[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 203 (Thursday, October 22, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Page 54558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-25437]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[OE Docket No. EA-64-A]


Application To Export Electric Energy; Basin Electric Power 
Cooperative

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

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) has applied 
to amend its authorization to export electric energy from the United 
States to Canada issued pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power 
Act.

DATES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene must be submitted 
on or before November 23, 2009.

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 March 6, 1980, DOE issued Order No. EA-64 authorizing Basin 
Electric to transmit electric energy from the United States to 
Saskatchewan Power Corporation (SaskPower), the provincial electric 
utility of Saskatchewan, Canada, using Basin Electric's international 
transmission facilities known as the Tioga-Saskatchewan 230-kV 
intertie. Construction of these facilities was authorized by DOE in 
Presidential Permit No. PP-64. Order No. EA-64 contained limits on the 
capacity and energy that could be exported during peak and non-peak 
times in accordance with the 1978 Interconnection and Transaction 
Agreement between Basin Electric and SasksPower. For peaking exports, 
Basin Electric was limited to a capacity of 100 megawatts with an 
energy limit of 438,000 megawatt hours (MWH) in any calendar year.
    On October 13, 2009, Basin Electric applied to DOE to amend Order 
No. EA-64 in order to be able to export to NorthPoint Energy Solutions, 
a subsidiary of SaskPower, and future purchasers inside Canada. In 
addition, Basic Electric seeks to remove the 438,000-MWH energy limit 
and increase the capacity limit to 165 MW, which Basin Electric claims 
is the present total transfer capacity of the Tioga-Saskatchewan 230-kV 
intertie.
    The electric energy which Basin Electric proposes to export to 
Canada would be provided from its own generation resources or purchased 
by Basin Electric from other sources.
    Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to become a party to these 
proceedings 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 Basin Electric application to export electric 
energy to Canada should be clearly marked with Docket No. EA-64-A. 
Additional copies are to be filed directly with Dave Rantz, Basin 
Electric Power Cooperative, 1717 Interstate Avenue, Bismarck, ND 58503. 
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 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, by 
accessing the program Web site at http://www.oe.energy.gov/permits_pending.htm, or by e-mailing Odessa Hopkins at 
[email protected].

    Issued in Washington, DC, on October 16, 2009.
Ellen Russell,
Acting Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery 
and Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. E9-25437 Filed 10-21-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P