2015 Resource Pool, 24592-24594 [E8-9816]

Download as PDF rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES 24592 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 87 / Monday, May 5, 2008 / Notices Williston Basin’s blanket certificate issued in Docket No. CP82–487–000 for the construction, authorization, and abandonment of mainline natural gas facilities (compression and measurement) in McKenzie and Williams County, as more fully set forth in the application, which is on file with the Commission and open to public inspection. The facilities will allow Williston Basin to deliver incremental firm transportation service to shippers that signed precedent agreements resulting from an open season ended November 30, 2007. Williston Basin states that the estimated cost to construct the facilities is approximately $7,300,000. The filing may also be viewed on the web at https:// www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (886) 208–3676 or TTY, (202) 502–8659. Any questions concerning this application may be directed to Keith A. Tiggelaar, Director of Regulatory Affairs, Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline Company, 1250 West Century Avenue, Bismarck, North Dakota 58503, or telephone (701) 530–1560 (e-mail keith.tiggelaar@wbip.com). Any person or the Commission’s Staff may, within 60 days after the issuance of the instant notice by the Commission, file pursuant to Rule 214 of the Commission’s Procedural Rules (18 CFR 385.214) a motion to intervene or notice of intervention and, pursuant to section 157.205 of the Commission’s Regulations under the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (18 CFR 157.205) a protest to the request. If no protest is filed within the time allowed therefore, the proposed activity shall be deemed to be authorized effective the day after the time allowed for protest. If a protest is filed and not withdrawn within 30 days after the time allowed for filing a protest, the instant request shall be treated as an application for authorization pursuant to section 7 of the NGA. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments, protests, and interventions via the internet in lieu of paper. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a) (1)(iii) and the instructions on the Commission’s Web site (https:// www.ferc.gov) under the ‘‘e-Filing’’ link. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. E8–9794 Filed 5–2–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:16 May 02, 2008 Jkt 214001 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Western Area Power Administration 2015 Resource Pool Western Area Power Administration, DOE. ACTION: Notice of Proposed 2015 Resource Pool Size and Revised Eligibility Criteria. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a Federal power marketing administration of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), published its 2004 Power Marketing Plan (Marketing Plan) for Western’s Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region (SNR) in the Federal Register on June 25, 1999 (64 FR 34417). The Marketing Plan specifies the terms and conditions under which Western will market power from the Central Valley Project (CVP) and the Washoe Project beginning January 1, 2005, and continuing through December 31, 2024. The Marketing Plan provides for a 2015 Resource Pool of up to 2 percent of SNR’s marketable power resources. The 2015 Resource Pool will be available for power allocations to preference entities that meet the Eligibility Criteria. This notice begins the public process to establish the resources available and to revise the Eligibility Criteria provided in the Marketing Plan for the 2015 Resource Pool. Once Western establishes the final amount of power to be made available under the 2015 Resource Pool and the associated Eligibility Criteria, preference entities who wish to apply for an allocation of power from SNR must submit formal applications in response to Western’s Call for 2015 Resource Pool Applications to be published under a separate notice. DATES: Entities interested in submitting comments on Western’s Proposed 2015 Resource Pool size and revised Eligibility Criteria must submit comments to the SNR office at the address below. To ensure consideration, comments must be received by the end of the comment period which closes at 4 p.m. PST on July 7, 2008. The public comment forum date is: May 21, 2008, 1 p.m. PST, Folsom, CA. Please refer to Western’s Web page https:// www.wapa.gov/sn/marketing/ 2015ResourcePool.asp for additional information including updates to the date, time, and location of the forum. ADDRESSES: Western will hold the public comment forum at the Lake Natoma Inn, 702 Gold Lake Drive, Folsom, CA. Written comments can be mailed to Ms. Sonja A. Anderson, Power Marketing Manager, Sierra Nevada PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Region, Western Area Power Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630–4710, e-mail sanderso@wapa.gov. Oral comments must be presented at the public comment forum which will be held on May 21, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jeanne Haas, Power Contracts and Energy Services Manager, Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region, Western Area Power Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630–4710, telephone (916) 353–4438, e-mail haas@wapa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Background The Marketing Plan provides that, effective January 1, 2015, Western will reduce all Customers’ allocations by up to 2 percent to establish a 2015 Resource Pool. In addition, the Marketing Plan explains that as a result of a settlement, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) did not contribute to the 2005 Resource Pool. Beginning in 2015, SMUD’s percentage will be adjusted pursuant to the Marketing Plan to be consistent with all other Existing Customers, and the percentage it did not provide to the 2005 Resource Pool will be included in the 2015 Resource Pool. Western is starting the public process for the allocation of the 2015 Resource Pool now to ensure that Customers have adequate time to secure power and delivery arrangements to start on January 1, 2015. CVP power facilities include 11 powerplants with a maximum operating capability of about 2,044 megawatts (MW) and an estimated average annual generation of 4.6 million megawatthours (MWh). Western markets and transmits the power available from the CVP. The Washoe Project’s Stampede Powerplant has a maximum operating capability of 3.65 MW with an estimated annual generation of 10,000 MWh. The Sierra Pacific Power Company owns and operates the only transmission system available for access to the Stampede Powerplant. Western owns the 94 circuit-mile Malin-Round Mountain, 500-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line (an integral section of the Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Alternating Current Intertie), 803 circuit miles of 230-kV transmission line, 7 circuit miles of 115-kV transmission line, and 44 circuit miles of 69-kV and below transmission line. Western also has part ownership in the 342-mile California-Oregon Transmission Project and owns the 84mile Path 15 Upgrade Project. Many of Western’s Customers have no direct E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM 05MYN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 87 / Monday, May 5, 2008 / Notices rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES access to Western’s transmission lines and receive service over transmission lines owned by other utilities. The Marketing Plan describes how SNR will market its power resources beginning January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2024. The Marketing Plan requires Western to establish a Resource Pool and to reallocate an amount of power for the period of January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2024. This public process will determine the exact amount of power Western will reallocate and revises the Eligibility Criteria the entities must meet to qualify for an allocation of power from Western during this period. After or simultaneous to publishing its final decision on the 2015 Resource Pool size and revised Eligibility Criteria, Western will publish a Call for 2015 Resource Pool Applications in this Federal Register notice which will begin the formal allocation process. The Marketing Plan will continue in full force and effect and will govern the formal allocation process. However, Western will apply the revised Eligibility Criteria developed through this process for the 2015 Resource Pool. Entities interested in an allocation of power from SNR must apply pursuant to the Call for 2015 Resource Pool Applications. Acronyms and Definitions CRD: Contract Rate of Delivery: The maximum amount of capacity made available to a Customer for a period specified under a contract. Customer: A preference customer who has a contract to purchase power under the Marketing Plan. Eligibility Criteria: Conditions that must be met to qualify for an allocation. Existing Customer: A preference customer who had a contract to purchase firm power offered under a previous allocation process or Marketing Plan that extended through December 31, 2004. Note: the definition includes those entities who succeeded in interest to an Existing Customer; e.g., if Western approved the assignment of an Existing Customer’s Federal power allocation to another preference customer, the assigned Federal power falls within the definition. Extension CRD: An Existing Customer’s CRD exclusive of diversity and curtailable power and peaking/ excess capacity, as it may be adjusted in accordance with the Marketing Plan. 2015 Resource Pool Size As described in the Marketing Plan, effective January 1, 2015, Western will recalculate the percentages of all Customers. For the period of January 1, VerDate Aug<31>2005 15:16 May 02, 2008 Jkt 214001 2015, through December 31, 2024, Western will derive each Customer’s new percentage in the manner described below. Pursuant to the procedures established in the Marketing Plan, Western will determine the amount of Federal resources available for the 2015 Resource Pool in the following steps: 1. Western will adjust SMUD’s allocation to be consistent with the other Existing Customers. In other words, the Marketing Plan requires Western to adjust SMUD’s Base Resource percentages to equal what SMUD would have been required to contribute to the 2005 Resource Pool. Western will then adjust the ratio of each Existing Customer’s Extension CRD to the total of all Existing Customers’ Extension CRD. This step reflects what each Existing Customer’s allocation percentage would have been beginning January 1, 2005, if not for the Settlement Agreement with SMUD. Beginning January 1, 2015, SMUD will be treated as, and included with, all of the Existing Customers. 2. Once the Existing Customers’ allocation percentages have been adjusted as indicated in paragraph 1 above, Western will then reduce each Existing Customer’s right to purchase the Base Resource by 4 percent. This step reflects the amount that the Existing Customers would have been required to contribute to the 2005 Resource Pool if not for the Settlement Agreement with SMUD. 3. Finally, Western proposes to reduce all Customers’ right to purchase the Base Resource by an additional 2 percent to create the 2015 Resource Pool. To clarify, this 2 percent reduction applies to all Customers, including those that received an allocation under the Marketing Plan through the 2005 Resource Pool. The Marketing Plan provides for Western to reduce all Customers’ allocations by up to 2 percent. Western is proposing to reduce all Customers’ Base Resource percentage by 2 percent to provide for a 2015 Resource Pool sufficient to promote wide-spread use of Federal power. Through this Federal Register notice, Western is seeking comments on the proposed 2 percent reduction in its Customers’ allocations. Revised Eligibility Criteria The Marketing Plan established Eligibility Criteria to apply to all applicants seeking a resource pool allocation, including the following: Existing Customers may apply for a resource pool allocation if their Extension CRD, set forth in Appendix A [of the Marketing Plan Federal Register 64 FR PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 24593 34417], is not more than 15 percent of their peak load in the calendar year prior to the Call for Applications, and not more than 10 MW. Western is proposing to delete the paragraph above from its Eligibility Criteria. Western believes that this criterion may be too restrictive to ensure full subscription of its resources. Further, the 2015 Resource Pool is based on a percentage of the Base Resource. The 2005 Resource Pool was determined from an Extension CRD which is no longer applicable. Western seeks comments on the change it is proposing to the Eligibility Criteria applicable under the Marketing Plan for applicants seeking an allocation of the 2015 Resource Pool. Proposed 2015 Resource Pool Size and Revised Eligibility Criteria The proposed 2015 Resource Pool size and revised Eligibility Criteria are preliminary and may be changed based on comments received. This Federal Register notice formally requests comments related to Western’s proposals. Western will respond to comments received on the 2015 Resource Pool size and revised Eligibility Criteria and publish its final decision on the 2015 Resource Pool size and revised Eligibility Criteria after the end of the public comment period. After, or simultaneous to, publishing its final decision on the 2015 Resource Pool size and revised Eligibility Criteria, Western will publish a Call for Application in the Federal Register which will begin the formal allocation process. The Marketing Plan will continue in full force and effect and will govern the formal allocation process. However, Western will apply the revised Eligibility Criteria developed through this process for the 2015 Resource Pool. Authorities The Marketing Plan for marketing power by SNR after 2004, published in the Federal Register (64 FR 34417) on June 25, 1999, was established pursuant to the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101–7352); 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. This action falls within the Marketing Plan and, thus, is covered by the same authority. E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM 05MYN1 24594 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 87 / Monday, May 5, 2008 / Notices clearance of this notice by the Office of Management and Budget is required. Regulatory Procedure Requirements Environmental Compliance In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.); the Council on Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500–1508); and DOE NEPA implementing regulations (10 CFR part 1021), Western completed an environmental impact statement (EIS) on its Energy Planning and Management Program. The Record of Decision was published in the Federal Register (60 FR 53181, October 12, 1995). Western also completed the 2004 Power Marketing Program EIS (2004 EIS), and the Record of Decision was published in the Federal Register (62 FR 22934, April 28, 1997). The Marketing Plan falls within the range of alternatives considered in the 2004 EIS. This NEPA review identified and analyzed environmental effects related to the Marketing Plan. This action falls within the Marketing Plan and, thus, is covered by the 2004 EIS. Determination Under Executive Order 12866 Western has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no Dated: April 22, 2008. Timothy J. Meeks, Administrator. [FR Doc. E8–9816 Filed 5–2–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–R09–OAR–2008–0324; FRL–8561–8] Adequacy Status of Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets in Submitted Early Progress Plan Imperial County 8-Hour Ozone for Transportation Conformity Purposes; California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Adequacy. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In this notice, EPA is notifying the public that the Agency has found that the motor vehicle emissions budgets for 8-hour ozone in the Imperial County 8-hour Ozone Early Progress Plan are adequate for transportation conformity purposes. The Imperial County 8-hour Ozone Early Progress Plan was submitted to EPA on March 24, 2008 by the California Air Resources Board as a revision to the California State Implementation Plan (SIP). As a result of our adequacy findings, the Southern California Association of Governments and the U.S. Department of Transportation must use these budgets in future conformity analyses once the finding becomes effective. DATES: This finding is effective May 20, 2008. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Adrienne Priselac, U.S. EPA, Region IX, Air Division AIR–2, 75 Hawthorne Street, San Francisco, CA 94105–3901; (415) 972–3285 or priselac.adrienne@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Throughout this document, whenever ‘‘we,’’ ‘‘us,’’ or ‘‘our’’ is used, we mean EPA. Today’s notice is simply an announcement of a finding that we have already made. EPA Region IX sent a letter to the California Air Resources Board on April 16, 2008 stating that the motor vehicle emissions budgets in the submitted Imperial County 8-hour Ozone Early Progress Plan for 2009 are adequate. The finding is available at EPA’s conformity Web site: https:// www.epa.gov/otaq/stateresources/ transconf/adequacy.htm. The adequate motor vehicle emissions budgets are provided in the following table: MOTOR VEHICLE EMISSIONS BUDGETS Budget year Volatile organic compounds 1 (tons per day) Nitrogen oxides (tons per day) 2009 ................................................................................................................................................................. 7 17 rfrederick on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES 1 The plan uses a comparable State term, reactive organic gases (ROG). Transportation conformity is required by Clean Air Act section 176(c). EPA’s conformity rule requires that transportation plans, transportation improvement programs, and projects conform to state air quality implementation plans (SIPs) and establishes the criteria and procedures for determining whether or not they do. Conformity to a SIP means that transportation activities will not produce new air quality violations, worsen existing violations, or delay timely attainment of the national ambient air quality standards. The criteria by which we determine whether a SIP’s motor vehicle emission budgets are adequate for conformity purposes are outlined in 40 CFR 93.118(e)(4). We have described our process for determining the adequacy of submitted SIP budgets in our July 1, 2004 preamble starting at 69 FR 40038 and we used the information in these VerDate Aug<31>2005 16:13 May 02, 2008 Jkt 214001 resources in making our adequacy determination. Please note that an adequacy review is separate from EPA’s completeness review, and should not be used to prejudge EPA’s ultimate approval action for the SIP. Even if we find a budget adequate, the SIP could later be disapproved. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq. Dated: April 16, 2008. Laura Yoshii, Deputy Regional Administrator, Region IX. [FR Doc. E8–9821 Filed 5–2–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–R09–OAR–2008–0326; FRL–8561–7] Adequacy Status of Motor Vehicle Emissions Budgets in Submitted Early Progress Plan Western Mojave Desert 8-Hour Ozone for Transportation Conformity Purposes; California Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Adequacy. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In this notice, EPA is notifying the public that the Agency has found that the motor vehicle emissions budgets for 8-hour ozone in the Western Mojave Desert 8-hour Ozone Early Progress Plan are adequate for transportation conformity purposes. The Western Mojave Desert 8-hour Ozone Early Progress Plan was submitted to EPA on March 24, 2008 by the E:\FR\FM\05MYN1.SGM 05MYN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 87 (Monday, May 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24592-24594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9816]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


2015 Resource Pool

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed 2015 Resource Pool Size and Revised 
Eligibility Criteria.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a Federal 
power marketing administration of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), 
published its 2004 Power Marketing Plan (Marketing Plan) for Western's 
Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region (SNR) in the Federal Register on 
June 25, 1999 (64 FR 34417). The Marketing Plan specifies the terms and 
conditions under which Western will market power from the Central 
Valley Project (CVP) and the Washoe Project beginning January 1, 2005, 
and continuing through December 31, 2024. The Marketing Plan provides 
for a 2015 Resource Pool of up to 2 percent of SNR's marketable power 
resources. The 2015 Resource Pool will be available for power 
allocations to preference entities that meet the Eligibility Criteria. 
This notice begins the public process to establish the resources 
available and to revise the Eligibility Criteria provided in the 
Marketing Plan for the 2015 Resource Pool. Once Western establishes the 
final amount of power to be made available under the 2015 Resource Pool 
and the associated Eligibility Criteria, preference entities who wish 
to apply for an allocation of power from SNR must submit formal 
applications in response to Western's Call for 2015 Resource Pool 
Applications to be published under a separate notice.

DATES: Entities interested in submitting comments on Western's Proposed 
2015 Resource Pool size and revised Eligibility Criteria must submit 
comments to the SNR office at the address below. To ensure 
consideration, comments must be received by the end of the comment 
period which closes at 4 p.m. PST on July 7, 2008. The public comment 
forum date is: May 21, 2008, 1 p.m. PST, Folsom, CA. Please refer to 
Western's Web page https://www.wapa.gov/sn/marketing/2015ResourcePool.asp for additional information including updates to 
the date, time, and location of the forum.

ADDRESSES: Western will hold the public comment forum at the Lake 
Natoma Inn, 702 Gold Lake Drive, Folsom, CA. Written comments can be 
mailed to Ms. Sonja A. Anderson, Power Marketing Manager, Sierra Nevada 
Region, Western Area Power Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, 
CA 95630-4710, e-mail sanderso@wapa.gov. Oral comments must be 
presented at the public comment forum which will be held on May 21, 
2008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Jeanne Haas, Power Contracts and 
Energy Services Manager, Sierra Nevada Customer Service Region, Western 
Area Power Administration, 114 Parkshore Drive, Folsom, CA 95630-4710, 
telephone (916) 353-4438, e-mail haas@wapa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Marketing Plan provides that, effective January 1, 2015, 
Western will reduce all Customers' allocations by up to 2 percent to 
establish a 2015 Resource Pool. In addition, the Marketing Plan 
explains that as a result of a settlement, the Sacramento Municipal 
Utility District (SMUD) did not contribute to the 2005 Resource Pool. 
Beginning in 2015, SMUD's percentage will be adjusted pursuant to the 
Marketing Plan to be consistent with all other Existing Customers, and 
the percentage it did not provide to the 2005 Resource Pool will be 
included in the 2015 Resource Pool. Western is starting the public 
process for the allocation of the 2015 Resource Pool now to ensure that 
Customers have adequate time to secure power and delivery arrangements 
to start on January 1, 2015.
    CVP power facilities include 11 powerplants with a maximum 
operating capability of about 2,044 megawatts (MW) and an estimated 
average annual generation of 4.6 million megawatthours (MWh). Western 
markets and transmits the power available from the CVP.
    The Washoe Project's Stampede Powerplant has a maximum operating 
capability of 3.65 MW with an estimated annual generation of 10,000 
MWh. The Sierra Pacific Power Company owns and operates the only 
transmission system available for access to the Stampede Powerplant.
    Western owns the 94 circuit-mile Malin-Round Mountain, 500-kilovolt 
(kV) Transmission Line (an integral section of the Pacific Northwest-
Pacific Southwest Alternating Current Intertie), 803 circuit miles of 
230-kV transmission line, 7 circuit miles of 115-kV transmission line, 
and 44 circuit miles of 69-kV and below transmission line. Western also 
has part ownership in the 342-mile California-Oregon Transmission 
Project and owns the 84-mile Path 15 Upgrade Project. Many of Western's 
Customers have no direct

[[Page 24593]]

access to Western's transmission lines and receive service over 
transmission lines owned by other utilities.
    The Marketing Plan describes how SNR will market its power 
resources beginning January 1, 2005, through December 31, 2024. The 
Marketing Plan requires Western to establish a Resource Pool and to 
reallocate an amount of power for the period of January 1, 2015, 
through December 31, 2024. This public process will determine the exact 
amount of power Western will reallocate and revises the Eligibility 
Criteria the entities must meet to qualify for an allocation of power 
from Western during this period. After or simultaneous to publishing 
its final decision on the 2015 Resource Pool size and revised 
Eligibility Criteria, Western will publish a Call for 2015 Resource 
Pool Applications in this Federal Register notice which will begin the 
formal allocation process. The Marketing Plan will continue in full 
force and effect and will govern the formal allocation process. 
However, Western will apply the revised Eligibility Criteria developed 
through this process for the 2015 Resource Pool. Entities interested in 
an allocation of power from SNR must apply pursuant to the Call for 
2015 Resource Pool Applications.

Acronyms and Definitions

    CRD: Contract Rate of Delivery: The maximum amount of capacity made 
available to a Customer for a period specified under a contract.
    Customer: A preference customer who has a contract to purchase 
power under the Marketing Plan.
    Eligibility Criteria: Conditions that must be met to qualify for an 
allocation.
    Existing Customer: A preference customer who had a contract to 
purchase firm power offered under a previous allocation process or 
Marketing Plan that extended through December 31, 2004. Note: the 
definition includes those entities who succeeded in interest to an 
Existing Customer; e.g., if Western approved the assignment of an 
Existing Customer's Federal power allocation to another preference 
customer, the assigned Federal power falls within the definition.
    Extension CRD: An Existing Customer's CRD exclusive of diversity 
and curtailable power and peaking/excess capacity, as it may be 
adjusted in accordance with the Marketing Plan.

2015 Resource Pool Size

    As described in the Marketing Plan, effective January 1, 2015, 
Western will recalculate the percentages of all Customers. For the 
period of January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2024, Western will 
derive each Customer's new percentage in the manner described below.
    Pursuant to the procedures established in the Marketing Plan, 
Western will determine the amount of Federal resources available for 
the 2015 Resource Pool in the following steps:
    1. Western will adjust SMUD's allocation to be consistent with the 
other Existing Customers. In other words, the Marketing Plan requires 
Western to adjust SMUD's Base Resource percentages to equal what SMUD 
would have been required to contribute to the 2005 Resource Pool. 
Western will then adjust the ratio of each Existing Customer's 
Extension CRD to the total of all Existing Customers' Extension CRD. 
This step reflects what each Existing Customer's allocation percentage 
would have been beginning January 1, 2005, if not for the Settlement 
Agreement with SMUD. Beginning January 1, 2015, SMUD will be treated 
as, and included with, all of the Existing Customers.
    2. Once the Existing Customers' allocation percentages have been 
adjusted as indicated in paragraph 1 above, Western will then reduce 
each Existing Customer's right to purchase the Base Resource by 4 
percent. This step reflects the amount that the Existing Customers 
would have been required to contribute to the 2005 Resource Pool if not 
for the Settlement Agreement with SMUD.
    3. Finally, Western proposes to reduce all Customers' right to 
purchase the Base Resource by an additional 2 percent to create the 
2015 Resource Pool. To clarify, this 2 percent reduction applies to all 
Customers, including those that received an allocation under the 
Marketing Plan through the 2005 Resource Pool.
    The Marketing Plan provides for Western to reduce all Customers' 
allocations by up to 2 percent. Western is proposing to reduce all 
Customers' Base Resource percentage by 2 percent to provide for a 2015 
Resource Pool sufficient to promote wide-spread use of Federal power. 
Through this Federal Register notice, Western is seeking comments on 
the proposed 2 percent reduction in its Customers' allocations.

Revised Eligibility Criteria

    The Marketing Plan established Eligibility Criteria to apply to all 
applicants seeking a resource pool allocation, including the following:

    Existing Customers may apply for a resource pool allocation if 
their Extension CRD, set forth in Appendix A [of the Marketing Plan 
Federal Register 64 FR 34417], is not more than 15 percent of their 
peak load in the calendar year prior to the Call for Applications, 
and not more than 10 MW.

    Western is proposing to delete the paragraph above from its 
Eligibility Criteria. Western believes that this criterion may be too 
restrictive to ensure full subscription of its resources. Further, the 
2015 Resource Pool is based on a percentage of the Base Resource. The 
2005 Resource Pool was determined from an Extension CRD which is no 
longer applicable. Western seeks comments on the change it is proposing 
to the Eligibility Criteria applicable under the Marketing Plan for 
applicants seeking an allocation of the 2015 Resource Pool.

Proposed 2015 Resource Pool Size and Revised Eligibility Criteria

    The proposed 2015 Resource Pool size and revised Eligibility 
Criteria are preliminary and may be changed based on comments received. 
This Federal Register notice formally requests comments related to 
Western's proposals. Western will respond to comments received on the 
2015 Resource Pool size and revised Eligibility Criteria and publish 
its final decision on the 2015 Resource Pool size and revised 
Eligibility Criteria after the end of the public comment period. After, 
or simultaneous to, publishing its final decision on the 2015 Resource 
Pool size and revised Eligibility Criteria, Western will publish a Call 
for Application in the Federal Register which will begin the formal 
allocation process. The Marketing Plan will continue in full force and 
effect and will govern the formal allocation process. However, Western 
will apply the revised Eligibility Criteria developed through this 
process for the 2015 Resource Pool.

Authorities

    The Marketing Plan for marketing power by SNR after 2004, published 
in the Federal Register (64 FR 34417) on June 25, 1999, was established 
pursuant to the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101-
7352); 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. This 
action falls within the Marketing Plan and, thus, is covered by the 
same authority.

[[Page 24594]]

Regulatory Procedure Requirements

Environmental Compliance

    In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
(NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.); the Council on Environmental Quality 
Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and DOE 
NEPA implementing regulations (10 CFR part 1021), Western completed an 
environmental impact statement (EIS) on its Energy Planning and 
Management Program. The Record of Decision was published in the Federal 
Register (60 FR 53181, October 12, 1995). Western also completed the 
2004 Power Marketing Program EIS (2004 EIS), and the Record of Decision 
was published in the Federal Register (62 FR 22934, April 28, 1997). 
The Marketing Plan falls within the range of alternatives considered in 
the 2004 EIS. This NEPA review identified and analyzed environmental 
effects related to the Marketing Plan. This action falls within the 
Marketing Plan and, thus, is covered by the 2004 EIS.

Determination Under Executive Order 12866

    Western 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.

    Dated: April 22, 2008.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E8-9816 Filed 5-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.