[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 81 (Monday, April 28, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 23337-23338]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-09651]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[OE Docket No. PP-395]


Application To Rescind Presidential Permit; Joint Application for 
Presidential Permit; Maine Public Service Company and Bangor Hydro 
Electric Company

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

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Maine Public Service Company (Maine Public) and Bangor Hydro 
Electric Company (Bangor Hydro) filed a joint application to 
voluntarily transfer the Maine Public facilities authorized by 
Presidential Permit No. PP-29, as amended, to Bangor Hydro. The 
application requested that the Department of Energy (DOE) rescind the 
Presidential permit held by Maine Public and simultaneously issue a 
permit to Bangor Hydro under its new name, Emera Maine (Emera), 
covering the same international transmission facilities.

DATES: Comments or motions to intervene must be submitted on or before 
May 28, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments or motions 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: Christopher Lawrence (Program Office) 
at 202-586-5260, or by email to [email protected], or 
Katherine Konieczny (Program Attorney) at 202-586-0503.

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. Existing Presidential permits are not transferable 
or assignable. However, in the event of a proposed voluntary transfer 
of facilities, in accordance with DOE regulations at 10 CFR 205.323, 
the existing permit holder and the transferee are required to file a 
joint application with DOE that includes a statement of reasons for the 
transfer.
    On December 30, 2013, Maine Public and Bangor Hydro jointly filed 
an application with DOE requesting rescission of Presidential Permit 
No. PP-29, as amended, issued to Maine Public and a simultaneous 
issuance of a Presidential permit to Bangor Hydro for the same 
international transmission facilities. The international transmission 
facilities authorized by Presidential Permit No. PP-29, as amended, 
include two 69 kilovolt (kV) and one 138 kV transmission lines running 
from the Canadian border into Maine.
    The requested transfer of the permit is due to the merger of Maine 
Public and Bangor Hydro that was finalized by the Maine Public 
Utilities Commission on December 17, 2013 and effective January 1, 
2014. The Applicants have requested that the issuance of the permit to 
Bangor Hydro be made effective upon the transfer of facilities, which 
occurred on January 1, 2014.
    Procedural Matters: Any person may comment on this application by 
filing such comment at the address provided above. Any person seeking 
to become a party to this proceeding must file a motion to intervene at 
the address provided above in accordance with Rule 214 of FERC's Rules 
of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.214). Two copies of each comment 
or motion to intervene should be filed with DOE on or before the date 
listed above.
    Additional copies of motions to intervene also should be filed 
directly with: Nathan Martell, Bangor Hydro Electric Company, P.O. Box 
932, Bangor, Maine 04402 and Bonnie A.Suchman, Troutman Sander LLP, 401 
9th St. NW., Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20004.

[[Page 23338]]

    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://energy.gov/oe/services/electricity-policy-coordination-and-implementation/international-electricity-regulatio-2. Upon reaching the 
home page, select ``Pending Applications.''

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 22, 2014.
Christopher A. Lawrence,
Electricity Policy Analyst, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability.
[FR Doc. 2014-09651 Filed 4-25-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P