[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 173 (Thursday, September 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52783-52784]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-14798]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. EA-98-J]


Application To Export Electric Energy; Western Systems Power Pool

AGENCY: Office Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Application.

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

SUMMARY: The Western Systems Power Pool (WSPP) has applied, on behalf 
of certain of its members, to renew their 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 22, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office 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: 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 September 5, 1996, in docket EA-98-C, the Office of Fossil 
Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) authorized 42 members of 
the WSPP to export electric energy to Canada. In several subsequent 
proceedings in the EA-98 docket, the list members authorized to export 
was modified to add, delete, or reflect corporate name changes. The 
most recent order in the docket, EA-98-I, was issued on August 6, 2002, 
and authorized 26 WSPP member companies individually to transmit 
electric energy to Canada. The international transmission facilities 
utilized for these exports are owned by the Bonneville Power 
Administration, also a WSPP member. The facilities consist of two 500-
kV transmission lines and one 230-kV transmission line that 
interconnect with facilities of BC Hydro, and one 230-kV line that

[[Page 52784]]

interconnects with West Kootenay Power, Limited. The construction and 
operation of these international transmission facilities was previously 
authorized by Presidential Permits PP-10, PP-46, and PP-36, 
respectively. The current WSPP authorization to export electric energy 
to Canada will expire on September 5, 2006.
    On August 1, 2006, WSPP submitted an application on behalf of 13 
member companies to renew the export authority contained in Order EA-
98-I. The following WSPP member companies are the only WSPP members 
that now seek authorization to export electric energy to Canada: Avista 
Corporation; Candela Energy Corporation; Edison Mission Marketing and 
Trading, Inc.; Idaho Power Company; Kansas City Power & Light; Northern 
States Power Company; Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative; 
PacifiCorp; Powerex Corporation; Portland General Electric Company; 
Public Service of Colorado; Puget Sound Energy; and TransCanada Energy 
Ltd.
    WSPP has also requested DOE expedite the processing of its 
application in order to avoid a lapse in the export authority of its 
members. 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 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 WSPP application to export electric energy to 
Canada should be clearly marked with Docket EA-98-J. Additional copies 
are to be filed directly with Michael E. Small, General Counsel to the 
WSPP and Matthew K. Segers, Associate, Wright & Talisman, P.C., 1200 G 
Street, NW., Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005-3802.
    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 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, by 
emailing Odessa Hopkins at [email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 30, 2006.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery and 
Energy Reliability.
 [FR Doc. E6-14798 Filed 9-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P