[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 30 (Friday, February 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7211-7212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-3217]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket Nos. PP 80-1 and EA-288]


Application To Transfer Presidential Permit; Rescind Export 
Authorization; and Authorize Transmission of Electric Energy to Canada; 
Citizens Communications Company and Vermont Electric Cooperative, Inc.

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of applications.

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SUMMARY: Citizens Communications Company (Citizens) and Vermont 
Electric Cooperative, Inc. (VEC) have jointly applied to transfer 
Presidential Permit PP-80 from Citizens to VEC. In addition Citizens 
and VEC have jointly applied to rescind electricity export 
authorization EA-66-B, held by Citizens, and simultaneously authorize 
VEC to export electric energy to Canada.

DATES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene must be submitted on 
or before March 15, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene should be 
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).

[[Page 7212]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Russell (Program Office), 202-
586-9624 or Michael Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-2793.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The construction, operation, maintenance, 
and connection of facilities at the international border of the United 
States for the transmission of electric energy between the United 
States and a foreign country is prohibited in the absence of a 
Presidential permit issued pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 10485, as 
amended by EO 12038. Existing Presidential permits are not transferable 
or assignable. However, in the event of a proposed voluntary transfer 
of physical facilities, in accordance with the regulations at 10 CFR 
205.323, the existing holder of a permit and the transferee are 
required to a file joint application for transfer with the Department 
of Energy (DOE) that includes a statement of reasons for the transfer.
    In addition, 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)). In 
accordance with the regulation at 10 CFR 205.305, an authorization to 
export electric energy is not transferable or assignable. Providing 
written notice is given to DOE, the authorization may continue in 
effect until a decision is made on a new application for a permanent 
authorization.
    On August 5, 1983, DOE issued Presidential Permit PP-80 to Citizens 
Utilities Company (now Citizens Communications Company) for two 25,000-
volt (25-kV) electric transmission lines that cross the United States 
border with Canada near Canaan, and Norton, Vermont, respectively. Both 
transmission lines interconnect with similar transmission facilities in 
Canada owned by Hydro Quebec.
    On December 17, 2003, Citizens and VEC (collectively, the 
``Applicants'') jointly filed an application with DOE to transfer 
Presidential Permit PP-80 from Citizens to VEC. VEC is a consumer-owned 
electric distribution cooperative providing retail electric services to 
residential, small commercial, and industrial customers in rural 
Vermont. VEC does not own any electric generating facilities. VEC 
proposes to purchase from Citizens the transmission facilities that are 
the subject of PP-80. In this application, the Applicants state that 
there will be no physical changes to the existing permitted facilities.
    In Docket EA-66, Citizens is authorized to export electric energy 
to Canada using the international transmission facilities authorized in 
Presidential Permit PP-66-1 issued to Vermont Electric Power Company, 
Inc., on November 5, 2003. In its joint application, Citizens and VEC 
request that this export authorization held by Citizens (EA-66-B) be 
rescinded and that VEC be simultaneously authorized to export electric 
energy to Canada using the 120-kV international transmission line 
authorized in PP-66-1 and located at Derby Line, Vermont. Subject to 
the same limitations set forth in EA-66-B, to become effective upon the 
financial closing of the transfer of ownership of certain of Citizen's 
transmission and distribution facilities in Vermont to VEC.
    Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to become a party to these 
proceedings 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 Sec.Sec. 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 joint application to transfer Presidential Permit 
PP-66 from Citizens to VELCO should be clearly marked with Docket PP-
66-1. Comments on VEC's application to export electric energy to Canada 
should be clearly marked with Docket EA-288. Additional copies are to 
be filed directly with L. Russell Mitten, Esq., VP, General Counsel, 
Citizens Communications Company, 3 High Ridge Park, Stamford, CT 06905; 
Ms. Kelly Enright, Vice President and Executive Manager, Vermont 
Electric Cooperative, Inc., 182 School Street, Johnson, VT 05656 and 
Kenneth G. Hurwitz, Esq., Haynes and Boone, LLP, 1615 L Street, NW., 
Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036; and Michael L. Burak, Esq., Burak, 
Anderson & Melloni, P.O. Box 787, Burlington, VT 05402-0787.
    Before a Presidential permit or electricity export authorization 
may be issued or amended, the DOE must determine that the proposed 
action(s) will not adversely impact on the reliability of the U.S. 
electric power supply system. In addition, DOE must consider the 
environmental impacts of the proposed action(s) (i.e., granting the 
Presidential permit and/or export authorization with any conditions and 
limitations, or denying one or both) pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. DOE also must obtain the concurrence 
of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense before taking 
final action on a Presidential permit application.
    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,'' and then ``Pending Proceedings'' from the options menus.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 9, 2004.
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. 04-3217 Filed 2-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P