[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 77 (Friday, April 23, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21726-21727]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-08494]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Colorado River Storage Project--Rate Order No. WAPA-195

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of proposed formula rate for Joint Dispatch Transmission 
Service.

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SUMMARY: The Colorado River Storage Project Management Center (CRSP MC) 
of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) proposes a 5-year, 
Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) Joint Dispatch Transmission 
Service (JDTS) formula rate for use under the Western Energy Imbalance 
Service (WEIS) Market through September 30, 2026. The proposed rate is 
unchanged from the existing rate for short-term sales of JDTS under 
Rate Schedule SP-NFJDT expiring September 30, 2021.

DATES: A consultation and comment period will begin April 23, 2021 and 
end May 24, 2021. CRSP MC will accept written comments at any time 
during the 30-day consultation and comment period.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests to be informed of Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) actions concerning the proposed 
formula rate submitted by WAPA to FERC for approval should be sent to: 
Mr. Rodney Bailey, Acting CRSP Manager, Colorado River Storage Project 
Management Center, Western Area Power Administration, 1800 South Rio 
Grande Avenue, Montrose, CO 81401, or email: [email protected]. 
CRSP MC will post information about the proposed formula rate and the 
written comments received to its website at: https://www.wapa.gov/regions/CRSP/rates/Pages/rates.aspx.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Thomas Hackett, Rates Manager, 
Colorado River Storage Project Management Center, Western Area Power 
Administration, (801) 524-5503, or email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On December 29, 2020, WAPA's Administrator 
approved a rate for short-term sales of JDTS for the 8-month period 
February 1, 2021, through September 30, 2021.
    WAPA proposes that a 5-year JDTS formula rate go into effect on 
October 1, 2021. The proposed formula rate would remain in effect until 
September 30, 2026, or until WAPA changes the formula rate through 
another public rate process pursuant to 10 CFR part 903, whichever 
occurs first. For more information on the proposed rate, please see the 
customer brochure located on CRSP's website at: https://www.wapa.gov/regions/CRSP/rates/Pages/rate-order-195.aspx.

Legal Authority

    Existing DOE procedures for public participation and approval of 
power and transmission rate adjustments (10 CFR part 903) were 
published in 1985 and 2019.\1\ The proposed action constitutes a minor 
rate adjustment as defined by 10 CFR 903.2(e). In accordance with 10 
CFR 903.15(a) and 10 CFR 903.16(a), WAPA has determined it is not 
necessary to hold public information and public comment forums for this 
rate action. However, WAPA is initiating a 30-day consultation and 
comment period to give the public an opportunity to comment on the 
proposed formula rate. CRSP MC will review and consider all timely 
public comments at the conclusion of the consultation and comment 
period and make amendments or adjustments to the proposal as 
appropriate. The rates will then be approved on an interim basis.
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    \1\ 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 (Feb. 21, 2019).
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    WAPA is establishing the JDTS formula rate for CRSP in accordance 
with section 302 of the DOE Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7152).\2\
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    \2\ This Act transferred to, and vested in, the Secretary of 
Energy the power marketing functions of the Secretary of the 
Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation 
(Reclamation) under the Reclamation Act of 1902 (ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 
388), as amended and supplemented by subsequent laws, particularly 
section 9(c) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 
485h(c)); and other Acts that specifically apply to the project 
involved.
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    By Delegation Order No. 00-037.00B, effective November 19, 2016, 
the Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) The authority to develop power 
and transmission rates to WAPA's Administrator; (2) the authority to 
confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis 
to the Deputy Secretary of Energy; and (3) the authority to confirm, 
approve, and place into effect on a final basis, or to remand or 
disapprove such rates to FERC. By Delegation Order No. S1-DEL-S4-2021, 
effective February 25, 2021, the Acting Secretary of Energy also 
delegated the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into 
effect on an interim basis to the Under Secretary for Science (and 
Energy). By Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10E, effective February 14, 
2020, the Under Secretary of Energy (to whom such authority was 
delegated by the Secretary of Energy in Delegation Order No. 00-002.00S 
from January 15, 2020, until that delegation was rescinded on February 
25, 2021) redelegated the authority to confirm, approve, and place such 
rates into effect on an interim basis to the Assistant Secretary for 
Electricity. By Redelegation Order No. 00-002.10-05, effective July 8, 
2020, the Assistant Secretary for Electricity further redelegated the 
authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an 
interim basis to WAPA's Administrator. The delegations and 
redelegations not affirmatively rescinded remain valid.

Availability of Information

    All brochures, studies, comments, letters, memorandums, or other 
documents that CRSP MC initiates or uses to develop the proposed 
formula rate are available for inspection and copying at the CRSP MC, 
located at 1800 South Rio Grande Avenue, Montrose, Colorado. Many of 
these documents and supporting information are also available on WAPA's 
website at: https://www.wapa.gov/regions/CRSP/rates/Pages/rates.aspx.

Ratemaking Procedure Requirements

Environmental Compliance

    WAPA is in the process of determining whether an environmental 
assessment or an environmental impact statement should be prepared or 
if this action can be categorically excluded from those 
requirements.\3\
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    \3\ In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act 
(NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321-4347); 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).
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Determination Under Executive Order 12866

    WAPA 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.

Signing Authority

    This document of the Department of Energy was signed on April 9, 
2021, by Tracey A. LeBeau, Interim Administrator, Western Area Power 
Administration, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of 
Energy. That document, with the original signature and date, is 
maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance 
with requirements of

[[Page 21727]]

the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal 
Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the 
document in electronic format for publication, as an official document 
of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way 
alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the 
Federal Register.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on April 20, 2021.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2021-08494 Filed 4-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P