[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 66 (Monday, April 7, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16790-16791]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-8378]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. EA-101-B]


Application To Export Electric Energy; Avista Corporation

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Avista Corporation (Avista) has applied to amend its 
authorization to export electric energy 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 7, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene should be

[[Page 16791]]

addressed as follows: Office of Coal & Power Import/Export (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: Ellen Russell (Program Office) 202-
586-9624 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 October 17, 1994, the Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the 
Department of Energy (DOE) issued Order No. EA-101 authorizing Avista 
(formerly Washington Water Power Company) to transmit electric energy 
from the United States to Canada using the international electric 
transmission facilities owned and operated by Bonneville Power 
Administration (BPA). That Order authorized Avista to export firm 
capacity and associated energy only for the months of November, 
December, January, and February, and at a maximum rate of transmission 
of 100 megawatts (MW). On October 23, 1995, in Order No. EA-101-A, FE 
amended the previous electricity export authorization by authorizing 
exports during each month of the calendar year and at a maximum rate of 
transmission of 400 MW.
    On November 8, 2000, Avista filed an application with FE to amend 
Order No. EA-101-A by increasing the maximum rate of transmission to 
1,000 MW. Notice of receipt of that application appeared in the Federal 
Register on November 20, 2000. No comments were received during the 30-
day comment period. On February 12, 2003, Avista submitted an amended 
application. In the amended application, Avista changed its request for 
a 1,000-MW export limit and, instead, requests that the authorized 
export limit be changed from 400 MW to an amount not to exceed the 
reliability and physical limits of the international transmission 
facilities presently owned by BPA. In its amended application, Avista 
clarified that the electric energy to be exported will be sold on an 
``as available'' basis as system conditions dictate and as surpluses 
are available.
    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 Sec. Sec.  385.211 or 
385.214 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's Rules of Practice 
and Procedures (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of each 
petition and protest should be filed with DOE on or before the date 
listed above.
    Comments on the Avista application to export electric energy to 
Canada should be clearly marked with Docket EA-101-B. Additional copies 
are to be filed directly with Richard L. Storro, Manager, Wholesale 
Power, Avista Corporation, P.O. Box 3727, Spokane, Washington 99220-
3727 AND R. Blair Strong, Paine, Hamblen, Coffin, Brooke and Miller, 
717 W. Sprague, Suite 1200, Spokane, WA 99201-3505.
    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 Nos. EA-101 and EA-101-A. 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 previous proceedings.
    Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, 
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above or by 
accessing the FE Home Page at http://www.fe.de.gov. Upon reaching the 
FE Home page, select ``Electricity Regulation'' and then ``Pending 
Proceedings'' from the options menus.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 31, 2003.
Anthony J. Como,
Deputy Director, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal & Power 
Import/Export, Office of Coal & Power Systems, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 03-8378 Filed 4-4-03; 8:45 am]
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