[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Page 1408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-213]


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DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Reclamation


Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, Eastern and Western Division 
Proposed Project Use Power Rate

AGENCY: Bureau of Reclamation, Interior.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, Eastern 
and Western Divisions, Project Use Power Rate Adjustment.

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SUMMARY: The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is proposing a rate 
adjustment (proposed rate) for Project Use Power for the Pick-Sloan 
Missouri Basin Program (P-SMBP), Eastern and Western Divisions. The 
proposed rate for Project Use Power is to recover all annual operating, 
maintenance, and replacement expenses. The analysis of the proposed 
Project Use Power Rate is included in a booklet available upon request. 
The proposed rate for Project Use Power will become effective February 
19, 2010.
    This notice provides the opportunity for public comment. After 
review of comments received, Reclamation will consider them, revise the 
rates if necessary, and recommend a proposed rate for approval to the 
Secretary of the Interior's Office.

DATES: The comment period will begin with publication of this notice in 
the Federal Register. To be assured consideration, please submit 
comments on or before February 10, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Please send written comments to Mike Ferguson, GP-2020, 
Power O&M Administrator, Bureau of Reclamation, P.O. Box 36900, 
Billings, MT 59107-6900.
    All booklets, studies, comments, letters, memoranda, and other 
documents made or kept by Reclamation for the purpose of developing the 
proposed rate for Project Use Power will be made available for 
inspection and copying at the Great Plains Regional Office, located at 
316 North 26th Street, Billings, MT 59101.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mike Ferguson, Bureau of Reclamation, 
Great Plains Regional Office at (406) 247-7705 or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Proposed Rate Adjustment

    Power rates for the P-SMBP are established pursuant to the 
Reclamation Act of 1902 (43 U.S.C. 371 et seq.), as amended and 
supplemented by subsequent enactments, particularly section 9(c) of the 
Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h (c)) and the Flood 
Control Act of 1944 (58 Stat. 887).
    Beginning February 19, 2010, Reclamation proposes to:
    (a) Increase the energy charge from 12.55 mills/kWh to 16.17 mills/
kWh.
    (b) the monthly demand charge will remain at zero.
    The Project Use Power Rate will be reviewed each time Western Area 
Power Administration (Western) adjusts the P-SMBP Firm Power Rate. 
Western will conduct the necessary studies and use the methodology 
identified in this rate proposal to determine a new rate.
    The existing rate schedule MRB-P12 placed into effect on January 
21, 2006, will be replaced by rate schedule MRB-P13. The new rate 
schedule will include clarifying language for entities exceeding the 
contract rate of delivery (CROD). Coincident electrical demand in 
excess of the CROD will result in a penalty where a share of that 
month's energy proportional to the excess will be charged at ten (10) 
times the current project use rate as reflected in rate schedule MRB-
13. The penalty will be calculated as follows:
    P = (((BD/CROD)--1) * BE) * (10 * CR)

    Where: P = Penalty ($)
    BD = Billed Demand (kW)
    CROD = Contract Rate of Delivery (kW)
    BE = Billed Energy (kWh)
    CR = Current Project Use Power Rate (mills/kWh)

    The customer will also be billed for any increased capacity and 
transmission charges incurred by the Government as a result of 
exceeding the CROD.
    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA), 42 U.S.S. 4321 et seq.; Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508); and Reclamation's Regulations (10 
CFR Part 1021), Reclamation has determined that this action is 
categorically excluded from the preparation of an Environmental 
Assessment or Environmental Impact Statement.
    Before including your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, 
or other personal identifying information in any correspondence, you 
should be aware that your entire correspondence, including your 
personal identifying information, may be made publicly available at any 
time. While you can request in your correspondence that Reclamation 
withhold your personal identifying information from public review, we 
cannot guarantee Reclamation is able to do so. Reclamation will make 
all submissions from organizations or businesses, and from individuals 
identifying themselves as representatives or officials of organizations 
or businesses, available for public disclosure in their entirety.

    Dated: November 20, 2009.
Gary W. Campbell,
Deputy Regional Director.
[FR Doc. 2010-213 Filed 1-8-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4310-MN-P