[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 94 (Monday, May 18, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23185-23186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-11524]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Revised Open Access Transmission Service Tariff

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE

ACTION: Notice of informal meeting and comment opportunity.

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SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western) is revising 
its Open Access Transmission Service Tariff (Tariff). Western intends 
to update provisions of its Tariff consistent with the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission's (FERC) amended pro forma open access 
transmission tariff. Changes are being proposed to Western's Tariff to 
the extent it is able to incorporate the pro forma provisions 
consistent with applicable statutory requirements. Publication of this 
Federal Register announces a public meeting and opportunity for 
informal comments on Western's revised Tariff prior to filing with the 
FERC.

DATES: Western will accept comments on the revised Tariff until the 
close of the informal comment period on July 1, 2009. Western will 
present an explanation of the revised Tariff at an informal public 
meeting to be held on June 2, 2009.

ADDRESSES: The public meeting location is Western Area Power 
Administration, 12155 W. Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO 80228. Send 
written comments to Corporation Communications, Western Area Power 
Administration, P.O. Box 281213, Lakewood, CO 80228; by e-mail to: 
[email protected]; or by fax to (720) 962-7059.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For substantive questions, contact Bob 
Kennedy, Tariff Project Manager, Western Area Power Administration, 
Lakewood, Colorado, at (720) 962-7249. For information on the informal 
meeting, copies of documents posted on Western's Web site, or for 
questions on how to submit comments, contact Carolyn Hinkley, Corporate 
Communications, Western Area Power Administration, Lakewood, Colorado, 
at (720) 962-7053. Both individuals may be contacted by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Western is a Federal power marketing 
administration, charged with the responsibility of selling and 
transmitting wholesale electrical power from 56 power plants operated 
by the Bureau of Reclamation, the Corps of Engineers and the 
International Boundary and Water Commission. Created in 1977, pursuant 
to section 302 of the Department of Energy Organization Act, Western 
markets and transmits Federal power resources from various multi-
purpose hydroelectric projects to customers in 15 Central and Western 
States. Western has four Customer Service Regional Offices and the 
Colorado River Storage Project Management Center, each referred to in 
the revised Tariff as a Regional Office.
    Public utilities are required to file an open access transmission 
tariff with the FERC which provides non-discriminatory access to their 
transmission systems. While Western is not a public utility under 
section 205 of the Federal Power Act, Western has on file with the FERC 
an open access transmission tariff that is consistent with or superior 
to the FERC's pro forma tariff. Western's Tariff allows it to receive 
reciprocal treatment from public utilities that are subject to FERC 
jurisdiction. Open access filings by non-jurisdictional entities such 
as Western are referred to as ``safe harbor'' tariffs. Western's 
existing Tariff was approved by the FERC on September 6, 2007, and was 
effective on May 21, 2007, consistent with the FERC's June 28, 2007, 
Order (119 FERC ] 61,329).
    On February 15, 2007, the FERC issued Order No. 890, Preventing 
Undue Discrimination and Preference in Transmission Service (FERC 
Stats. & Regs. ] 31,241 (2007)) (Order 890), to amend its regulations 
and the pro forma open access transmission tariff. Order 890, as 
amended, will help ensure that transmission service is provided on a 
nondiscriminatory, just and reasonable basis; provide the foundation 
for a competitive electric power market; and provide for more effective 
regulation and transparency in the operation of the transmission grid.
    Order No. 890 requires all public utilities that own, control, or 
operate facilities used for transmission of electric energy in 
interstate commerce to modify their open access transmission tariffs to 
incorporate Order 890, and requires non-public utilities with a ``safe 
harbor'' Tariff to adopt the pro forma Order 890 tariff to retain 
``safe harbor'' status. Western seeks to retain its ``safe harbor'' 
status through compliance with the spirit and intent of Order 890, as

[[Page 23186]]

amended, to the extent consistent with applicable law.
    Western will accept comments on the revised Tariff until the close 
of the informal comment period on July 1, 2009. Western will present an 
explanation of the revised Tariff at an informal public meeting to be 
held on June 2, 2009, at 10 a.m. MDT, followed by a public comment 
forum at 11 a.m. MDT, both at Western's Corporate Services Office at 
12155 W. Alameda Parkway in Lakewood, Colorado. These meetings are 
expected to conclude by 12:30 p.m. Western will accept oral and written 
comments at the comment forum and will accept written comments at any 
time during the informal comment period.
    The revised Tariff, a summary of changes Western intends to make to 
its existing Tariff, and information about the Tariff process are 
posted on Western's Web site at http://www.wapa.gov/transmission/oatt.htm. Unless the comment period is extended or delayed, Western 
anticipates posting the revised Tariff and responses to comments 
received on Western's Web site and OASIS sites in August 2009. Western 
will post comments received at the public meeting or by letter, fax or 
e-mail to this Web site after the close of the comment period. 
Responses to comments will also be posted after they are developed. 
Western must receive written comments by the end of the informal 
comment period to ensure they are considered in Western's filing with 
the FERC.
    As access to Western's facilities is controlled, any U.S. citizen 
wishing to attend meetings at Western must present a government-issued 
form of picture identification, such as a U.S. driver's license, U.S. 
passport, U.S. government ID, or U.S. military ID, at the time of the 
meeting. Foreign nationals should contact Western at least 15 days in 
advance of this meeting to obtain the necessary form for admittance to 
the meeting.

    Dated: May 1, 2009.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9-11524 Filed 5-15-09; 8:45 am]
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