[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 153 (Thursday, August 8, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Page 51549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-20061]



DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket Nos. EA-212-B]


Application To Export Electric Energy; Coral Power, L.L.C.; To 
Amend Authorization to Transmit Electric Energy to Mexico

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of applications.

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SUMMARY: Coral Power, L.L.C. (Coral) has applied to amend its 
authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to 
Mexico pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act.

DATES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene must be submitted on 
or before August 23, 2002.

ADDRESS: Comments, protests or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office of Coal & Power Imports/Exports (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: Steven Mintz (Program Office) 202-586-
9506 or Michael Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-2793.

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 June 9, 1999, the Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department 
of Energy (DOE) authorized Coral to transmit electric energy from the 
United States to Mexico using the international electric transmission 
facilities of San Diego Gas and Electric Company, El Paso Electric 
Company, Central Power and Light Company, and Comision Federal de 
Electricidad, the national utility of Mexico. That two-year 
authorization (Order EA-212) expired on August 13, 2001.
    On June 27, 2001, Coral filed an application with FE for renewal of 
its authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to 
Mexico. That two-year authorization (Order EA-212-A) will expire on 
August 13, 2003.
    On July 8, 2002, Coral filed an application with FE to amend its 
authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to 
Mexico in order to add the recently permitted Baja transmission 
facilities (Docket PP-234). Coral is an affiliate of Baja California 
Power, Inc., the owner of the transmission facilities built pursuant to 
PP-234. Coral also requested that its authorization be extended for a 
five-year period and that its application be given expedited treatment. 
On July 11, 2002, the applicant clarified the reason for requesting 
expedited treatment by stating that completion of the La Rosita plant 
in Mexico (the power plant that is connected to the permitted 
facilities, PP-234) is scheduled to be completed and ready to be 
energized in the first week in August 2002 for testing purposes. No 
other source of power is readily available for this purpose.
    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 EA-212. 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-212 proceeding.
    Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to become a party to this 
proceeding or to be heard by filing comments or protests to these 
applications 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 Coral application to export electric energy to 
Mexico should be clearly marked with Docket EA-212-B. Additional copies 
are to be filed directly with Andrea M. Settanni, Bracewell & 
Patterson, L.L.P., 2000 K Street, NW., Suite 500, Washington, DC 20006-
1872 AND Robert Reilley, Vice President, Regulatory Affairs, Coral 
Power, L.L.P., 909 Fannin, Suite 700, Houston, TX 77010.
    Copies of these applications 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 
Regulation'', then ``Pending Procedures'' from the options menus.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 2, 2002.
Ellen Russell,
Acting Deputy Director, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal & 
Power Imports/Exports, Office of Coal & Power Systems, Office of Fossil 
Energy.
[FR Doc. 02-20061 Filed 8-7-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P