[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 12, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3441-3442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-02016]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


2025 Resource Pool--Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Proposed power allocations from Central Valley and Washoe 
Projects.

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SUMMARY: Western Area Power Administration announces proposed power 
allocations from the 2025 Resource Pool for the Central Valley and 
Washoe projects. Under the final 2025 Power Marketing Plan, 2 percent 
of the existing marketable resource, otherwise known as Base Resource, 
of the Central Valley and Washoe Projects will be allocated to new and 
existing eligible preference customers beginning January 1, 2025 and 
ending December 31, 2054. This notice provides a list of the allottees 
and seeks comments from the public on the proposed resource pool 
allocations.

DATES: Send written comments to the Sierra Nevada Regional Office (SNR) 
at the address below by 4 p.m., Pacific Time, on March 14, 2019. 
Comments can also be submitted through email or certified mail. 
Comments sent via U.S. Postal Service first-class mail will be accepted 
if:
    1. Postmarked at least 3 days before March 14, 2019, and
    2. Received no later than March 18, 2019.
    Comments received after the close of the comment period will not be 
considered. After considering comments, WAPA will publish the Final 
2025 Resource Pool Allocations in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Ms. Sandee Peebles, Public 
Utilities Specialist, Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region, Western 
Area Power Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630. 
Submit comments by email to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Sandee Peebles, Public Utilities 
Specialist, Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region, Western Area Power 
Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630, (916) 353-4454, 
or by email to [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    WAPA published the final 2025 Power Marketing Plan (Marketing Plan) 
on August 15, 2017, (82 FR 38675) to define how WAPA will market 
hydropower from the Central Valley and Washoe projects beginning 
January 1, 2025, and ending December 31, 2054. The current marketing 
plan and contracts expire on December 31, 2024. As part of the final 
Marketing Plan, WAPA will withdraw 2 percent of the existing marketable 
resource from existing customers, also known as Base Resource, to 
create a resource pool. The 2-percent resource pool will be offered to 
eligible preference entities that do not currently have an allocation 
and existing eligible preference customers.
    The Call for 2025 Resource Pool Applications was published in the 
Federal Register on March 8, 2018 (83 FR 9851), and applications were 
due by May 7, 2018. On July 13, 2018, WAPA extended the deadline to 
file applications to August 13, 2018 (83 FR 32664).

Proposed 2025 Resource Pool Allocations

    WAPA received applications for the 2025 Resource Pool from 29 
existing customers and 8 applications from new eligible preference 
entities. WAPA used a two-step process to determine proposed power 
allocations from the 2025 Resource Pool. First, WAPA determined which 
applicants met the eligibility criteria. Next, WAPA used its discretion 
to determine which eligible entities would receive a proposed 
allocation and the amount of the proposed allocation.
    The proposed 2025 Resource Pool allocations are preliminary and may 
change based on comments received. After reviewing the comments, WAPA 
will publish a notice of Final 2025 Resource Pool Allocations in the 
Federal Register and respond to comments.
    The proposed 2025 Resource Pool allottees, percentage of the Base 
Resource, and the estimated megawatt-hours (MWh) 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 is rounded 
to the nearest MWh. The proposed allocations are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           Base resource
                Allottee                  allocation (%)   Estimated MWh
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Army Air Force Exchange.................         0.03960           1,323
California State University, Sacramento.         0.01106             370
Cawelo Water District...................         0.00373             125
Eastside Power Authority................         0.00362             121
Fallon, City of.........................         0.01988             664
Hoopa Valley Tribe......................         0.00158              53
Kirkwood Meadows Public Utilities                0.03793           1,268
 District...............................
Lower Tule Irrigation District..........         0.00197              66
Merced Irrigation District..............         0.10079           3,368
Modesto Irrigation District.............         0.30470          10,183
Monterey Bay Community Power............         0.35347          11,813
Orange Cove Irrigation District.........         0.02382             796
Placer County Water Agency..............         0.00394             132
Reclamation District 108................         0.00072              24

[[Page 3442]]

 
Regents of the University of California.         0.14688           4,909
Roseville, City of......................         0.00979             327
Sacramento Municipal Utility District...         0.01735             580
Santa Clara Water District..............         0.00365             122
Silicon Valley Clean Energy Authority...         0.32467          10,850
Sonoma County Water Agency..............         0.00360             120
Stockton, Port of.......................         0.01155             386
Truckee Donner Public Utility District..         0.03716           1,242
Turlock Irrigation District.............         0.32956          11,014
University of California, Davis.........         0.01949             651
Water Resources, California Department           0.14398           4,812
 of.....................................
Woodland Davis Clean Water Agency.......         0.04371           1,461
Zone 7, Alameda County Flood Control &           0.00180              60
 Water Conservation District............
                                         -------------------------------
                                                 2.00000          66,840
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Additional Base Resource

    Under the final Marketing Plan, there may be future opportunities 
for entities to receive a Base Resource allocation from WAPA, for 
instance:
    1. If an allocation is withdrawn because an allottee is unable to 
execute a contract or secure transmission arrangements for the delivery 
of power by the prescribed dates.
    2. A customer surrenders an allocation.
    3. An allottee's or existing customer's Base Resource allocation is 
greater than its need.
    If additional Base Resource is available for reallocation, WAPA, at 
its discretion and sole determination, reserves the right to reallocate 
the additional Base Resource through bilateral negotiations. WAPA also 
reserves the right to offer any additional Base Resource to (1) 
eligible entities who submitted applications during the 2025 Call for 
Applications, (2) existing customers, (3) new preference entities, or 
(4) any entity on a short-term basis.

Contracting Process

    SNR will offer existing customers 98 percent of their current Base 
Resource allocations. The 2025 Resource Pool consists of the remaining 
2 percent of the power resources. For existing customers who received a 
resource pool allocation, the additional allocation will be included 
with their existing Base Resource allocation.
    WAPA solely determines the terms, conditions, rates, or charges of 
its power contracts and will work with allottees to develop customized 
products, if requested, to meet their needs when the final 2025 
Resource Pool allocations have been published. Each allottee is 
responsible for obtaining transmission arrangements for delivery of 
power to its load. Upon request, WAPA may assist an allottee in 
obtaining transmission arrangements for delivery of power.
    Allottees will be required to execute a contract within six months 
of the contract offer. Electric service contracts will be effective 
upon WAPA's signature, and service will begin on January 1, 2025.

Authorities

    The Marketing Plan, published in the Federal Register (82 FR 38675) 
on August 15, 2017, was established under the Department of Energy 
Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101, et seq.); 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. Allocating power from the resource 
pool falls within the Marketing Plan and is covered by this authority.

Regulatory Procedure Requirements

Environmental Compliance

    WAPA completed a Categorical Exclusion to comply with the National 
Environmental Policy Act, as amended (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), 
Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 CFR 
parts 1500-08), and Department of Energy NEPA implementing regulations 
(10 CFR part 1021).

Determination Under Executive Order 12866

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

    Dated: January 29, 2019.
Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2019-02016 Filed 2-11-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P