[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 229 (Wednesday, November 29, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69102-69103]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-20225]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Notice of Availability of a Special Environmental Analysis; 
Potomac River Generating Station

AGENCY: Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice of Availability.

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SUMMARY: DOE has prepared a Special Environmental Analysis (SEA) for 
Actions Taken under U.S. Department of Energy Emergency Orders 
Regarding Operation of the Potomac River Generating Station in 
Alexandria, Virginia, and is announcing its availability. In the SEA, 
DOE examines environmental impacts from the Secretary of Energy's 
December 20, 2005 Emergency Order, and the Secretary's September 28, 
2006 extension of that Emergency Order; the SEA covers a period of 
about 24 months beginning in December 2005. The SEA also considers 
alternatives that include mitigation measures that DOE may take until 
the Potomac Electric Power Company's (PEPCO) installation of two 
additional 230 kV electric transmission lines to the Central 
Washington, DC area (expected in June 2007) that would appear to 
eliminate the emergency that lead to the issuance of the December 20, 
2005 Emergency Order.
    DOE prepared the SEA after consulting with the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) for alternative arrangements under 40 CFR 
1506.11, which applies where emergency circumstances make it necessary 
to take action without preparing an environmental impact statement 
(EIS). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency worked with DOE on this 
SEA.
    Simultaneously with issuance of the SEA, the Secretary is issuing 
another temporary extension of the Emergency Order until February 1, 
2007. DOE is providing the public an opportunity to comment before the 
Secretary considers whether to allow the Order to expire, extend the 
Order, or extend the Order with mitigation measures.

DATES: DOE has posted the SEA on two websites: its Web site for this 
matter at http://www.oe.energy.gov/permitting/372.htm and the DOE NEPA 
Web site at http://www.eh.doe.gov/nepa/documentspub.html. Comments on 
the SEA should be submitted to DOE on or before January 8, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: Anthony J. Como; 
Permitting, Siting, and Analysis Division; Office of Electricity 
Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE-20); U.S. Department of Energy; 
1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585; telephone: 202-
586-5935; fax: 202-586-5860; or [email protected]. Due to postal 
security procedures, comments sent through the U.S. Mail may be 
delayed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on the DOE NEPA 
process, please contact: Carol M. Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA 
Policy and

[[Page 69103]]

Compliance (GC-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0103; telephone: 202-586-4600; fax: 
202-586-7031; or leave a toll-free message at: 800-472-2756.
    For further information on the Emergency Order contact Lawrence 
Mansueti, Permitting, Siting, and Analysis Division; Office of 
Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE-20); U.S. Department of 
Energy; telephone: 202-586-2588; fax: 202-586-5860; or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 20, 2005, the Secretary of 
Energy issued Order No. 202-05-3 (Emergency Order) pursuant to Section 
202(c) of the Federal Power Act. The Emergency Order directed Mirant 
Corporation and its wholly owned subsidiary, Mirant Potomac River, LLC, 
to generate electricity at its Potomac River Generating Station in 
limited circumstances in order to address electric reliability, 
including the risk of a blackout, in the Central Washington DC area. On 
September 28, 2006, the Secretary of Energy issued Order No. 202-06-2 
temporarily extending DOE Order No. 202-05-3 until December 1, 2006.
    In emergency situations, pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.11, the Council on 
Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 call for agencies to consult with CEQ 
to determine what alternative arrangements the agency will take in lieu 
of preparing an environmental impact statement that might otherwise be 
required for the relevant action. DOE prepared the SEA pursuant to the 
alternative arrangements agreed upon with CEQ.
    The SEA includes descriptions of the DOE Emergency Order and 
extensions thereof, assessments of the direct, indirect, and cumulative 
impacts resulting from the actions, and consideration of alternative 
actions that DOE could take that could lessen the adverse effect of any 
additional future extension of the Order.

    Issued in Washington DC on November 22, 2006.
David R. Hill,
General Counsel.
[FR Doc. E6-20225 Filed 11-28-06; 8:45 am]
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