[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 82 (Monday, April 28, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 22938-22939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9211]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[OE Docket No. EA-196-C]


Application to Export Electric Energy; Minnesota Power

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

ACTION: Notice of Application.

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SUMMARY: ALLETE, Inc., d/b/a/ Minnesota Power 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 May 28, 2008.

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 February 11, 1999, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued Order 
No. EA-196 authorizing Minnesota Power to transmit electric energy from 
the United States to Canada for a two-year term. That Order was renewed 
for a two-year term on May 23, 2001, and again, for a five-year term on 
April 8, 2003. The current export authorization will expire on May 23, 
2008. On April 18, 2008, Minnesota Power filed an application with DOE 
to renew the export authority contain in Order No. EA-196-B for an 
additional five-year term.
    Minnesota Power 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.
    DOE notes that the electricity export authorization held by 
Minnesota Power in Order No. EA-196-B will expire on May 23, 2008, 
prior to the close of the public comment period in this proceeding. 
Minnesota Power has advised DOE that it will cease all electricity 
export activities after May 23rd until such time as it has obtained a 
valid export authorization. Minnesota Power is aware that continuing to 
export in the absence of such an Order is a violation of the FPA and 
may result in a denial of its authorization to export

[[Page 22939]]

and subject it to sanctions and penalties under the FPA.
    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 Minnesota Power application to export electric 
energy to Canada should be clearly marked with Docket No. EA-196-C. 
Additional copies are to be filed directly with Christopher D. 
Anderson, Associate General Counsel, ALLETE, Inc., 30 West Superior 
Street, Duluth, MN 55802.
    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 
accessing the program's Home Page at http://oe.energy.gov/permits.htm.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 23, 2008.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery and 
Energy Reliability.
 [FR Doc. E8-9211 Filed 4-25-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P