Revision to the Final Principles of Integrated Resource Planning for Use in Resource Acquisition and Transmission Planning, 38146-38148 [2011-16308]
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38146
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 29, 2011 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Revision to the Final Principles of
Integrated Resource Planning for Use
in Resource Acquisition and
Transmission Planning
Western Area Power
Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
AGENCY:
Western Area Power
Administration (Western) published
proposed Principles for Integrated
Resource planning (IRP) for use in its
acquisition of resources (supply-side
and demand-side) and transmission
planning in the Federal Register on
December 6, 1994. After considering
public comments on the proposed
principles, Western adopted the Final
Principles of IRP under which projectspecific resource acquisition and
transmission planning principles would
be developed. The Final Principles of
IRP were published in the Federal
Register on June 9, 1995, and became
effective on July 10, 1995.
Through this notice, Western is
requesting comments on the proposed
Western-wide evaluation criteria and
procedures that Western will use for
future resource acquisitions instead of
the current principle, which calls for
developing project-by-project criteria.
Western is also requesting comments on
its proposal to eliminate the
transmission planning principles set
forth in the Final Principles of IRP.
DATES: Western must receive written
comments on the proposed revision to
the Final Principles of IRP at the
address below by 4 p.m., MDT, on July
29, 2011. Western reserves the right not
to consider any comments received after
the prescribed date and time.
Western will hold a public meeting to
solicit input on Western’s revision to
the Final Principles of IRP for Use in
Resource Acquisition and Transmission
Planning. The meeting will address the
proposed evaluation criteria and
procedures Western will use for longterm resource acquisition and the
elimination of the transmission
planning principles as set forth in the
Final Principles of IRP. The public
meeting will be held on: July 21, 2011,
8:30 a.m., MDT, in Lakewood, Colorado.
The meeting will also be available by
conference call and webcast during that
time.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments
regarding this proposed Revision to the
Final Principles of IRP to Ms. Julia L.
Kyriss, Colorado River Storage Project
(CRSP) Manager, CRSP Management
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SUMMARY:
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Center, 150 East Social Hall Avenue,
Suite 300, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111–
1580. Comments may also be e-mailed
to finalprinciples@wapa.gov or faxed to
(801) 524–5017.
The public meeting location will be
the Western Area Power
Administration, Corporate Services
Office, 12155 West Alameda Parkway,
Lakewood, Colorado.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Paula Fronk, CRSP Management Center,
Western Area Power Administration,
150 East Social Hall Avenue, Suite 300,
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111–1580,
telephone (801) 524–6383, e-mail
fronk@wapa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A public
process to develop principles of IRP for
Western resource acquisition and
transmission planning began with
publication of draft principles of IRP in
the Federal Register on December 6,
1994 (59 FR 62724). A public
information and comment forum was
held in Denver, Colorado, on January
12, 1995, to explain the proposed
principles and receive comments on the
proposal. Written comments on the
proposal were received through March
7, 1995. The Final Principles of IRP
were published in the Federal
Registeron June 9, 1995 (60 FR 30533).
The Final Principles of IRP have served
as the policy under which Western
develops principles for acquiring
project-specific, long-term resources and
for public participation in certain
Western projects to increase
transmission capability. Western’s
current Final Principles of IRP are
available at: https://www.wapa.gov/
powerm/pmirpwestern.htm.
Western believes it is necessary to
define further the process for acquiring
project-specific, long-term resources by
establishing evaluation criteria to be
used when considering the purchase of
new generation resources and
eliminating the principles set forth in
the Final Principles of IRP associated
with transmission planning.
Western’s historic resource
acquisitions have been primarily
project-specific, short-term purchases of
supplemental resources to firm variable
hydropower generation. For long-term
resource acquisition, Western believes
developing evaluation criteria and
procedures that will be used for future
resource acquisition represents prudent
planning. The ability to make long-term
purchases expeditiously when the need
arises, whether due to the unavailability
of generation from Federal hydropower
facilities or lost generation attributable
to drought conditions, this provides
Western greater flexibility in securing
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
adequate and reliable power to meet
obligations to its customers. The criteria
Western is proposing are set forth in
more detail later in this notice.
For transmission planning, Western
believes that existing stakeholder
involvement in its planning efforts used
by regional and sub-regional planning
entities and its Open Access
Transmission Tariff (OATT) render the
requirement set forth in the Final
Principles of IRP redundant and
unnecessary. The Final Principles of IRP
applicable to Western’s transmission
planning principles do not deal with
new generation resources, but apply
only to new or upgraded transmission
facilities over a defined threshold.
Through the planning efforts outlined
below, Western will meet the intent of
the Final Principles of IRP and its other
planning obligations.
Since finalizing the Final Principles
of IRP for transmission planning in
1995, the transmission industry has
undergone significant change. Several of
the original comments Western received
during the public process to develop the
Final Principles of IRP requested that
Western avoid the duplication of efforts
related to transmission planning. At the
time the Final Principles of IRP were
adopted, however, Western did not
believe the procedures for public
participation in transmission planning
were duplicative. In light of the current
vigorous involvement of stakeholders in
regional and sub-regional transmission
planning entities and the detailed
transmission planning process set forth
in Western’s OATT, as described below,
Western now believes that those original
comments have merit, and the
transmission planning principles
established under the Final Principles of
IRP can be eliminated.
Specifically, Western is actively
involved in several transmission
planning efforts throughout its various
regions. For example, Western is
currently participating in WestConnect,
Southwest Area Subregional Planning
Transmission Group, Colorado LongRange Transmission Planning Group,
California Transmission Planning
Group, Sierra Subregional Planning
Group, and Mid-Continent Area Power
Pool. These groups either did not exist
or were in their infancies when the
transmission planning principles, set
forth in the Final Principles of IRP, were
completed. In the ensuing 15 years,
these planning entities have emerged to
provide stakeholders the opportunity to
become involved in regional integrated
transmission planning, including
projects that would result in increasing
Western’s transmission capacity.
E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM
29JNN1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 29, 2011 / Notices
Moreover, as of December 2009,
Western’s OATT incorporated a detailed
transmission planning process based
upon three core objectives: (1)
Maintaining reliable electric service, (2)
improving the efficiency of electric
system operations, including the
provision of open and nondiscriminatory access to its transmission
facilities, and (3) identifying and
promoting new investments in
transmission infrastructure in a
coordinated, open and transparent, and
participatory manner. The transmission
planning process that is now a part of
Western’s OATT aids timely,
coordinated, and transparent
information sharing that fosters the
development of electric infrastructure,
maintains reliability, and meets network
load growth. The process includes open
planning meetings that allow anyone,
including but not limited to, network
and point-to-point transmission
customers, interconnected neighbors,
sponsors of transmission, generation
and demand-side management
developers, and other stakeholders to
participate in all stages of development
of Western’s transmission plan.
Lastly, Western engages in annual 5or 10-year transmission planning
activities and, in some regions, joint
planning activities with its customers.
These efforts are meant to identify and
prioritize long-term transmission system
additions, betterments, and
replacements to meet customers’ needs
and to ensure the reliability of the bulk
electric system.
Scope: The proposed revised Final
Principles of IRP will apply specifically
to resource acquisitions involving a
commitment to make recurring
purchases over a period longer than 5
years. Final Principles of IRP do not
apply to purchases made for 5 years or
less and the Lease of Power Privilege
under Reclamation Law (Town Sites
and Power Development Act of 1906 (43
U.S.C. 522) and Reclamation Project Act
of 1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(c)). Western
does not propose to change these
approaches through this proposal.
Western is proposing to define further
the criteria and procedures used in
acquiring resources for terms of longer
than 5 years under the Final Principles
of IRP as outlined in Resource
Acquisition Principles 2 and 3. Western
is not proposing any changes to
Resource Acquisition Principles 1, 4, 5,
and 6. Western is also proposing to
eliminate the transmission planning
principles set forth in the Final
Principles of IRP.
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17:48 Jun 28, 2011
Jkt 223001
Request for Public Comment
(A.) Western Is Requesting Public
Comment on the Following Proposed
Procedures and Evaluation Criteria for
Long-Term Resource Acquisition Which,
if Adopted, Would Be Included in a
Revision to the Existing Final Principles
of IRP
1. The Western office responsible for
marketing power from a specific project
will identify the need for a long-term
resource acquisition. The need could be
due to occurrences such as, but not
limited to, the unavailability of
generation from Federal hydropower
facilities initially included in an
existing marketing plan, generation lost
due to drought conditions impacting
water availability, and modifications in
normal reservoir operations.
2. Once the resource need is
identified and the initial amount(s) are
determined, the project-specific
customers involved will be notified and
offered an opportunity to discuss this
planned acquisition. Western will
pursue widespread publication for the
resource acquisition solicitation, which
may include posting on Web sites,
publishing in the Federal Register or in
newsletters, or using other media to
reach potential suppliers.
3. The solicitation will request
potential suppliers to submit proposals
that address the evaluation criteria
described below, to the extent such
criteria apply.
4. To the extent applicable, Western
will screen the proposals received that
best meet the criteria set forth below.
5. When evaluating potential resource
acquisitions under the Final Principles
of IRP, the following evaluation criteria
will be considered:
a. Cost—the amount paid to acquire
resources, such as purchased power,
fuel, plant and equipment, or labor
services.
b. Dependability—a supplier’s ability
to provide power as specified in a
purchase power solicitation. A supplier
is considered dependable when it
delivers to the contracted location, in
the contracted amount, at the contracted
time, and in the contracted manner.
c. Dispatchability—the ability of a
utility to schedule and control, directly
or indirectly, manually or automatically,
the resources under consideration.
d. Diversity—an acceptable level of
both the mix of generation resources in
the region’s overall blend of power
provided to a customer and the mix of
generation sources of the supplier.
e. Environmental impact—the degree
to which the resource has an impact on
the human environment. Impacts vary
according to: (1) The type of resource
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38147
purchased (supply-side, demand-side,
or renewable), (2) the length of the
purchase, (3) the geographical area from
which the power is purchased, and (4)
the transmission path(s) used to get to
the contracted location.
f. Indian Preference—Under section
2602(d) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992
(as amended by the Energy Policy Act
of 2005), in purchasing any energy
product or by-product, a Federal agency
or department may give preference to an
energy and resource production
enterprise, partnership, consortium,
corporation, or other type of business
organization the majority of the interest
in which is owned and controlled by
one or more Indian Tribes. In carrying
out this subsection, a Federal agency or
department will not pay more than the
prevailing market price for an energy
product or by-product or obtain less
than prevailing market terms and
conditions.
g. Renewable Energy Resource—the
electric energy that is generated from
solar, wind, biomass, land-fill gas, ocean
(including tidal, wave, current, and
thermal), geothermal, municipal solid
waste, or new hydroelectric generation
capacity achieved from increased
efficiency or additions of new capacity
at an existing hydroelectric project and
is physically delivered to the grid.
h. Risk—the potential impact of
market uncertainties, including a
supplier’s financial condition and
creditworthiness. A supplier shall be
required to demonstrate adequate
financial and physical resources to
provide capacity and energy to meet
Western’s requirements during the term
of the contract.
i. Transmission Availability—the
ability to move or transfer electric
energy over an interconnected group of
lines between points of supply and
points of delivery to Western’s system.
j. Transmission Losses—the reduction
in available electricity after being
transmitted over transmission lines and/
or facilities from the generation source
to the contracted delivery location.
(B.) Western Is Requesting Public
Comment on Its Proposal To Eliminate
the Transmission Planning Principles
From the Existing Final Principles of
IRP
Western is proposing to eliminate the
existing transmission planning
principles contained in the Final
Principles of IRP published in the
Federal Register on June 9, 1995 (60 FR
30533). Western will accomplish the
original objectives of the transmission
planning principles through use of
existing planning groups and its OATT
as discussed in more detail above.
E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM
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38148
Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 125 / Wednesday, June 29, 2011 / Notices
PROCEDURES REQUIREMENTS
Environmental Evaluation
Western’s proposal to better define
evaluation criteria and procedures for
resource acquisition is an administrative
action covered by an existing NEPA
categorical exclusion. A categorical
exclusion has been prepared and
executed for this process. Once projectspecific actions are identified under the
Final Principles of IRP and the final
evaluation criteria developed through
the process defined, those actions
would be individually subject to the
appropriate level of NEPA review.
Factors affecting the level of NEPA
review include whether the projectspecific action would integrate a new
generation resource, precipitate changes
to the transmission system, or change
the normal operating limits of existing
generation resources.
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: June 22, 2011.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011–16308 Filed 6–28–11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPA–2010–0987, FRL–9426–4]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Implementation of the Oil
Pollution Act Facility Response Plan
Requirements (Renewal)
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)(44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document
announces that an Information
Collection Request (ICR) has been
forwarded to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval. This is a request to renew an
existing approved collection. The ICR,
which is abstracted below, describes the
nature of the information collection and
its estimated burden and cost.
DATES: Additional comments may be
submitted on or before July 29, 2011.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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17:48 Jun 28, 2011
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Submit your comments,
referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OPA–2010–0987, to (1) EPA, either
online using https://www.regulations.gov
(our preferred method), or by e-mail to
rcra-docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA
Docket Center, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T,
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; and (2) OMB, by
mail to: Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of
Management and Budget (OMB),
Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725
17th Street, NW., Washington, DC
20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: J.
Troy Swackhammer, Office of
Emergency Management, Mail Code
5104A, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: (202) 564–1966; fax number:
(202) 564–2625; e-mail address:
swackhammer.j-troy@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has
submitted the following ICR to OMB for
review and approval according to the
procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12.
On February 3, 2011 (76 FR 6130), EPA
sought comments on this ICR pursuant
to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no
comments. Any additional comments on
this ICR should be submitted to EPA
and OMB within 30 days of this notice.
EPA has established a public docket
for this ICR under Docket ID No EPA–
HQ–OPA–2010–0987, which is
available for online viewing at
www.regulations.gov, or in person
viewing at the Resource Conservation
and Recovery Act (RCRA) Docket in the
EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA
West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/
DC Public Reading Room is open from
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
telephone number for the Reading Room
is (202) 566–1744, and the telephone
number for the RCRA Docket is (202)
566–0270.
Use EPA’s electronic docket and
comment system at
www.regulations.gov, to submit or view
public comments, access the index
listing of the contents of the docket, and
to access those documents in the docket
that are available electronically. Once in
the system, select ‘‘docket search,’’ then
key in the docket ID number identified
above. Please note that EPA’s policy is
that public comments, whether
submitted electronically or in paper,
will be made available for public
viewing at www.regulations.gov as EPA
receives them and without change,
unless the comment contains
ADDRESSES:
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copyrighted material, confidential
business information (CBI), or other
information whose public disclosure is
restricted by statute. For further
information about the electronic docket,
go to www.regulations.gov.
Title: Implementation of the Oil
Pollution Act Facility Response Plan
Requirements (Renewal).
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1630.10,
OMB Control No. 2050–0135.
ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to
expire on June 30, 2011. Under OMB
regulations, the Agency may continue to
conduct or sponsor the collection of
information while this submission is
pending at OMB. An Agency may not
conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, a collection of
information, unless it displays a
currently valid OMB control number.
The OMB control numbers for EPA’s
regulations in Title 40 of the CFR, after
appearing in the Federal Register when
approved, are listed in 40 CFR Part 9,
are displayed either by publication in
the Federal Register or by other
appropriate means, such as on the
related collection instrument or form, if
applicable. The display of OMB control
numbers in certain EPA regulations is
consolidated in 40 CFR Part 9.
Abstract: Under section 311(j)(5) of
the Clean Water Act, as amended by the
Oil Pollution Act of 1990 and in
regulation codified at 40 CFR 112.20
and 112.21, EPA requires that owners or
operators of facilities storing oil create
and maintain updated Facility Response
Plans (FRP) in order to identify the
necessary resources to respond to an oil
spill in a timely manner. If implemented
effectively, the FRP will reduce the
impact and severity of oil spills and
may prevent spills through the
identification of risks at the facility.
Although the owner or operator is the
primary data user, EPA also uses the
data in certain situations to ensure that
facilities comply with the regulation
and to help allocate response resources.
State and local governments may use
the data, which are not generally
available elsewhere and can greatly
assist local emergency preparedness
planning efforts. EPA reviews all
submitted FRPs and must approve FRPs
for those facilities whose discharges
may cause significant and substantial
harm to the environment in order to
ensure that facilities believed to pose
the highest risk have planned for
adequate resources and procedures to
respond to a spill.
Burden Statement: The respondent
burden for this collection is estimated to
average 1 hour per response for the
Partner Registration Form, 34.5 hours
per response for the Partner Annual
E:\FR\FM\29JNN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 29, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38146-38148]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-16308]
[[Page 38146]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Revision to the Final Principles of Integrated Resource Planning
for Use in Resource Acquisition and Transmission Planning
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice; request for comment.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Western Area Power Administration (Western) published proposed
Principles for Integrated Resource planning (IRP) for use in its
acquisition of resources (supply-side and demand-side) and transmission
planning in the Federal Register on December 6, 1994. After considering
public comments on the proposed principles, Western adopted the Final
Principles of IRP under which project-specific resource acquisition and
transmission planning principles would be developed. The Final
Principles of IRP were published in the Federal Register on June 9,
1995, and became effective on July 10, 1995.
Through this notice, Western is requesting comments on the proposed
Western-wide evaluation criteria and procedures that Western will use
for future resource acquisitions instead of the current principle,
which calls for developing project-by-project criteria. Western is also
requesting comments on its proposal to eliminate the transmission
planning principles set forth in the Final Principles of IRP.
DATES: Western must receive written comments on the proposed revision
to the Final Principles of IRP at the address below by 4 p.m., MDT, on
July 29, 2011. Western reserves the right not to consider any comments
received after the prescribed date and time.
Western will hold a public meeting to solicit input on Western's
revision to the Final Principles of IRP for Use in Resource Acquisition
and Transmission Planning. The meeting will address the proposed
evaluation criteria and procedures Western will use for long-term
resource acquisition and the elimination of the transmission planning
principles as set forth in the Final Principles of IRP. The public
meeting will be held on: July 21, 2011, 8:30 a.m., MDT, in Lakewood,
Colorado. The meeting will also be available by conference call and
webcast during that time.
ADDRESSES: Submit written comments regarding this proposed Revision to
the Final Principles of IRP to Ms. Julia L. Kyriss, Colorado River
Storage Project (CRSP) Manager, CRSP Management Center, 150 East Social
Hall Avenue, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-1580. Comments may
also be e-mailed to finalprinciples@wapa.gov or faxed to (801) 524-
5017.
The public meeting location will be the Western Area Power
Administration, Corporate Services Office, 12155 West Alameda Parkway,
Lakewood, Colorado.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Paula Fronk, CRSP Management
Center, Western Area Power Administration, 150 East Social Hall Avenue,
Suite 300, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111-1580, telephone (801) 524-6383,
e-mail fronk@wapa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A public process to develop principles of
IRP for Western resource acquisition and transmission planning began
with publication of draft principles of IRP in the Federal Register on
December 6, 1994 (59 FR 62724). A public information and comment forum
was held in Denver, Colorado, on January 12, 1995, to explain the
proposed principles and receive comments on the proposal. Written
comments on the proposal were received through March 7, 1995. The Final
Principles of IRP were published in the Federal Registeron June 9, 1995
(60 FR 30533). The Final Principles of IRP have served as the policy
under which Western develops principles for acquiring project-specific,
long-term resources and for public participation in certain Western
projects to increase transmission capability. Western's current Final
Principles of IRP are available at: https://www.wapa.gov/powerm/pmirpwestern.htm.
Western believes it is necessary to define further the process for
acquiring project-specific, long-term resources by establishing
evaluation criteria to be used when considering the purchase of new
generation resources and eliminating the principles set forth in the
Final Principles of IRP associated with transmission planning.
Western's historic resource acquisitions have been primarily
project-specific, short-term purchases of supplemental resources to
firm variable hydropower generation. For long-term resource
acquisition, Western believes developing evaluation criteria and
procedures that will be used for future resource acquisition represents
prudent planning. The ability to make long-term purchases expeditiously
when the need arises, whether due to the unavailability of generation
from Federal hydropower facilities or lost generation attributable to
drought conditions, this provides Western greater flexibility in
securing adequate and reliable power to meet obligations to its
customers. The criteria Western is proposing are set forth in more
detail later in this notice.
For transmission planning, Western believes that existing
stakeholder involvement in its planning efforts used by regional and
sub-regional planning entities and its Open Access Transmission Tariff
(OATT) render the requirement set forth in the Final Principles of IRP
redundant and unnecessary. The Final Principles of IRP applicable to
Western's transmission planning principles do not deal with new
generation resources, but apply only to new or upgraded transmission
facilities over a defined threshold. Through the planning efforts
outlined below, Western will meet the intent of the Final Principles of
IRP and its other planning obligations.
Since finalizing the Final Principles of IRP for transmission
planning in 1995, the transmission industry has undergone significant
change. Several of the original comments Western received during the
public process to develop the Final Principles of IRP requested that
Western avoid the duplication of efforts related to transmission
planning. At the time the Final Principles of IRP were adopted,
however, Western did not believe the procedures for public
participation in transmission planning were duplicative. In light of
the current vigorous involvement of stakeholders in regional and sub-
regional transmission planning entities and the detailed transmission
planning process set forth in Western's OATT, as described below,
Western now believes that those original comments have merit, and the
transmission planning principles established under the Final Principles
of IRP can be eliminated.
Specifically, Western is actively involved in several transmission
planning efforts throughout its various regions. For example, Western
is currently participating in WestConnect, Southwest Area Subregional
Planning Transmission Group, Colorado Long-Range Transmission Planning
Group, California Transmission Planning Group, Sierra Subregional
Planning Group, and Mid-Continent Area Power Pool. These groups either
did not exist or were in their infancies when the transmission planning
principles, set forth in the Final Principles of IRP, were completed.
In the ensuing 15 years, these planning entities have emerged to
provide stakeholders the opportunity to become involved in regional
integrated transmission planning, including projects that would result
in increasing Western's transmission capacity.
[[Page 38147]]
Moreover, as of December 2009, Western's OATT incorporated a
detailed transmission planning process based upon three core
objectives: (1) Maintaining reliable electric service, (2) improving
the efficiency of electric system operations, including the provision
of open and non-discriminatory access to its transmission facilities,
and (3) identifying and promoting new investments in transmission
infrastructure in a coordinated, open and transparent, and
participatory manner. The transmission planning process that is now a
part of Western's OATT aids timely, coordinated, and transparent
information sharing that fosters the development of electric
infrastructure, maintains reliability, and meets network load growth.
The process includes open planning meetings that allow anyone,
including but not limited to, network and point-to-point transmission
customers, interconnected neighbors, sponsors of transmission,
generation and demand-side management developers, and other
stakeholders to participate in all stages of development of Western's
transmission plan.
Lastly, Western engages in annual 5- or 10-year transmission
planning activities and, in some regions, joint planning activities
with its customers. These efforts are meant to identify and prioritize
long-term transmission system additions, betterments, and replacements
to meet customers' needs and to ensure the reliability of the bulk
electric system.
Scope: The proposed revised Final Principles of IRP will apply
specifically to resource acquisitions involving a commitment to make
recurring purchases over a period longer than 5 years. Final Principles
of IRP do not apply to purchases made for 5 years or less and the Lease
of Power Privilege under Reclamation Law (Town Sites and Power
Development Act of 1906 (43 U.S.C. 522) and Reclamation Project Act of
1939 (43 U.S.C. 485h(c)). Western does not propose to change these
approaches through this proposal. Western is proposing to define
further the criteria and procedures used in acquiring resources for
terms of longer than 5 years under the Final Principles of IRP as
outlined in Resource Acquisition Principles 2 and 3. Western is not
proposing any changes to Resource Acquisition Principles 1, 4, 5, and
6. Western is also proposing to eliminate the transmission planning
principles set forth in the Final Principles of IRP.
Request for Public Comment
(A.) Western Is Requesting Public Comment on the Following Proposed
Procedures and Evaluation Criteria for Long-Term Resource Acquisition
Which, if Adopted, Would Be Included in a Revision to the Existing
Final Principles of IRP
1. The Western office responsible for marketing power from a
specific project will identify the need for a long-term resource
acquisition. The need could be due to occurrences such as, but not
limited to, the unavailability of generation from Federal hydropower
facilities initially included in an existing marketing plan, generation
lost due to drought conditions impacting water availability, and
modifications in normal reservoir operations.
2. Once the resource need is identified and the initial amount(s)
are determined, the project-specific customers involved will be
notified and offered an opportunity to discuss this planned
acquisition. Western will pursue widespread publication for the
resource acquisition solicitation, which may include posting on Web
sites, publishing in the Federal Register or in newsletters, or using
other media to reach potential suppliers.
3. The solicitation will request potential suppliers to submit
proposals that address the evaluation criteria described below, to the
extent such criteria apply.
4. To the extent applicable, Western will screen the proposals
received that best meet the criteria set forth below.
5. When evaluating potential resource acquisitions under the Final
Principles of IRP, the following evaluation criteria will be
considered:
a. Cost--the amount paid to acquire resources, such as purchased
power, fuel, plant and equipment, or labor services.
b. Dependability--a supplier's ability to provide power as
specified in a purchase power solicitation. A supplier is considered
dependable when it delivers to the contracted location, in the
contracted amount, at the contracted time, and in the contracted
manner.
c. Dispatchability--the ability of a utility to schedule and
control, directly or indirectly, manually or automatically, the
resources under consideration.
d. Diversity--an acceptable level of both the mix of generation
resources in the region's overall blend of power provided to a customer
and the mix of generation sources of the supplier.
e. Environmental impact--the degree to which the resource has an
impact on the human environment. Impacts vary according to: (1) The
type of resource purchased (supply-side, demand-side, or renewable),
(2) the length of the purchase, (3) the geographical area from which
the power is purchased, and (4) the transmission path(s) used to get to
the contracted location.
f. Indian Preference--Under section 2602(d) of the Energy Policy
Act of 1992 (as amended by the Energy Policy Act of 2005), in
purchasing any energy product or by-product, a Federal agency or
department may give preference to an energy and resource production
enterprise, partnership, consortium, corporation, or other type of
business organization the majority of the interest in which is owned
and controlled by one or more Indian Tribes. In carrying out this
subsection, a Federal agency or department will not pay more than the
prevailing market price for an energy product or by-product or obtain
less than prevailing market terms and conditions.
g. Renewable Energy Resource--the electric energy that is generated
from solar, wind, biomass, land-fill gas, ocean (including tidal, wave,
current, and thermal), geothermal, municipal solid waste, or new
hydroelectric generation capacity achieved from increased efficiency or
additions of new capacity at an existing hydroelectric project and is
physically delivered to the grid.
h. Risk--the potential impact of market uncertainties, including a
supplier's financial condition and creditworthiness. A supplier shall
be required to demonstrate adequate financial and physical resources to
provide capacity and energy to meet Western's requirements during the
term of the contract.
i. Transmission Availability--the ability to move or transfer
electric energy over an interconnected group of lines between points of
supply and points of delivery to Western's system.
j. Transmission Losses--the reduction in available electricity
after being transmitted over transmission lines and/or facilities from
the generation source to the contracted delivery location.
(B.) Western Is Requesting Public Comment on Its Proposal To Eliminate
the Transmission Planning Principles From the Existing Final Principles
of IRP
Western is proposing to eliminate the existing transmission
planning principles contained in the Final Principles of IRP published
in the Federal Register on June 9, 1995 (60 FR 30533). Western will
accomplish the original objectives of the transmission planning
principles through use of existing planning groups and its OATT as
discussed in more detail above.
[[Page 38148]]
PROCEDURES REQUIREMENTS
Environmental Evaluation
Western's proposal to better define evaluation criteria and
procedures for resource acquisition is an administrative action covered
by an existing NEPA categorical exclusion. A categorical exclusion has
been prepared and executed for this process. Once project-specific
actions are identified under the Final Principles of IRP and the final
evaluation criteria developed through the process defined, those
actions would be individually subject to the appropriate level of NEPA
review. Factors affecting the level of NEPA review include whether the
project-specific action would integrate a new generation resource,
precipitate changes to the transmission system, or change the normal
operating limits of existing generation resources.
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: June 22, 2011.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2011-16308 Filed 6-28-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
