[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 51 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13021-13022]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-5309]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[FE Docket No. PP-300]


Application for Presidential Permit; Maine Public Service Company

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Maine Public Service Company (MPSCo) has applied for a 
Presidential permit for the construction, operation, maintenance, and 
connection of a 138,000-volt (138-kV) electric transmission line across 
the U.S. border with Canada.

DATES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene must be submitted 
on or before April 18, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office of Fossil Energy (FE-27), U.S. Department 
of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585 (FAX 
202-287-5736).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Jerry Pell (Program Office) at 
202-586-3362 or [email protected], or Michael T. Skinker (Program 
Attorney) at 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.
    On January 21, 2005, MPSCo filed an application with the Office of 
Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) for a Presidential 
permit for the construction of a 138-kV electric transmission line that 
would cross the U.S.-Canadian border. MPSCo is a wholly-owned 
subsidiary of Maine and Maritimes Corporation, both of which are 
headquartered in Presque Isle, Maine.
    The proposed 138-kV transmission line would originate at MPSCo's 
existing substation located in Limestone, Maine, and extend 
approximately 10.5 miles to the U.S.-

[[Page 13022]]

Canadian border in the vicinity of Hamlin, Maine. At the border, the 
proposed facilities would connect with an existing 138-kV transmission 
line owned and operated by New Brunswick Power Corporation, the 
electric utility in the Province of New Brunswick, Canada. MPSCo claims 
that the proposed international transmission line is required to 
increase the reliability of the electrical grid in northern Maine.
    Since the restructuring of the electric power industry began, 
resulting in the introduction of different types of competitive 
entities into the marketplace, DOE has consistently expressed its 
policy that cross-border trade in electric energy should be subject to 
the same principles of comparable open access and non-discrimination 
that apply to transmission in interstate commerce. DOE has stated that 
policy in export authorization granted to entities requesting authority 
to export over international transmission facilities. Specifically, DOE 
expects transmitting utilities owning border facilities constructed 
pursuant to Presidential permits to provide access across the border in 
accordance with the principles of comparable open access and non-
discrimination contained in the FPA and articulated in Federal Energy 
Regulation Commission Order No. 888, as amended (Promoting Wholesale 
Competition Through Open Access Non-Discriminatory Transmission 
Services by Public Utilities). In furtherance of this policy, DOE 
intends to condition any Presidential permit issued in this proceeding 
on compliance with these open access principles.
    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.  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.
    Additional copies of such petitions to intervene or protest also 
should be filed directly with Thomas F. Osgood, Director of 
Engineering, System Operations, Asset Management, Maine Public Service 
Company, P.O. Box 1209, Presque Isle ME 04769-1209.
    Before a Presidential permit may be issued or amended, the DOE must 
determine that the proposed action 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 (i.e., 
granting the Presidential permit, with any conditions and limitations, 
or denying it) pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 
1969 (NEPA). DOE also must obtain the concurrences of the Secretary of 
State and the Secretary of Defense before taking final action on a 
Presidential permit application.
    The NEPA compliance process is a cooperative non-adversarial 
process involving members of the public, State governments, tribal 
governments, and the Federal Government. The process affords all 
persons interested in or potentially affected by the environmental 
consequences of a proposed action an opportunity to present their 
views, which will be considered in the preparation of the environmental 
documentation for the proposed action. Intervening and becoming a party 
to this proceeding will not create any special status for the 
petitioner with regard to the NEPA process. Notices of forthcoming NEPA 
activities and information on how to participate in those activities 
will appear in the Federal Register.
    Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, 
for public inspection and copying at the DOE address provided above. In 
addition, the application may be viewed on, or downloaded from, the 
Office of Fossil Energy Web site at http://www.fe.doe.gov/programs/electricityregulation/index.html. Select ``Pending Proceedings'' from 
the options menu.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2005.
Anthony J. Como,
Deputy Director, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 05-5309 Filed 3-16-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P