[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 132 (Tuesday, July 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 40015]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13632]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket Nos. EA-63-C]


Application to Export Electric Energy; Northern States Power 
Company

AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Northern States Power Company (NSP) has applied to amend its 
authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States 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 July 27, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability (Mail Code OE-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0350 (FAX 202-586-1472).

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 March 6, 1979, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued 
Presidential Permit PP-63 authorizing NSP to construct, operate, 
maintain, and connect a 500,000-volt (500-kV) electric transmission 
line that extends from Roseau County, Minnesota, across the U.S. border 
with Canada, and connecting to similar facilities owned by Manitoba 
Hydro Electric Board, the Provincial electric utility of Canada's 
Province of Manitoba. In a related proceeding, on August 13, 1979, in 
Order No. EA-63, DOE authorized NSP to export electric energy to Canada 
using the PP-63 facilities. The Presidential permit and electricity 
export authorization have each been subsequently amended and NSP is now 
authorized to export electric energy to Canada, using the PP-63 
facilities, at a rate not to exceed an instantaneous rate of 
transmission of 500 megawatts (MW).
    On February 6, 2002, in Order No. PP-231, DOE authorized NSP (doing 
business as Excel Energy Incorporated (Xcel)) to construct, operate, 
maintain and connect a 230-kV transmission line that extends 
approximately 53 miles from a new substation built in Rugby, North 
Dakota, to the U.S. border with Canada. At the border the PP-231 
facilities connect to similar facilities of Manitoba Hydro and continue 
an additional 50 miles into Canada to an existing substation located in 
Glenboro, Manitoba. A separate electricity export authorization was not 
issued in association with this transmission facility.
    In OE Docket EA-63-C, NSP has now applied to DOE to further amend 
Order EA-63 to authorize electricity exports to Canada using a 
combination of the PP-63 and PP-231 transmission lines, at a maximum 
transmission rate of 700 MW on a firm (e.g., non-interruptible) basis 
and at 1050 MW on a non-firm (e.g., as available) basis.
    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 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 NSP application to export electric energy to Canada 
should be clearly marked with Docket EA-63-C. Additional copies are to 
be filed directly with Northern States Power Company, c/o Xcel Energy 
Inc., Attn: Director, Contract Administration, 1099 18th Street, Suite 
3000, Denver, CO 80202 and Northern States Power Company, c/o Xcel 
Energy Inc., Attn: James P. Johnson, 800 Nicollet Mall, Suite 2900, 
Minneapolis, MN 55401 and Northern States Power Company, c/o Xcel 
Energy Inc., Attn: James Alders, 414 Nicollet Mall--5th Floor, 
Minneapolis, MN 55401 and Northern States Power Company, c/o Xcel 
Energy Inc., Attn: Thomas R. McDonough, 414 Nicolle Mall--RSQ 5, 
Minneapolis, MN 55401.
    A final decision will be made on this application after the 
environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969, and a determination is made by the 
DOE that the proposed action will not adversely impact on the 
reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system.
    Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, 
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above or by 
accessing the program's home page at http://www.fe.doe.gov. Upon 
reaching the program's home page select ``Electricity Regulation'', 
then ``Pending Proceedings'' from the options menus.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on July 6, 2005.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery and 
Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. 05-13632 Filed 7-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P