[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 250 (Monday, December 30, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79444-79446]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31220]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Loveland Area Projects--2025 Power Marketing Initiative

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Final 2025 Power Marketing Initiative.

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SUMMARY: Western Area Power Administration (Western), Rocky Mountain 
Region, a Federal power marketing agency of the Department of Energy 
(DOE), announces the 2025 Power Marketing Initiative (2025 PMI). The 
2025 PMI provides the basis for marketing the long-term firm 
hydroelectric resources of the Loveland Area Projects (LAP) beginning 
with the Federal fiscal year 2025. Western's Firm Electric Service 
(FES) contracts associated with the current marketing plan expire 
September 30, 2024. The 2025 PMI extends the current marketing plan, 
with amendments to key marketing plan principles.
    Western's proposed 2025 PMI was published in the Federal Register 
on October 17, 2011. Responses to public comments are included in this 
notice. This Federal Register notice is published to announce Western's 
decisions for the 2025 PMI.

DATES: The 2025 PMI will become effective January 29, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Information regarding the 2025 PMI, including comments, 
letters, and other supporting documents made

[[Page 79445]]

or retained by Western for the purpose of developing this 2025 PMI, are 
available for public inspection and copying at Western Area Power 
Administration, Rocky Mountain Region, 5555 East Crossroads Boulevard, 
Loveland, CO 80538-8986.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John C. Gierard, Hydraulic 
Engineer, Western Area Power Administration, Rocky Mountain Region, 
5555 East Crossroads Boulevard, Loveland, CO 80538-8986, telephone 
(970) 461-7445, email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Current Marketing Plan Background

    The Post-1989 General Power Marketing and Allocation Criteria 
(Post-1989 Plan) for the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program-Western 
Division and the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project (collectively known as 
Loveland Area Projects or LAP) was published in the Federal Register 
(51 FR 4012, January 31, 1986) and provided the marketing plan 
principles used to market LAP firm hydropower resources. The FES 
contracts associated with the Post-1989 Plan were initially to expire 
September 30, 2004. Subpart C of the Energy Planning and Management 
Program (EPAMP) final rule, published in the Federal Register (60 FR 
54151, October 20, 1995), extended and amended the Post-1989 Plan. 
EPAMP authorized extending the FES contracts associated with the Post-
1989 Plan through September 30, 2024, and established the Post-2004, 
Post-2009, and Post-2014 resource pools. The current marketing plan is 
inclusive of the Post-1989 Plan as extended and amended by EPAMP and 
the Post-2004, Post-2009, and Post-2014 power marketing initiatives.

2025 PMI

    Western initiated informal 2025 PMI discussions with LAP FES 
customers in the summer of 2011 by holding meetings in the Rocky 
Mountain Region. In addition, Western held meetings with Native 
American tribal governments in Kansas and Wyoming to initiate 
government-to-government consultation with tribal FES customers. The 
meetings provided customers the opportunity to review current marketing 
plan principles and provide informal input to Western for consideration 
in the 2025 PMI proposal. Key marketing plan principles discussed with 
FES customers included: Contract Term, Resource Pools, Marketable 
Resource, Hydrology and River Operations Withdrawal Provision, 
Marketing Area, and Mt. Elbert Pumped-Storage. Customer input for the 
2025 PMI proposal supported Western extending the current marketing 
plan with amendments to the Contract Term and Resource Pool principles.
    Western published its proposed 2025 PMI in the Federal Register (76 
FR 64083, October 17, 2011) and initiated a 106-day public comment 
period. Public information and comment forums on the proposed 2025 PMI 
were held on November 29, 2011, in Loveland, Colorado, and November 30, 
2011, in Topeka, Kansas. Western received no oral comments during the 
public comment forums and nine comment letters during the public 
comment period, which closed at 4 p.m. M.S.T., January 30, 2012.
    Western's responses to the comments contained in the public comment 
letters are included in this notice. After consideration of public 
comments received, Western has decided to finalize the proposed 2025 
PMI as published in the Federal Register (76 FR 64083, October 17, 
2011).

Response to Comments Regarding the Proposed 2025 PMI

    The public comments below regarding the proposed 2025 PMI are 
paraphrased for brevity when not affecting the meaning of the 
statement(s).

2025 PMI General Comment

    Comment: All comments received supported the 2025 PMI proposal. 
Further, the comments indicated the 2025 PMI proposal provided 
certainty in planning and a sense of energy security.
    Response: Western appreciates the support for the 2025 PMI proposal 
published in the Federal Register (76 FR 64083, October 17, 2011).

Amended Marketing Plan Principles and Comments

    1. Proposed Contract Term: A 30-year contract term would be used 
for FES contracts. The FES contract term would begin October 1, 2024, 
and expire September 30, 2054.
    Comment: All comments Western received supported the proposed 30-
year contract term, although one comment also suggested Western 
consider a 40-year contract term. Commenters stated a 30-year contract 
term would provide assurance that the customers who have funded needed 
capital investments would receive the benefits of that commitment. 
Comments further indicated the 30-year contract term would provide 
certainty in customer planning; not adversely affect Western's Federal 
power program responsibilities; and extend the long standing tradition 
of working together.
    Response: Western considered a 40-year contract term; however, it 
agrees with the comments above and believes the 30-year contract term 
strikes the best balance between the customers' need for assurance and 
Western's need for flexibility. Western clarifies it will execute 
contracts prior to October 1, 2024, committing the LAP resource for a 
30-year period from October 1, 2024, and continuing through September 
30, 2054.
    Western also recognizes and appreciates the customers' unique 
contribution in providing funding for needed capital investments in 
support of the Federal power program.
    2. Proposed Resource Pools: The proposed 2025 PMI provides for 
three resource pools of up to 1 percent of the marketable resource 
under contract at the time of each reallocation to be available for 
eligible new preference entities. Reallocations would occur at the 
beginning of the October 1, 2024, contract term and again every 10 
years thereafter on October 1, 2034, and October 1, 2044.
    Comment: Customers supported the proposed structure and timing of 
resource pools stating they will ensure that eligible entities not 
currently receiving the benefits of LAP hydropower will be able to seek 
an allocation in the future. It also will ensure fairness among 
entities through an equitable process.
    Response: Western appreciates the customers' support of the 
proposed resource pools. The resource pools allow Western to market 
allocations of firm power to eligible new preference entities in such a 
manner as to promote the most widespread use, in accordance with 
Federal Reclamation law.

Extended Marketing Plan Principles and Comments

    1. Proposed Marketable Resource: Extend the existing contract rates 
of delivery commitments, with associated energy, to existing long-term 
FES customers reduced by up to 1 percent for each new resource pool on 
October 1, 2024, October 1, 2034, and October 1, 2044.
    Comment: Two commenters specifically supported continuation of the 
current marketable resource, noting Western worked with the United 
States Bureau of Reclamation in analyzing historic hydrologic data to 
affirm the viability of the current marketable resource.
    Response: Western appreciates the customers' support of its 
determination of marketable resource.
    2. Proposed Hydrology and River Operations Withdrawal Provision:

[[Page 79446]]

Western would reserve the right to adjust, at its discretion and sole 
determination, the contract rate of delivery on 5 years advance written 
notice in response to changes in hydrology and river operations.
    Comment: It was noted Western's proposed withdrawal provision 
fairly reflects the variety of forces that could impact Western's 
administration of LAP and would provide Western with the tools to 
address any substantial changes in hydrology and river operations.
    Response: Western appreciates the customers' support of flexibility 
for Western to adjust contract rates of delivery in response to changes 
in hydrology and river operations.
    3. Proposed Marketing Area: Western would continue the current LAP 
marketing area which is the portion of Colorado east of the Continental 
Divide; Mountain Parks Electric, Inc.'s service territory in Colorado 
west of the Continental Divide; the portion of Kansas located in the 
Missouri River Basin; the portion of Kansas west of the eastern borders 
of the counties intersected by the 100th Meridian; the portion of 
Nebraska west of the 101st Meridian; and Wyoming east of the 
Continental Divide.
    Comment: Customers supported continuing the current LAP marketing 
area and commented that since LAP is a finite and defined resource, 
expansion of the marketing area is impracticable.
    Response: Western appreciates the customers' support of the 
proposed LAP marketing area.
    4. Proposed Mt. Elbert Pumped-Storage: Western would extend the 
current Mt. Elbert Pumped-Storage contract provisions, which provide 
for pumped-storage energy.
    Comment: Western received no comments on the proposed Mt. Elbert 
Pumped-Storage.

Final 2025 PMI

    Western will extend the current marketing plan with amendments to 
the Contract Term and Resource Pool principles. The marketing plan 
principles that are amended as well as the marketing plan principles 
that are extended are as follows:

Amended Marketing Plan Principles

    1. Contract Term: Western extends its commitment of the LAP 
resource for a 30-year period beginning October 1, 2024, and continuing 
through September 30, 2054.
    2. Resource Pools: The 2025 PMI provides resource pools of up to 1 
percent of the marketable resource under contract at the time for 
eligible new preference entities. Reallocations will occur beginning 
October 1, 2024, and again every 10 years thereafter (October 1, 2034, 
and October 1, 2044).

Extended Marketing Plan Principles

    Extension of the current marketing plan includes all provisions and 
principles not specifically addressed in the preceding section entitled 
``Amended Marketing Plan Principles.'' The following key principles of 
the current LAP marketing plan were discussed with FES customers during 
the proposed 2025 PMI informal customer input phase and the formal 
public information forums and are included below for reference 
purposes.
    1. Marketable Resource: The contractually committed contract rate 
of delivery and associated energy in effect on September 30, 2024, will 
be extended subject to up to 1 percent reduction for each of the 
resource pools taking effect on October 1, 2024, October 1, 2034, and 
October 1, 2044.
    2. Hydrology and River Operations Withdrawal Provision: Western 
reserves the right to adjust, at its discretion and sole determination, 
the contract rate of delivery on 5 years advance written notice in 
response to changes in hydrology and river operations.
    3. Marketing Area: The LAP marketing area will be the portion of 
Colorado east of the Continental Divide; Mountain Parks Electric, 
Inc.'s service territory in Colorado west of the Continental Divide; 
the portion of Kansas located in the Missouri River Basin; the portion 
of Kansas west of the eastern borders of the counties intersected by 
the 100th Meridian; the portion of Nebraska west of the 101st Meridian; 
and Wyoming east of the Continental Divide.
    4. Mt. Elbert Pumped-Storage: The full 200 MW of Mt. Elbert 
capacity is included in the LAP capacity allocations. Only flow-through 
generation is included in LAP energy allocations, and customers may 
schedule capacity without energy. Off-peak energy must be returned to 
Western commensurate with any on-peak energy taken.

2025 PMI Procedures Requirements

Environmental Compliance

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 
1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347 (2007)); the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and DOE 
NEPA Implementing Procedures and Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021), Western 
has determined this action is categorically excluded from further NEPA 
review.

Determination Under Executive Order 12866

    Western has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under 
Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no clearance of this notice by the 
Office of Management and Budget is required.

    Dated: December 20, 2013.
Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2013-31220 Filed 12-27-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P