developed or retained by Western in developing 
this Post-2005 Resource Pool will be available for inspection and 
copying at the Upper Great Plains Customer Service Region in Billings, 
Montana.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On October 20, 1995, Western published the 
Final Program Rule. The Final Rule became effective on November 20, 
1995. Subpart C-Power Marketing Initiative of the Program, Final Rule, 
10 CFR part 905, published at 60 FR 54151 provides for project-specific 
resource pools and allocations of power from these pools to eligible 
new customers and/or for other appropriate purposes as determined by 
Western. The goal of the Program is to require planning for efficient 
electric energy use by Western's long-term firm power customers. 
Specifically, 10 CFR part 905.32 (b) provides:

    At two 5-year intervals after the effective date of the 
extension to existing customers, Western shall create a project-
specific resource pool increment of up to 1 percent of the long-term 
marketable resource under contract at the time. The size of the 
additional resource pool increment shall be determined by Western 
based on consideration of the actual fair-share needs of eligible 
new customers and other appropriate purposes.

    Letters of Interest for the proposed P-SMBP-ED resource pool should 
contain the following information: name(s) of the interested entity, 
entity's interest, geographic location of the entity, and suggested 
appropriate purposes of the resource pool. All Letters of Interest must 
be received by 5 p.m., MDT, on June 17, 2002. Entities sending Letters 
of Interest are encouraged to use certified mail. All Letters of 
Interest will be accepted via regular mail through the United States 
Postal Service if postmarked at least 3 days before June 20, 2002. 
Western reserves the right to not consider any Letters of Interest that 
are not received by the prescribed dates. Western does not consider 
Letters of Interest as a means for application to this resource pool. 
Calls for application, if determined to be necessary, will be made in a 
subsequent future notice published in the Federal Register.

[[Page 19572]]

I. Review Under the Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Regulatory Flexibility Act, 5 U.S.C. 601-621, requires Federal 
agencies to perform a regulatory flexibility analysis if a final rule 
is likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number 
of small entities and there is a legal requirement to issue a general 
notice of proposed rulemaking. Western has determined this action does 
not require a regulatory flexibility analysis since it is a rulemaking 
of particular applicability involving rates or services applicable to 
public property.

II. Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

    Western determined this rule is exempt from congressional 
notification requirements under 5 U.S.C. 801 because the action is a 
rulemaking of particular applicability relating to rates or services 
and involves matters of procedure.

III. Determination 12866

    DOE has determined that this is not a significant regulatory action 
because it does not meet the criteria of Executive Order 12866, 58 FR 
51735. Western has an exemption from centralized regulatory review 
under Executive Order 12866; accordingly, this notice requires no 
clearance by the Office of Management and Budget.

IV. Environmental Compliance

    Western has completed an environmental impact statement on the 
Program, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA). The Record of Decision was published in 60 FR 53181, October 
12, 1995. Western's NEPA review assured all environmental effects 
related to these actions have been analyzed.

    Dated: April 9, 2002.
Michael S. Hacskaylo,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 02-9765 Filed 4-19-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P