[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 29, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Page 44039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18743]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[OE Docket No. EA-459]


Application To Export Electric Energy; Mercuria Energy America, 
Inc.

AGENCY: Office of Electricity, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Mercuria Energy America, Inc. (MEAI or Applicant) has applied 
for authority to transmit electric energy from the United States to 
Mexico pursuant to the Federal Power Act.

DATES: Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on 
or before September 28, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, motions to intervene, or requests for 
more information should be addressed to: Office of Electricity, Mail 
Code: OE-20, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20585-0350. Because of delays in handling conventional 
mail, it is recommended that documents be transmitted by overnight 
mail, by electronic mail to [email protected], or by 
facsimile to 202-586-8008.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Exports of electricity from the United 
States to a foreign country are regulated by the United States 
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) and 
7172(f)) and require authorization under section 202(e) of the Federal 
Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)).
    On July 30, 2018, DOE received an application from MEAI for 
authority to transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico 
as a power marketer for a five-year term using existing international 
transmission facilities. MEAI is also registered as a Purchasing and 
Selling Entity, as defined by the North American Electric Reliability 
Corporation (NERC).
    In its application, MEAI states that it ``does not currently own or 
control electric generation or transmission facilities of its own in 
the United States over which the export of wholesale electricity could 
have a reliability, fuel use, or system stability impact,'' and that it 
does not have a franchised service area. The electric energy that MEAI 
proposes to export to Mexico would be surplus energy purchased from 
third parties such as electric utilities and Federal power marketing 
agencies pursuant to voluntary agreements. The existing international 
transmission facilities to be utilized by the Applicant have previously 
been authorized by Presidential Permits issued pursuant to Executive 
Order 10485, as amended, and are appropriate for open access 
transmission by third parties.
    Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to be heard in this 
proceeding should file a comment or protest to the application at the 
address provided above. Protests should be filed in accordance with 
Rule 211 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC's) Rules 
of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211). Any person desiring to 
become a party to these proceedings should file a motion to intervene 
at the above address in accordance with FERC Rule 214 (18 CFR 385.214). 
Five (5) copies of such comments, protests, or motions to intervene 
should be sent to the address provided above on or before the date 
listed above.
    Comments and other filings concerning MEAI's application to export 
electric energy to Mexico should be clearly marked with OE Docket No. 
EA-459. An additional copy is to be provided to both Chloe Cromarty and 
Mark Greenberg, 20 E. Greenway Plaza, Suite 650, Houston, TX 77046.
    A final decision will be made on this application after the 
environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to DOE's National 
Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part 1021) and 
after a determination is made by DOE that the proposed action will not 
have an adverse impact on the sufficiency of supply or 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 website at http://energy.gov/node/11845, or by 
emailing Angela Troy at [email protected].

    Signed in Washington, DC, on August 23, 2018.
Christopher Lawrence,
Electricity Policy Analyst, Office of Electricity.
[FR Doc. 2018-18743 Filed 8-28-18; 8:45 am]
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