[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 158 (Thursday, August 16, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46049-46050]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16132]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[OE Docket No. EA-296-A]


Application To Export Electric Energy; Rainbow Energy Marketing 
Corporation

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

ACTION: Notice of Application.

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SUMMARY: Rainbow Energy Marketing Corporation (Rainbow) has applied to 
renew its authority to transmit electric energy from the United States 
to Canada pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (FPA).

DATES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene must be submitted on 
or before September 17, 2007.

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 202-586-8008).

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 by the Department of Energy 
(DOE) pursuant to sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the Department of 
Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7151(b), 7172(f)) and require 
authorization under section 202(e) of the FPA (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)).
    On November 9, 2004, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued Order 
No. EA-296 authorizing Rainbow to transmit electric energy from the 
United States to Canada as a power marketer for a two-year term. That 
authorization expired on November 9, 2006. On July 31, 2007, Rainbow 
filed an application with DOE to renew the export authority contained 
in Order No. EA-296 for an additional five-year term.
    Rainbow does not own or control any transmission or distribution 
assets, nor does it have a franchised service area. The electric energy 
which Rainbow proposes to export to Canada would be purchased from 
electric utilities and Federal power marketing agencies within the 
United States.
    Rainbow will arrange for the delivery of exports to Canada over the 
international transmission facilities currently owned by Basin Electric 
Power Cooperative, Bonneville Power Administration, Eastern Maine 
Electric Cooperative, International Transmission Co., Joint Owners of 
the Highgate Project, Long Sault, Inc., Maine Electric Power Company, 
Maine Public Service Company, Minnesota Power, Inc., Minnkota Power 
Cooperative, Inc., New York Power Authority, Niagara Mohawk Power 
Corp., Northern States Power Company, and Vermont Electric Transmission 
Co.
    The construction, operation, maintenance, and connection of each of 
the international transmission facilities to be utilized by Rainbow has 
previously been authorized by a Presidential permit issued pursuant to 
Executive Order 10485, as amended.
    In its application, Rainbow indicated that, due to an 
administrative oversight, it was unaware that Order No. EA-296 had 
expired and continued occasional exports. Rainbow asserts that it has 
not engaged in any transactions to export electric energy to Canada 
since being made aware that its export authority had expired and 
asserts that no export activities will commence until such time as DOE 
grants renewed authorization for such exports. Rainbow also requested 
expedited treatment of this renewal application.
    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 Rainbow application to export electric energy to 
Canada should be clearly marked with Docket No. EA-296-A. Additional 
copies are to be filed directly with Joseph M. Wolfe, Rainbow Energy 
Marketing Corporation, Kirkwood Office Tower, 919 South 7th Street, 
Suite 405, Bismarck, ND 58504 and Steven A. Weiler, Justin P. Moeller, 
Leonard, Street and Deinard, The Army and Navy Club Building, 1627 Eye 
Street, NW., Suite 610, Washington, DC 20006.
    A final decision will be made on this application after the 
environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant

[[Page 46050]]

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.oe.energy.gov/304.htm.

    Issued in Washington, DC on August 10, 2007.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery and 
Energy Reliability.
 [FR Doc. E7-16132 Filed 8-15-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P