[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 164 (Thursday, August 24, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50050-50051]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14044]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. EA-260-B]


Application To Voluntarily Transfer Export Authority EPCOR 
Merchant and Capital (U.S.) Inc.

AGENCY:  Office Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, DOE.

ACTION:  Notice of Application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY:  EPCOR Merchant and Capital (U.S.) Inc. (EMC) has applied to 
voluntarily transfer to EPCOR Energy Marketing (U.S.) Inc. (EEM) its 
authority 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 September 8, 2006.

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 202-586-5860).

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 April 8, 2002, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued Order No. 
EA-260 authorizing EMC to transmit electric energy from the United 
States to Canada as a power marketer using existing international 
electric transmission facilities. That two-year authorization expired 
on April 8, 2004. On July 8, 2004, DOE received an application from EMC 
to renew its authorization to transmit electric energy from the United 
States to Canada. On October 13, 2004, that renewal was granted in 
Order No. EA-260-A and will expire on April 9, 2009.
    On July 13, 2006, DOE received an application from EMC to 
voluntarily transfer its export authority to EEM. EEM was formed to 
assume the duties previously undertaken by EMC, including the exporting 
of electric energy to Canada. EEM is a Delaware corporation with its 
principal place of business in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. EEM is an 
indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of EPCOR Utilities Inc. of Edmonton, 
Alberta, Canada. EEM is a power marketer that does not own or control 
any electric generation or transmission facilities nor does it have a 
franchised service territory in the United States.
    In OE Docket No. EA-260-B, EEM proposes to export electric energy 
to Canada and to arrange for the delivery of those exports over the 
international transmission facilities currently owned by Basin Electric 
Power Cooperative, Bonneville Power Administration, Eastern Maine 
Electric Cooperative, International Transmission Company, Joint Owners 
of the Highgate Project, Long Sault, Inc., Maine Electric Power 
Company, Maine Public Service Company, Minnesota Power, Inc., Minnkota 
Power Cooperative, New York Power Authority, Niagara Mohawk Power 
Corporation, Northern States Power, and Vermont Electric Transmission 
Company and Vermont Electric Transmission Co.
    The construction of each of the international transmission 
facilities to be utilized by EEM, as more fully described in its 
application, has previously been authorized by a Presidential permit 
issued pursuant to Executive Order 10485, as amended.
    The applicant has requested expedited processing of this 
application so that it may proceed with the proposed transfer. 
Accordingly, DOE has shortened the public comment period to 15 days.
    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 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 the DOE on or before the date listed above.
    Comments on the EMC application to voluntarily transfer their 
export authorization to EEM should be clearly

[[Page 50051]]

marked with Docket EA-260-B. Additional copies are to be filed directly 
with Lee Bui, Transaction Accounting Assistant, EPCOR Energy Marketing 
(U.S.) Inc., EPCOR Place, 8th Floor, 505 2nd Street, SW., Calgary, 
Alberta T2P 1N8, Canada and Sandra E. Rizzo, Esq. Preston Gates Ellis, 
& Rouvelas Meeds, LLP, 1735 New York Avenue, NW., Suite 500, 
Washington, DC 20006.
    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 
e-mailing Odessa Hopkins at [email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 17, 2006.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting Office of Electricity Delivery and 
Energy Reliability.
 [FR Doc. E6-14044 Filed 8-23-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P