Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, Saltville Gas Storage Company, LLC, East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC; Notice of Technical Conference, 57350-57351 [E8-23210]

Download as PDF 57350 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 192 / Thursday, October 2, 2008 / Notices becoming an intervenor are included in the User’s Guide under the ‘‘eFiling’’ link on the Commission’s Web site. Please note that you may not request intervenor status at this time. You must wait until a formal application is filed with the Commission. You do not need intervenor status to have your environmental comments considered. mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES Environmental Mailing List If you received this notice, you are currently on the environmental mailing list for this project. If you do not want to send comments at this time and have not previously sent comments to us on this project or presented comments at one of the public scoping meetings, but still want to remain on our mailing list, please return the Mailing List Retention Form (appendix 2). If you do not submit or present comments or if you do not return the Mailing List Retention Form, you will be removed from the Commission’s environmental mailing list for this project. Availability of Additional Information Additional information about the Project is available from the FERC’s Office of External Affairs at 1–866–208– FERC (3372) or on the FERC Internet Web site (https://www.ferc.gov) using the eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on ‘‘General Search,’’ and enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF08–9). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll free at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary link on the FERC Internet Web site also provides access to the text of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders, notices, and rulemakings. In addition, the FERC offers a free service called eSubscription that allows you to keep track of all formal issuances and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to the documents. To register for this service, go to the eSubscription link on the FERC Internet Web site (https:// www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ esubscription.asp). Information concerning the involvement of the BLM in the EIS process may be obtained from Mark Mackiewicz, PMP, National Project Manager, at (435) 636–3616. Information concerning the involvement of the USFS may be obtained from Catherine VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:52 Oct 01, 2008 Jkt 217001 Callaghan at the Fremont-Winema National Forest at (541) 947–2151, and David Ream (801) 236–3400 at the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Finally, Ruby has established an Internet Web site for its project at https://www.rubypipeline.com. The Web site includes a description of the project as well as project maps and links to related documents. Information can also be obtained by calling Ruby directly at 1–877–598–5263 (toll free) or 1–719– 520–4450. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. E8–23216 Filed 10–1–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket Nos. RP07–139–000, RP08–479– 000, RP08–487–000 (not consolidated)] Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, Saltville Gas Storage Company, LLC, East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC; Notice of Technical Conference September 26, 2008. On January 19, 2007, Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC (Algonquin) filed proposed changes to its tariff sheets concerning, among other things, a net present value (NPV) allocation methodology for available capacity that considered probability of default as one of its factors. On February 16, 2007, the Commission accepted and suspended the proposed tariff changes, subject to refund and conditions.1 On July 19, 2007, the Commission accepted Algonquin’s compliance filing subject to certain modifications.2 On September 19, 2007, the Commission granted a request for rehearing for further consideration. On August 1, 2008, in Docket No. RP08–479–000, Saltville Gas Storage Company, LLC (Saltville) and, in Docket No. RP08–487–000, East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC (East Tennessee) filed proposed changes to their respective tariffs concerning, among other things, a NPV allocation methodology for available capacity that considered probability of default as one of its factors. On August 29, 2008, the Commission accepted and suspended the proposed tariff changes of both 1 Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, 118 FERC ¶61,123. 2 Id., 120 FERC ¶61,072. PO 00000 Frm 00033 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Saltville3 and East Tennessee,4 subject to refund and conditions, and the outcome of a technical conference. In both orders, the Commission directed its Staff to convene a technical conference to address the proposed services and terms and conditions, and to report the results of the technical conference to the Commission within 120 days. On September 24, 2008 the Commission staff sent data requests to Algonquin, Saltville, and East Tennessee requesting information about the companies’ credit practices, default history, and proposed use of a probability of default factor in determining NPV of bids for available capacity. Responses to the data requests are due on October 6, 2008. Take notice that a technical conference to discuss issues raised by the filings of Algonquin, Saltville, and East Tennessee will be held on Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 9:30 am (EST), in a room to be designated at the offices of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. The parties to all three proceedings should be prepared to discuss the issues raised by the filings, in particular issues concerning the probability of default factor. Parties should also be prepared to discuss companies’ responses to the data requests including their current methodologies for allocating capacity, what, if any deficiencies may exist with these methodologies, and how the proposed probability of default factor addresses the deficiencies. The parties should also be prepared to discuss the need for a probability of default factor for both creditworthy and noncreditworthy customers, whether the proposed use of a probability of default factor unreasonably limits the pool of qualified potential bidders for available capacity, and the merits of not separating the probability of default assessment from the NPV bid. The Commission’s conferences are accessible under section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For accessibility accommodations please send an e-mail to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free 1–866–208–3372 (voice) or 202–208–1659 (TTY), or send a FAX to 202–208–2106 with the required accommodations. All parties and staff are permitted to attend. For further information please 3 Saltville Gas Storage Company LLC, 124 FERC ¶61,209. 4 East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC, 124 FERC ¶61,210. E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM 02OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 192 / Thursday, October 2, 2008 / Notices contact Vince Mareino at (202) 502– 6167 or Vince.Mareino@ferc.gov. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. E8–23210 Filed 10–1–08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Southwestern Power Administration Robert D. Willis Hydropower Rate Schedules Southwestern Power Administration, DOE. ACTION: Notice of rate order. AGENCY: SUMMARY: Pursuant to Delegation Order Nos. 00–037.00, effective December 6, 2001, and 00–001.00C, effective January 31, 2007, the Deputy Secretary has approved and placed into effect on an interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA–59, which increases the power rate for the Robert Douglas Willis Hydropower Project (Willis) pursuant to the following Willis Rate Schedule: Rate Schedule RDW–08, Wholesale Rates for Hydro Power and Energy Sold to Sam Rayburn Municipal Power Agency (Contract No. DE–PM75–85SW00117) The effective period for the rate schedule specified in Rate Order No. SWPA–59 is October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2012. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. James K. McDonald, Assistant Administrator, Office of Corporate Operations, Southwestern Power Administration, Department of Energy, One West Third Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103, (918) 595–6690, jim.mcdonald@swpa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The existing hydroelectric power rate for the Robert Douglas Willis project is $815,580 per year. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved this rate on a final basis on February 23, 2007, in Docket EF–07–4081–000 for the period January 1, 2007, through September 30, 2010 (see 118 FERC ¶ 62150). The 2008 Willis Power Repayment Studies indicate the need for an increase in the annual rate by $113,808 or 14.0 percent beginning October 1, 2008. The Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) has followed Title 10, Part 903 Subpart A, of the Code of Federal Regulations, ‘‘Procedures for Public Participation in Power and Transmission Rate Adjustments and Extensions’’ in connection with the proposed rate schedule. On August 5, 2008, mstockstill on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES DATES: VerDate Aug<31>2005 17:52 Oct 01, 2008 Jkt 217001 Southwestern published notice in the Federal Register (73 FR 45435), of a 30day comment period, together with a combined Public Information and Comment Forum, to provide an opportunity for customers and other interested members of the public to review and comment on a proposed rate increase for the Willis project. The public forum was canceled when no one expressed an intention to participate. Written comments were accepted through September 4, 2008. One comment was received from Gillis & Angley, Counsellors at Law, on behalf of Sam Rayburn Municipal Power Agency, Sam Rayburn Dam Electric Cooperative, and the Vinton Public Power Authority, which stated that they had no objection to the proposed rate adjustment. Information regarding this rate proposal, including studies and other supporting material, is available for public review and comment in the offices of Southwestern Power Administration, One West Third Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103. Following review of Southwestern’s proposal within the Department of Energy, I approved Rate Order No. SWPA–59, on an interim basis, which increases the existing Robert D. Willis rate to $929,388, per year, for the period October 1, 2008, through September 30, 2012. Dated: September 25, 2008. Jeffrey Kupfer, Deputy Secretary. Deputy Secretary of Energy [Rate Order No. SWPA–59] In the matter of: Southwestern Power Administration, Robert D. Willis Hydropower Project Rate; Order Confirming, Approving and Placing Increased Power Rate Schedule In Effect On an Interim Basis Pursuant to Sections 302(a) and 301(b) of the Department of Energy Organization Act, Public Law 95–91, the functions of the Secretary of the Interior and the Federal Power Commission under Section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944, 16 U.S.C. 825s, relating to the Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) were transferred to and vested in the Secretary of Energy. By Delegation Order No. 0204–108, effective December 14, 1983, the Secretary of Energy delegated to the Administrator of Southwestern the authority to develop power and transmission rates, delegated to the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Energy the authority to confirm, approve, and place in effect such rates on an interim basis and delegated to the PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 57351 Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) the authority to confirm and approve on a final basis or to disapprove rates developed by the Administrator under the delegation. Delegation Order No. 0204–108, as amended, was rescinded and subsequently replaced by Delegation Orders 00–037.00 (December 6, 2001) and 00–001–00C (January 23, 2007). The Deputy Secretary issued this rate order pursuant to said delegations. Background Dam B (Town Bluff Dam), located on the Neches River in eastern Texas downstream from the Sam Rayburn Dam, was originally constructed in 1951 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and provides streamflow regulation of releases from the Sam Rayburn Dam. The Lower Neches Valley Authority contributed funds toward construction of both projects and makes established annual payments for the right to withdraw up to 2000 cubic feet of water per second from Town Bluff Dam for its own use. Power was legislatively authorized at the project, but installation of hydroelectric facilities was deferred until justified by economic conditions. A determination of feasibility was made in a 1982 Corps study. In 1983, the Sam Rayburn Municipal Power Agency (SRMPA) proposed to sponsor and finance the development at Town Bluff Dam in return for the output of the project to be delivered to its member municipalities and participating member cooperatives of the Sam Rayburn Dam Electric Cooperative. Since the hydroelectric facilities at the Town Bluff Dam have been completed, the facilities have been renamed the Robert Douglas Willis Hydropower Project (Willis). The Willis rate is unique in that it excludes the costs associated with the hydropower design and construction performed by the Corps, because all funds for these costs were provided by SRMPA. Under the Southwestern/ SRMPA power sales Contract No. DE– PM75–85SW00117, SRMPA will continue to pay all annual operating and marketing costs, as well as expected capital replacement costs, through the rate paid to Southwestern, and will receive all power and energy produced at the project for a period of 50 years. In the FERC Docket No. EF07–4081– 000, issued February 23, 2007, for the period January 1, 2007, through September 30, 2010, the FERC confirmed and approved the current annual Willis rate of $815,580. Discussion Southwestern’s Current PRS indicates that the existing annual power rate of E:\FR\FM\02OCN1.SGM 02OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 192 (Thursday, October 2, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57350-57351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-23210]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. RP07-139-000, RP08-479-000, RP08-487-000 (not 
consolidated)]


Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, Saltville Gas Storage Company, 
LLC, East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC; Notice of Technical Conference

September 26, 2008.
    On January 19, 2007, Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC (Algonquin) 
filed proposed changes to its tariff sheets concerning, among other 
things, a net present value (NPV) allocation methodology for available 
capacity that considered probability of default as one of its factors. 
On February 16, 2007, the Commission accepted and suspended the 
proposed tariff changes, subject to refund and conditions.\1\ On July 
19, 2007, the Commission accepted Algonquin's compliance filing subject 
to certain modifications.\2\ On September 19, 2007, the Commission 
granted a request for rehearing for further consideration.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, 118 FERC ]61,123.
    \2\ Id., 120 FERC ]61,072.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On August 1, 2008, in Docket No. RP08-479-000, Saltville Gas 
Storage Company, LLC (Saltville) and, in Docket No. RP08-487-000, East 
Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC (East Tennessee) filed proposed changes to 
their respective tariffs concerning, among other things, a NPV 
allocation methodology for available capacity that considered 
probability of default as one of its factors. On August 29, 2008, the 
Commission accepted and suspended the proposed tariff changes of both 
Saltville\3\ and East Tennessee,\4\ subject to refund and conditions, 
and the outcome of a technical conference. In both orders, the 
Commission directed its Staff to convene a technical conference to 
address the proposed services and terms and conditions, and to report 
the results of the technical conference to the Commission within 120 
days.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ Saltville Gas Storage Company LLC, 124 FERC ]61,209.
    \4\ East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC, 124 FERC ]61,210.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On September 24, 2008 the Commission staff sent data requests to 
Algonquin, Saltville, and East Tennessee requesting information about 
the companies' credit practices, default history, and proposed use of a 
probability of default factor in determining NPV of bids for available 
capacity. Responses to the data requests are due on October 6, 2008.
    Take notice that a technical conference to discuss issues raised by 
the filings of Algonquin, Saltville, and East Tennessee will be held on 
Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 9:30 am (EST), in a room to be 
designated at the offices of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    The parties to all three proceedings should be prepared to discuss 
the issues raised by the filings, in particular issues concerning the 
probability of default factor. Parties should also be prepared to 
discuss companies' responses to the data requests including their 
current methodologies for allocating capacity, what, if any 
deficiencies may exist with these methodologies, and how the proposed 
probability of default factor addresses the deficiencies. The parties 
should also be prepared to discuss the need for a probability of 
default factor for both creditworthy and non-creditworthy customers, 
whether the proposed use of a probability of default factor 
unreasonably limits the pool of qualified potential bidders for 
available capacity, and the merits of not separating the probability of 
default assessment from the NPV bid.
    The Commission's conferences are accessible under section 508 of 
the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For accessibility accommodations please 
send an e-mail to accessibility@ferc.gov or call toll free 1-866-208-
3372 (voice) or 202-208-1659 (TTY), or send a FAX to 202-208-2106 with 
the required accommodations.
    All parties and staff are permitted to attend. For further 
information please

[[Page 57351]]

contact Vince Mareino at (202) 502-6167 or Vince.Mareino@ferc.gov.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-23210 Filed 10-1-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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