[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 146 (Friday, July 30, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44942-44944]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-18742]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


2015 Resource Pool--Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Power Allocations.

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SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a Federal 
power marketing administration of the Department of Energy (DOE), 
published its 2004 Power Marketing Plan (Marketing Plan) for the Sierra 
Nevada Customer Service Region (SNR) in the Federal Register on June 
25, 1999. The Marketing Plan specifies the terms and conditions under 
which Western will market power from the Central Valley Project (CVP) 
and the Washoe Project beginning January 1, 2005, and continuing 
through December 31, 2024. The Marketing Plan provided for a portion of 
SNR's resources to be reallocated through a 2015 Resource Pool. On June 
3, 2009, Western published a Call for 2015 Resource Pool Applications. 
On September 28, 2009, Western published a Notice of Extension to file 
applications. This notice announces Western's proposed allocations of 
power from the 2015 Resource Pool.

DATES: Entities interested in commenting on Western's proposed 
allocations must submit written comments to Western's SNR Office at the 
address below. Western must receive written comments by the close of 
the comment period. The comment period closes at 4 p.m., Pacific 
Daylight Time, on August 30, 2010. Entities are encouraged to submit 
comments through electronic mail or to use certified mail. Comments 
will also be accepted via regular mail through the United States Postal 
Service if postmarked at least 3 days before August 30, 2010, and 
received no later than September 1, 2010. Western reserves the right 
not to consider comments that are not timely received. After 
considering the comments, Western will publish a Notice of Final 2015 
Resource Pool Allocations in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be sent to Ms. Sonja Anderson, Power 
Marketing Manager, Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region, Western Area 
Power Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630, or by 
electronic mail to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sonja Anderson, Power Marketing 
Manager, Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630, (916) 353-4421, 
or by electronic mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    Pursuant to the Marketing Plan (64 FR 34417, June 25, 1999), 
Western published the Call for 2015 Resource Pool Applications in the 
Federal Register (74 FR 26671, June 3, 2009). Western subsequently 
published a Notice of Extension in the Federal Register (74 FR 49366, 
September 28, 2009). The Call for 2015 Resource Pool Applications 
required that applications for Federal power from the CVP and Washoe 
Projects be submitted by August 3, 2009, and the Notice of Extension 
extended the submission date to October 28, 2009.
    CVP power facilities are operated by the U.S. Department of the 
Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), and include 11 
powerplants with a maximum operating capability of about 2,044 
megawatts (MW), and an estimated average annual generation of 3.3 
million megawatthours (MWh). Western markets and transmits power 
available from the CVP.
    The Washoe Project's Stampede Powerplant also is operated by 
Reclamation and has a maximum operating capability of 3.65 MW with an 
estimated annual generation of 10,000 MWh. The Sierra Pacific Power 
Company owns and operates the only transmission system available for 
access to the Stampede Powerplant.
    Western owns the 94 circuit-mile Malin-Round Mountain 500-kilovolt 
(kV) transmission line and the 84 circuit-mile Los Banos-Gates No. 3 
500-kV transmission line (both integral parts of the Pacific Northwest-
Pacific Southwest Intertie), 803 circuit miles of 230-kV transmission 
line, 7 circuit miles of 115-kV transmission line, and approximately 63 
circuit miles of 69-kV and below transmission line. Western also has 
part ownership in the 342-mile California-Oregon Transmission Project. 
Many of Western's existing customers have no direct access to Western's 
transmission lines and receive service over transmission lines owned by 
other utilities.
    The Marketing Plan describes how SNR will market its power 
resources beginning January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2024. Western 
proposes to allocate portions of the 2015 Resource Pool to applicants 
meeting the eligibility criteria listed in the Marketing Plan. Once the 
2015 Resource Pool allocations have been finalized, Western will offer 
contracts to allottees for a percentage of the Base Resource. If 
requested, Western will work with the allottees to develop a customized 
product to meet their needs, as more fully described in the Marketing 
Plan.

[[Page 44943]]

Proposed 2015 Resource Pool Allocations

    Pursuant to the Marketing Plan, a two-step process was undertaken 
by Western to determine proposed power allocations. First, Western 
determined which applicants met the eligibility criteria. Next, Western 
used the allocation criteria to determine allocation amounts. Western 
then determined which eligible entities received a proposed allocation 
and the amount of the proposed allocation. Western received 44 
applications from existing customers and 13 applications from entities 
who are not currently customers.
    The proposed 2015 Resource Pool allocations are preliminary and may 
be changed based on comments received. This notice formally requests 
comments related to the proposed allocations. After considering timely 
comments, Western will publish a Notice of Final 2015 Resource Pool 
Allocations in the Federal Register. Western will respond to comments 
received on the proposed allocations in that notice.
    The proposed 2015 Resource Pool allottees, the allocations 
expressed as percentages of the Base Resource, and the estimated MWh 
amounts of each allocation are listed below. The estimated MWh for each 
allocation assumes an estimated average annual Base Resource of 
3,342,000 MWh and are rounded to the nearest MWh. The proposed 
allocations are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Base resource
                Applicant                   allocation       Estimated
                                             (percent)         (MWh)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alameda Municipal Power.................         0.06140           2,052
Bay Area Rapid Transit District.........         0.06140           2,052
California State University, Sacramento.         0.06140           2,052
Cawelo Water District...................         0.06140           2,052
Dry Creek Rancheria Band of Pomo Indians         0.07795           2,605
East Bay Municipal Utility District.....         0.06140           2,052
Fallon, City of.........................         0.06140           2,052
Healdsburg, City of.....................         0.06140           2,052
Hoopa Valley Tribe......................         0.12274           4,102
Kings River Conservation District.......         0.00491             164
Klamath Water and Power Agency..........         0.04668           1,560
Lassen Municipal Utility District.......         0.06140           2,052
Lodi, City of...........................         0.06140           2,052
Lompoc, City of.........................         0.06140           2,052
Marin Energy Authority..................         0.62094          20,752
Merced Irrigation District..............         0.06140           2,052
Navy, U.S. Dept of, Monterey Post                0.04873           1,628
 Graduate School........................
Picayune Rancheria of the Chukchansi             0.00674             225
 Indians................................
Presido Trust...........................         0.03503           1,170
Santa Clara Valley Water District.......         0.06140           2,052
Sonoma County Water Agency..............         0.06140           2,052
South San Joaquin Irrigation District...         0.01400             468
Stockton, Port of.......................         0.02421             809
Truckee Donner Public Utility District..         0.06140           2,052
Turlock Irrigation District.............         0.06140           2,052
University of California, San Francisco.         0.06140           2,052
Zone 7, Alameda County Flood Control &           0.01573             525
 Water Conservation District............
                                         -------------------------------
                                                ;2.00000          66,840
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contracting Process

    Once the final 2015 Resource Pool allocations have been determined 
and published, Western will work with the allottees to develop a 
customized product to meet their needs as requested by such allottees 
and as more fully described in the Marketing Plan. It is each 
allottee's responsibility to obtain transmission arrangements for the 
delivery of power to its load. Upon request, Western may assist an 
allottee in obtaining transmission arrangements for the delivery of 
power. If an allottee fails to secure delivery arrangements acceptable 
to Western, Western will withdraw the allocation. Western will offer a 
prototype contract for power allocated under the final 2015 Resource 
Pool allocations. Allottees will be required to execute a contract 
within 6 months of the contract offer. Electric service contracts will 
be effective upon Western's signature, and service will begin on 
January 1, 2015.

Authorities

    The Marketing Plan, published in the Federal Register (64 FR 34417) 
on June 25, 1999, was established pursuant to the Department of Energy 
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101-7352); the Reclamation Act of June 17, 
1902 (ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388) as amended and supplemented by subsequent 
enactments, particularly section 9(c) of the Reclamation Project Act of 
1939 (43 U.S.C. 485(c)); and other acts specifically applicable to the 
projects involved. This action falls within the Marketing Plan and, 
thus, is covered by the same authority.

Regulatory Procedure Requirements

Environmental Compliance

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 
U.S.C. 4321-4347), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing 
regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508), and DOE NEPA implementing 
regulations (10 CFR part 1021), Western completed an Environmental 
Impact Statement (EIS) on its Energy Planning and Management Program. 
The Record of Decision was published in the Federal Register (60 FR 
53181, October 12, 1995). Western also completed the 2004 Power 
Marketing Program EIS (2004 EIS), and the Record of Decision was 
published in the Federal Register (62 FR 22934, April 28, 1997). The 
Marketing Plan falls within the range of alternatives

[[Page 44944]]

considered in the 2004 EIS. This NEPA review identified and analyzed 
environmental effects related to the Marketing Plan. This action falls 
within the Marketing Plan and, thus, is covered by the 2004 EIS.

    Dated: July 22, 2010.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2010-18742 Filed 7-29-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P