[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 117 (Friday, June 19, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 29197]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-14447]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[OE Docket No. PP-89-2]


Application To Amend Presidential Permit; Bangor Hydro-Electric 
Company

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

ACTION: Notice of Application.

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SUMMARY: Bangor Hydro-Electric Company (BHE) has applied to amend the 
Presidential permit issued in Order No. PP-89-1.

DATES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene must be submitted 
on or before July 20, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability (OE-20), U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lamont Jackson (Program Office) at 
202-586-0808, or by e-mail to [email protected], or Michael T. 
Skinker (Program Attorney) at 202-586-2793.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The construction, operation, maintenance, 
and connection of facilities at the international border of the United 
States for the transmission of electric energy between the United 
States and a foreign country is prohibited in the absence of a 
Presidential permit issued pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 10485, as 
amended by EO 12038.
    On December 30, 2005, DOE issued a Presidential permit to BHE in 
Order No. PP-89-1, authorizing it to construct a 345,000-volt (345-kV) 
transmission line that originates at BHE's Orrington, Maine, substation 
and extends approximately 85 miles eastward crossing the U.S. 
international border with Canada in the vicinity of Baileyville, Maine. 
Article 3 of that Order limited operation of the permitted facilities, 
in combination with the 345-kV international transmission line owned by 
Maine Electric Power Company (MEPCo; Presidential Permit PP-43), to an 
instantaneous rate of transmission of 1,000 MW in the import mode and 
400 MW in the export mode.
    On April 17, 2009, BHE applied to DOE to amend Presidential Permit 
PP-89-1 by increasing the export limit contained in Article 3 from 400 
MW to 550 MW. To support its application, BHE has provided engineering 
studies that demonstrate that the addition of the PP-89-1 facilities, 
along with upgrades to the MEPCo 345-kV international transmission 
facility, can allow for scheduled electric power flows across the New 
Brunswick-New England Interface in continuous quantities up to 550 MW 
in the export mode.
    When DOE issues electricity export authorizations or Presidential 
permits, it routinely places limits on the amount of power allowed to 
be exported or transmitted over a permitted international transmission 
line. DOE usually defines these power limits as the ``maximum 
instantaneous rate of transmission.'' In its application, BHE also has 
requested that DOE change the way it refers to this limit to 
``scheduled rate of transmission.'' BHE asserts that this is a clearer 
description of how energy is scheduled and actually flows over the 
power system in North America. BHE's application further asserts that 
``an instantaneous flow that exceeds a scheduled flow for a short 
period presents no material reliability risk.'' DOE specifically seeks 
comment on the appropriateness of using this new way of referring to 
the power limits placed in export authorizations and Presidential 
permits.
    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.  385.211 or 385.214 
of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Rules of Practice 
and Procedures (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of each 
comment, petition and protest should be filed with DOE on or before the 
date listed above.
    Additional copies of such petitions to intervene or protests also 
should be filed directly with: Mr. Robert J.S. Hanf, Bangor Hydro 
Electric Co., 21 Telcom Drive, Bangor, ME 04402; and Mr. James Spurr, 
Emera, Inc., 1894 Barrington Street, Barrington Tower, Halifax, Nova 
Scotia, Canada B3J2A8.
    Before a Presidential permit may be granted or amended, DOE must 
determine that the proposed action will not adversely impact on the 
reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system. In addition, DOE 
must consider the environmental impacts of the proposed action (i.e., 
granting the Presidential permit or amendment, with any conditions and 
limitations, or denying the permit) pursuant to the National 
Environmental Policy Act of 1969. DOE also must obtain the concurrences 
of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense before taking 
final action on a Presidential permit application.
    Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, 
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above. In 
addition, the application may be reviewed or downloaded electronically 
at http://www.oe.energy.gov/permitting/electricity_imports_exports.htm. Upon reaching the home page, select ``Pending 
Applications.''

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 16, 2009.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery and 
Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. E9-14447 Filed 6-18-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P