Department of Energy November 29, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

DOE has prepared a Special Environmental Analysis (SEA) for Actions Taken under U.S. Department of Energy Emergency Orders Regarding Operation of the Potomac River Generating Station in Alexandria, Virginia, and is announcing its availability. In the SEA, DOE examines environmental impacts from the Secretary of Energy's December 20, 2005 Emergency Order, and the Secretary's September 28, 2006 extension of that Emergency Order; the SEA covers a period of about 24 months beginning in December 2005. The SEA also considers alternatives that include mitigation measures that DOE may take until the Potomac Electric Power Company's (PEPCO) installation of two additional 230 kV electric transmission lines to the Central Washington, DC area (expected in June 2007) that would appear to eliminate the emergency that lead to the issuance of the December 20, 2005 Emergency Order. DOE prepared the SEA after consulting with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) for alternative arrangements under 40 CFR 1506.11, which applies where emergency circumstances make it necessary to take action without preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency worked with DOE on this SEA. Simultaneously with issuance of the SEA, the Secretary is issuing another temporary extension of the Emergency Order until February 1, 2007. DOE is providing the public an opportunity to comment before the Secretary considers whether to allow the Order to expire, extend the Order, or extend the Order with mitigation measures.