[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 57 (Monday, March 24, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15519-15520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-5868]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects Firm Power, Colorado 
River Storage Project Transmission and Ancillary Services Rates--Rate 
Order No. WAPA-137

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Extension of Public Process for Rate Adjustment.

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SUMMARY: Western initiated a public process to modify the Salt Lake 
City Area Integrated Projects (SLCA/IP) firm power rates and extend the 
Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) transmission and ancillary 
services rates by publishing a notice in the Federal Register on 
January 4, 2008. Western held a Public Information Forum on February 5, 
2008, and a Public Comment Forum on March 4, 2008.
    Western is extending the comment and consultation period to allow 
sufficient time to finalize the 2010 Work Program Review (WPR), which 
forms the basis of the operation, maintenance and replacement (OM&R) 
expenses, to propose a two-step increase and to add clarification to 
the Spinning and Supplement Reserves (SP-SSR-3) rates. In conjunction 
with extending the comment and consultation period, Western will hold 
an additional public information forum and public comment forum on 
April 10, 2008. Information will be provided at this public information 
forum and also on the CRSP Management Center Web site under the ``FY 
2009 SLCA/IP Rate Adjustment'' section located at: http://www.wapa.gov/CRSP/ratescrsp/default.htm.
    Western mailed a brochure on January 11, 2008, that provided 
detailed information about the rates to all interested parties. The 
proposed rates in Rate Order No. WAPA-137 under Rate Schedules SLIP-F9, 
SP-PTP7, SP-NW3, SP-NFT6, SP-CF1, SP-SD3, SP-RS3, SP-EI3, SP-FR3, and 
SP-SSR3 are scheduled to go into effect on October 1, 2008.

DATES: The extended consultation and comment period begins today and 
will end May 5, 2008. A public information forum will be held on April 
10, 2008, 1:30 p.m., at the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building, Room 
8102, 125 S. State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah. A public comment forum 
will follow the public information forum. Western will accept written 
comments any time during the consultation and comment period.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Mr. Bradley S. Warren, CRSP 
Manager, CRSP Management Center, Western Area Power Administration, 150 
East Social Hall Avenue, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84111-1580; 
telephone (801) 524-5493; e-mail [email protected]. Western will post 
information about the rate process on its Web site under the ``FY 2009 
SLCA/IP Rate Adjustment'' section located at: http://www.wapa.gov/CRSP/ratescrsp/default.htm.
    Western will post official comments received by letter and e-mail 
to its Web site after the close of the comment period. Western must 
receive written comments by the end of the consultation and comment 
period to ensure consideration in Western's decision process.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Carol A. Loftin, Rates Manager, 
CRSP Management Center, Western Area Power Administration, 150 East 
Social Hall Avenue, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84111-1580; telephone 
(801) 524-6380; e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed rates for SLCA/IP firm power 
are designed to return an annual amount of revenue to meet the 
repayment of power investment, payment of interest, purchased power, 
OM&R expenses, and the repayment of irrigation assistance costs as 
required by law.
    The Deputy Secretary of Energy approved Rate Schedule SLIP-F8 for 
firm power service on August 1, 2005. Rate Schedule SLIP-F8 became 
effective on October 1, 2005, for a 5-year period ending September 30, 
2010. The Deputy Secretary of Energy also approved a rate extension for 
the CRSP Transmission and Ancillary Services Rates through September 
30, 2010.

Discussion

    Western's SLCA/IP Firm Power, CRSP Transmission and Ancillary 
Services rates entered into a rate adjustment process with a Federal 
Register notice published on January 4, 2008, which began the initial 
public consultation and comment period that would have ended on April 
3, 2008. Western seeks an extension of the public process to provide 
additional time to finalize the 2010 WPR, which forms the basis of the 
OM&R expenses. The 2010 WPR shows significant increases in some program 
areas, and Western and the firm power customers need more time to 
evaluate these proposed increases. The customers are requesting Western 
consider a rate increase that is phased in over a 2-year period, and 
Western will provide options for customers'

[[Page 15520]]

comments. In addition, Western is proposing to eliminate the reference 
to the ``Western System Power Pool'' in the Rate Schedule for Spinning 
and Supplement Reserves (SP-SSR-3) to make it consistent with the other 
regions within Western and to clarify better how those rates are 
determined. In conjunction with extending the comment and consultation 
period, Western will hold an additional public information and public 
comment forum.

Legal Authority

    Since the proposed rates constitute a major rate adjustment as 
defined by 10 CFR part 903, Western has held both a public information 
forum and a public comment forum and, as indicated in this notice, will 
hold an additional public information and public comment forum. After a 
review of public comments and possible amendments or adjustments, 
Western will recommend a proposed rate for the Deputy Secretary of 
Energy to approve on an interim basis.
    Western is establishing firm electric service rates for the SCLA/IP 
under the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7152); the 
Reclamation Act of 1902 (ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388), as amended and 
supplemented by subsequent laws, particularly section 9(c) of the 
Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(c)); and other acts 
that specifically apply to the projects involved.
    By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00, effective December 6, 2001, the 
Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) The authority to develop power and 
transmission rates to Western's Administrator; (2) the authority to 
confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis 
to the Deputy Secretary of Energy; and (3) the authority to confirm, 
approve, and place into effect on a final basis, to remand, or to 
disapprove such rates to the Commission. Existing Department of Energy 
(DOE) procedures for public participation in power rate adjustments (10 
CFR part 903) were published on September 18, 1985.

Availability of Information

    All brochures, studies, comments, letters, memorandums, or other 
documents that Western initiates or uses to develop the proposed rates 
are available for inspection and copying at the CRSP Management Center, 
150 East Social Hall Avenue, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, Utah. Many of 
these documents and supporting information are also available on its 
Web site under the ``FY 2009 SLCA/IP Rate Adjustment'' section located 
at: http://www.wapa.gov/CRSP/ratescrsp/default.htm.

Regulatory Procedure Requirements

Environmental Compliance

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.); the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and DOE 
NEPA Implementing Procedures and Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021), Western 
has determined this action is categorically excluded from preparing an 
environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement.

Determination Under Executive Order 12866

    Western has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under 
Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no clearance of this notice by the 
Office of Management and Budget is required.

    Dated: March 14, 2008.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E8-5868 Filed 3-21-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P