[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59884-59885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18734]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[GDO Docket No. PP-501]


Application for Presidential Permit; Eastern Maine Electric 
Cooperative, Inc.

AGENCY: Grid Deployment Office, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative, Inc. (the Applicant or 
EMEC) has applied for a Presidential permit to acquire, operate, and 
maintain facilities for the distribution of electric energy at the 
international border between the United States and Canada.

DATES: Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on 
or before September 29, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, motions to intervene, or request for 
more information should be addressed by electronic email to 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Gomer, (240) 474-2403, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy (DOE) issues 
permits for the construction, operation, maintenance, or connection of 
electric transmission facilities at the United States international 
border, pursuant to E.O. 10485, as amended by E.O. 12038. On April 10, 
2023, the authority to issue such orders was delegated to the DOE's 
Grid Deployment Office (GDO) by Delegation Order No. S1-DEL-S3-2023 and 
Redelegation Order No. S3-DEL-GD1-2023.
    On June 2, 2022, EMEC filed an application (Application or App.) 
with the DOE ``to import a small amount of energy from New Brunswick, 
Canada to serve two small seasonal camps that are in EMEC's service 
territory near the Canadian border.'' App. at 1. EMEC ``is a nonprofit 
utility built by and belonging to the communities it serves in 
Aroostook County, Penobscot County, and Washington County, Maine, which 
are located on Maine's Eastern Border with Canada.'' Id. at 2. The 
Applicant states ``the two camps have been served by New Brunswick 
Power Corporation (NB Power)'', Id. at 1, via the existing Loon Bay 
Distribution Line. See Id. at Exhibit 1. NB Power ``is a vertically-
integrated Crown Corporation wholly owned by the Government of New 
Brunswick, Canada'', Id. at 2, and it ``would like to cease retail 
service to the camps.'' Id. at 4. The Applicant further represents 
that, ``To facilitate EMEC's acquisition and operation of the 
distribution assets, NB Power has applied to the Canadian Energy 
Regulator for a border accommodation export permit.'' Id. at 5. 
Additionally, EMEC has an agreement with NB Power ``for the purchase of 
electric energy,'' effective from November 1, 2020, through October 31, 
2025. Id. at 3.
    The facilities for which EMEC seeks a permit ``consists of one 
single phase overhead circuit, which is a 7200-volt distribution line, 
60Hz. The conductor size is either #6 or #4 wire. It is a single-phase 
line with a neutral.'' Id. at 4. The total length of the line is 
approximately 940 feet. Id. The line serves two seasonal dwellings and 
the annual kilowatt hours transmitted are estimated at less than 10,000 
kilowatt hours. Id. at 5.
    DOE Evaluation: Before a Presidential permit may be issued or 
amended, DOE must determine that the proposed action is in the public 
interest. In making that determination, DOE considers the environmental 
impacts of the proposed project, determines the project's impact on 
reliability of the United States electric grid, and weighs any other 
factors that it may also deem relevant to the public interest. DOE must 
also obtain favorable recommendations of the Secretary of State and the 
Secretary

[[Page 59885]]

of Defense before taking final action on a Presidential permit 
application.
    Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to be heard in this 
proceeding should file a comment or protest to the Application at 
[email protected]. Protests should be filed in accordance 
with Rule 211 of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Rules of 
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211). Any person desiring to become 
a party to this proceeding should file a motion to intervene at 
[email protected] in accordance with FERC Rule 214 (18 CFR 
385.214).
    Comments and other filings concerning EMEC's Application should be 
clearly marked with GDO Docket No. PP-501. Additional copies are to be 
provided directly to Scott Hallowell, PO Box 425, Calais, ME 04619, 
[email protected]; and Michael Postar and Ellen Hill, Duncan, Weinberg, 
Genzer & Pembroke, P.C., 1667 K Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 
20006, [email protected] and [email protected].
    Copies of this Application will be made available, upon request, on 
the program website at https://www.energy.gov/gdo/pending-applications-0 or by emailing [email protected].
    Signing Authority: This document of the Department of Energy was 
signed on August 24, 2023, by Maria Robinson, Director, Grid Deployment 
Office, 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 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 August 25, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023-18734 Filed 8-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P