Boulder Canyon Project, 19144-19146 [2020-07154]
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19144
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 66 / Monday, April 6, 2020 / Notices
Due to
circumstances beyond the control of the
Department of Defense and the
Designated Federal Officer, the
Department of Defense Military Family
Readiness Council, the Department of
Defense Military Family Readiness
Council was unable to provide public
notification required by 41 CFR 102–
3.150(a) concerning the cancellation of
the previously noticed meeting for
March 24, 2020. Accordingly, the
Advisory Committee Management
Officer for the Department of Defense,
pursuant to 41 CFR 102–3.150(b),
waives the 15-calendar day notification
requirement.
On March 6, 2020 (85 FR 13149–
13150), the DoD published a notice that
announced a March 24, 2020 meeting of
the Department of Defense Military
Family Readiness Council. DoD is
publishing this notice to announce that
this federal advisory committee meeting
has been cancelled and will be rescheduled at a later date. The rescheduled meeting will be announced
in the Federal Register.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Dated: April 1, 2020.
Aaron T. Siegel,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison
Officer, Department of Defense.
[FR Doc. 2020–07176 Filed 4–3–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–06–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
State Energy Advisory Board
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of open teleconference.
AGENCY:
This notice announces a
Virtual Meeting of the State Energy
Advisory Board (STEAB). The Federal
Advisory Committee Act requires that
public notice of these meetings be
announced in the Federal Register.
DATES: Wednesday, May 6, 2020, from
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (ET).
To receive the Virtual Meeting
information, please contact the Board’s
Designated Federal Officer at the
address or phone number listed below.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jay
Nathwani, Designated Federal Officer,
Office of Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy, US Department of
Energy, 1000 Independence Ave. SW,
Washington, DC 20585. Phone number
202–586–9410, and email
jay.nathwani@ee.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of the Board: To make
recommendations to the Assistant
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SUMMARY:
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Secretary for the Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy
regarding goals and objectives,
programmatic and administrative
policies, and to otherwise carry out the
Board’s responsibilities as designated in
the State Energy Efficiency Programs
Improvement Act of 1990 (Pub. L. 101–
440).
Tentative Agenda: During this Virtual
Meeting Assistant Secretary of EERE
will provide the charges to STEAB,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy
Efficiency will discuss opportunities
and engagement with-in Energy
Efficiency Sector, and EERE Technology
Offices will discuss various funding
opportunities and ways the State Energy
Office can access DOE resources.
Public Participation: The Virtual
Meeting is open to the public. Written
statements may be filed with the Board
either before or after the meeting.
Members of the public who wish to
make oral statements pertaining to
agenda items should contact Jay
Nathwani at the address or telephone
number listed above. Requests to make
oral comments must be received five
days prior to the meeting; reasonable
provision will be made to include
requested topic(s) on the agenda. The
Chair of the Board is empowered to
conduct the meeting in a fashion that
will facilitate the orderly conduct of
business.
Minutes: The minutes of the meeting
will be available for public review and
copying within 60 days on the STEAB
website at: https://www.energy.gov/eere/
steab/state-energy-advisory-board.
Signed in Washington, DC, on April 1,
2020.
LaTanya Butler,
Deputy Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. 2020–07155 Filed 4–3–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Boulder Canyon Project
Western Area Power
Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of proposed fiscal year
2021 Boulder Canyon Project base
charge and rates for electric service.
AGENCY:
Western Area Power
Administration (WAPA) is proposing an
adjustment to the base charge and rates
for fiscal year (FY) 2021 Boulder
Canyon Project (BCP) electric service
under Rate Schedule BCP–F10. The
proposal would reduce the base charge
1.2 percent from $66.4 million in FY
SUMMARY:
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2020 to $65.6 million for FY 2021. The
reduction is primarily the result of an
increase in prior year carryover funds
and non-power revenue projections for
the Hoover Dam visitor center. The
proposed base charge and rates would
go into effect on October 1, 2020, and
remain in effect through September 30,
2021. Publication of this Federal
Register notice will initiate the public
process.
DATES: The consultation and comment
period begins today and will end July 6,
2020. WAPA will present a detailed
explanation of the proposed FY 2021
base charge and rates at a public
information forum that will be held on
May 6, 2020, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30
p.m. Mountain Standard Time. WAPA
will also host a public comment forum
that will be held on June 5, 2020, from
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mountain
Standard Time. WAPA will conduct
both the public information forum and
the public comment forum via WebEx.
Instructions for participating in the
forums via WebEx will be posted on
WAPA’s website at least 14 days prior
to the public information and comment
forums at https://www.wapa.gov/
regions/DSW/Rates/Pages/bouldercanyon-rates.aspx. WAPA will accept
written comments any time during the
consultation and comment period.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
Ms. Tracey A. LeBeau, Regional
Manager, Desert Southwest Region,
Western Area Power Administration,
P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, Arizona 85005–
6457, or email dswpwrmrk@wapa.gov.
WAPA will post information concerning
the rate process and written comments
received on its website at https://
www.wapa.gov/regions/DSW/Rates/
Pages/boulder-canyon-rates.aspx.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms.
Tina Ramsey, Rates Manager, Desert
Southwest Region, Western Area Power
Administration, P.O. Box 6457,
Phoenix, Arizona 85005–6457, (602)
605–2565, or dswpwrmrk@wapa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Hoover
Dam,1 authorized by the Boulder
Canyon Project Act of 1928, as amended
(43 U.S.C 617 et seq.), sits on the
Colorado River along the ArizonaNevada border. The Hoover Dam power
plant has 19 generating units (two for
plant use) and an installed capacity of
2,078.8 megawatts (4,800 kilowatts for
plant use). In collaboration with the
Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation),
WAPA markets and delivers
1 Hoover Dam was known as Boulder Dam from
1933 to 1947, but was renamed Hoover Dam by an
April 30, 1947 joint resolution of Congress. See Act
of April 30, 1947, H.J. Res. 140, ch. 46, 61 Stat. 56–
57.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 66 / Monday, April 6, 2020 / Notices
maintenance, replacements, payments
to States, and Hoover Dam visitor
services. Non-power revenue
projections such as water sales, Hoover
Dam visitor revenue, ancillary services,
and late fees help offset these projected
costs. Hoover power customers are
billed a percentage of the base charge in
proportion to their power allocation. A
unit rate is calculated for comparative
purposes but is not used to determine
the charge for service.
hydropower from the Hoover Dam
power plant through high voltage
transmission lines and substations to
Arizona, Southern California, and
Southern Nevada.
The rate-setting methodology for BCP
calculates an annual base charge rather
than a unit rate for Hoover Dam
hydropower. The base charge recovers
an annual revenue requirement that
includes projected costs of investment
repayment, interest, operations,
On June 6, 2018, the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (FERC)
confirmed and approved Rate Schedule
BCP–F10 for a five-year period ending
September 30, 2022.2 Rate Schedule
BCP–F10 and the BCP Electric Service
Contract require WAPA to determine
the annual base charge and rates for the
next fiscal year before October 1 of each
year. The FY 2020 BCP base charge and
rates expire on September 30, 2020.
COMPARISON OF BASE CHARGE AND RATES
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Base Charge ($) ..............................................................................................
Composite Rate (mills/kWh) ............................................................................
Energy Rate (mills/kWh) ..................................................................................
Capacity Rate ($/kW-Mo) ................................................................................
FY 2020
FY 2021
$66,419,402
18.08
9.04
$1.75
$65,606,080
18.83
9.42
$1.73
Reclamation’s FY 2021 budget is
increasing $4.5 million to $80.2 million,
a 5.9 percent increase from FY 2020.
Higher operations and maintenance
expenses ($2.6 million) and replacement
costs ($1.7 million) account for most of
this increase. The rate impact of these
increases to Reclamation’s budget are
more than offset, however, by an
increase in prior year carryover ($2.8
million) and non-power revenue
projections ($2 million) following
completion of the Hoover Dam visitor
center renovations.
WAPA’s FY 2021 budget is decreasing
$400,000 to $8.4 million, a 4.2 percent
reduction from FY 2020. Lower
operations and maintenance expenses
($300,000) and the elimination of
WAPA’s contingency fund ($100,000)
account for this decrease.
While there is a 1.2 percent reduction
to the FY 2021 base charge, the
composite and energy rates are
increasing 4.1 and 4.2 percent
respectively from FY 2020. The
composite and energy rates use a
forecasted energy value, which
decreased due to the long-term drought
in the Lower Colorado River Basin. The
capacity rate is a 1.1 percent reduction
from FY 2020 due to the decrease in the
base charge. Forecasted energy and
capacity values may be updated when
determining the final base charge due to
changing hydrological conditions.
This proposal, to be effective October
1, 2020, is preliminary and subject to
change based on modifications to
forecasts before publication of the final
base charge and rates. In particular, the
forecast of non-power revenue
projections associated with the Hoover
Dam visitor center may require
modification due to social distancing
requirements resulting from COVID–19.
2 Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedule
on a Final Basis, FERC Docket No. EF18–1–000, 163
FERC ¶ 62,154 (2018).
3 Delegation Orders No. 00–002–00S and 00–
002.10E both clarify that this delegation of authority
is ‘‘in addition’’ to the authority to approve and
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Legal Authority
This action constitutes a major rate
adjustment as defined by 10 CFR
903.2(e). Pursuant to 10 CFR 903.15 and
10 CFR 903.16, WAPA will hold public
information and public comment
forums for this rate adjustment. WAPA
will review and consider all timely
public comments and adjust the
proposal, as appropriate, at the
conclusion of the consultation and
comment period.
WAPA is establishing rates for BCP
electric service in accordance with
section 302 of the Department of Energy
(DOE) Organization Act (42 U.S.C.
7152). This provision transferred to, and
vested in, the Secretary of Energy
certain functions of the Secretary of the
Interior, along with the power marketing
functions of Reclamation. Those
functions include actions that
specifically apply to the BCP.
The BCP Electric Service Contract
states that in years other than the first
and fifth years of a rate schedule
approved by the FERC on a final basis,
adjustments to the base charge shall be
effective upon approval by the Deputy
Secretary of Energy. Under the DOE
Organization Act, the Secretary of
Energy holds plenary authority over
DOE affairs with respect to the Power
Marketing Administrations. By
Delegation Order No. 00–002.00S,
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Amount
change
¥ $813,322
0.75
0.38
¥ $0.02
Percent
change
¥ 1.2
4.1
4.2
¥ 1.1
effective January 15, 2020, the Secretary
of Energy delegated to the Under
Secretary of Energy the authority vested
in the Secretary with respect to WAPA.
By Redelegation Order No. 00–002.10E,
effective February 14, 2020, the Under
Secretary of Energy delegated to the
Assistant Secretary for Electricity the
same authority with respect to WAPA.3
This rate action is issued under the
Redelegation Order and DOE’s
procedures for public participation in
rate adjustments set forth at 10 CFR
parts 903 and 904.4
Availability of Information
All studies, comments, letters,
memoranda, and other documents
WAPA initiates or uses to develop the
proposed base charge and rates are
available for inspection and copying at
the Desert Southwest Customer Service
Regional Office, Western Area Power
Administration located at 615 South
43rd Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85009.
Many of these documents and
supporting information are also
available on WAPA’s website at https://
www.wapa.gov/regions/DSW/Rates/
Pages/boulder-canyon-rates.aspx.
Ratemaking Procedure Requirements
Environmental Compliance
WAPA is in the process of
determining whether an environmental
assessment or an environmental impact
statement should be prepared or if this
place into effect on an interim basis WAPA’s power
and transmission rates.
4 50 FR 37,835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347
(Feb. 21, 2019).
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19146
Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 66 / Monday, April 6, 2020 / Notices
action can be categorically excluded
from those requirements.5
Determination Under Executive Order
12866
WAPA 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: March 25, 2020.
Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020–07154 Filed 4–3–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
I. Does this action apply to me?
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OPP–2014–0125; FRL–10004–81]
Pesticide Reregistration Performance
Measures and Goals; Annual Progress
Report; Notice of Availability
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice announces the
availability of EPA’s progress report in
meeting its performance measures and
goals for pesticide reregistration during
fiscal year 2017. This progress report
also presents the total number of
products registered under the ‘‘fasttrack’’ provisions of the Federal
Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide
Act (FIFRA).
DATES: Submit comments on or before
June 5, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by docket identification (ID)
number EPA–HQ–OPP–2014–0125, by
one of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the online
instructions for submitting comments.
Do not submit electronically any
information you consider to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI)
or other information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute.
• Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental
Protection Agency Docket Center (EPA/
DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave.
NW, Washington, DC 20460–0001.
• Hand Delivery: To make special
arrangements for hand delivery or
delivery of boxed information, please
follow the instructions at https://
www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.html.
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SUMMARY:
5 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 Procedures and
Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021).
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:47 Apr 03, 2020
Additional instructions on
commenting or visiting the docket,
along with more information about
dockets generally, is available at https://
www.epa.gov/dockets.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Rame´ Cromwell, Antimicrobials
Division (7510P), Office of Pesticide
Programs, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW,
Washington, DC 20460–0001; telephone
number: (703) 308–9068; email address:
cromwell.rame@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Jkt 250001
This is directed to the public in
general and may be of interest to a wide
range of stakeholders including
environmental, farm worker, and
agricultural advocates; the chemical
industry; pesticide users; and members
of the public interested in the
integration of tolerance reassessment
with the reregistration process, and the
status of various regulatory activities
associated with reregistration and
tolerances reassessment. Given the
broad interest, the Agency has not
attempted to identify all the specific
entities that may be interested in this
action.
II. What action is the Agency taking?
This document announces the
availability of EPA’s progress reports in
meeting its performance measures and
goals for pesticide reregistration during
fiscal year 2017.
III. What is the Agency’s authority for
taking this action?
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide,
and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), 7 U.S.C.
136 et seq., requires EPA to publish
information about EPA’s annual
achievements in meeting its
performance measures and goals for
pesticide reregistration. The report for
fiscal year 2017 discusses the
completion of tolerance reassessment
and describes the status of various
regulatory activities associated with
reregistration. The 2017 report also
provides the total number of products
reregistered and products registered
under the ‘‘fast-track’’ provisions of
FIFRA.
IV. How can I get a copy of the report?
1. Docket. The 2017 report is available
at https://www.regulations.gov, under
docket ID number EPA–HQ–OPP–2014–
0125.
2. EPA website. The 2017 report is
also available on EPA’s website at
https://www.epa.gov/pesticidereevaluation/reregistration-and-other-
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review-programs-predating-pesticideregistration.
V. Can I comment on this report?
EPA welcomes input from
stakeholders and the general public.
Any written comments received will be
taken into consideration in the event
that EPA determines that further action
is warranted. EPA does not expect this
report to lead to any particular action,
and therefore is not seeking particular
public comment.
VI. What should I consider as I prepare
my comments for EPA
1. Submitting CBI. Do not submit this
information to EPA through
regulations.gov or email. Clearly mark
the part or all of the information that
you claim to be CBI. For CBI
information in a disk or CD–ROM that
you email to EPA, mark the outside of
the disk or CD–ROM as CBI then
identify electronically within the disk or
CD–ROM the specific information that
is claimed as CBI. In addition to one
complete version of the comment that
includes information claimed as CBI, a
copy of the comment that does not
contain the information claimed as CBI
must be submitted for inclusion in the
public docket. Information so marked
will not be disclosed except in
accordance with procedures set forth in
40 CFR part 2.
2. Tips for preparing your comments.
When preparing you comments, see the
commenting tips at https://
www.epa.gov//dockets/comments.html.
Authority: 7 U.S.C. 136a–1(l).
Dated: March 31, 2020.
Alexandra Dapolito Dunn,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical
Safety and Pollution Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2020–07135 Filed 4–3–20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
[Fact Finding No. 29]
International Ocean Transportation
Supply Chain Engagement; Order
Pursuant to the Shipping Act of 1984,
46 U.S.C. 40101 et seq. (Shipping Act),
the Federal Maritime Commission
(Commission) is charged with regulating
the U.S. international ocean
transportation system that supports the
transportation of goods by water in the
foreign commerce of the United States
(‘‘liner service’’). The purposes of the
Shipping Act include the requirements
to ‘‘provide an efficient and economic
transportation system in the ocean
commerce of the United States that is,
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 66 (Monday, April 6, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19144-19146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07154]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Boulder Canyon Project
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of proposed fiscal year 2021 Boulder Canyon Project base
charge and rates for electric service.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) is proposing an
adjustment to the base charge and rates for fiscal year (FY) 2021
Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) electric service under Rate Schedule BCP-
F10. The proposal would reduce the base charge 1.2 percent from $66.4
million in FY 2020 to $65.6 million for FY 2021. The reduction is
primarily the result of an increase in prior year carryover funds and
non-power revenue projections for the Hoover Dam visitor center. The
proposed base charge and rates would go into effect on October 1, 2020,
and remain in effect through September 30, 2021. Publication of this
Federal Register notice will initiate the public process.
DATES: The consultation and comment period begins today and will end
July 6, 2020. WAPA will present a detailed explanation of the proposed
FY 2021 base charge and rates at a public information forum that will
be held on May 6, 2020, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mountain Standard
Time. WAPA will also host a public comment forum that will be held on
June 5, 2020, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mountain Standard Time.
WAPA will conduct both the public information forum and the public
comment forum via WebEx. Instructions for participating in the forums
via WebEx will be posted on WAPA's website at least 14 days prior to
the public information and comment forums at https://www.wapa.gov/regions/DSW/Rates/Pages/boulder-canyon-rates.aspx. WAPA will accept
written comments any time during the consultation and comment period.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Ms. Tracey A. LeBeau, Regional
Manager, Desert Southwest Region, Western Area Power Administration,
P.O. Box 6457, Phoenix, Arizona 85005-6457, or email
[email protected]. WAPA will post information concerning the rate
process and written comments received on its website at https://www.wapa.gov/regions/DSW/Rates/Pages/boulder-canyon-rates.aspx.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Tina Ramsey, Rates Manager, Desert
Southwest Region, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 6457,
Phoenix, Arizona 85005-6457, (602) 605-2565, or [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Hoover Dam,\1\ authorized by the Boulder
Canyon Project Act of 1928, as amended (43 U.S.C 617 et seq.), sits on
the Colorado River along the Arizona-Nevada border. The Hoover Dam
power plant has 19 generating units (two for plant use) and an
installed capacity of 2,078.8 megawatts (4,800 kilowatts for plant
use). In collaboration with the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation),
WAPA markets and delivers
[[Page 19145]]
hydropower from the Hoover Dam power plant through high voltage
transmission lines and substations to Arizona, Southern California, and
Southern Nevada.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Hoover Dam was known as Boulder Dam from 1933 to 1947, but
was renamed Hoover Dam by an April 30, 1947 joint resolution of
Congress. See Act of April 30, 1947, H.J. Res. 140, ch. 46, 61 Stat.
56-57.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The rate-setting methodology for BCP calculates an annual base
charge rather than a unit rate for Hoover Dam hydropower. The base
charge recovers an annual revenue requirement that includes projected
costs of investment repayment, interest, operations, maintenance,
replacements, payments to States, and Hoover Dam visitor services. Non-
power revenue projections such as water sales, Hoover Dam visitor
revenue, ancillary services, and late fees help offset these projected
costs. Hoover power customers are billed a percentage of the base
charge in proportion to their power allocation. A unit rate is
calculated for comparative purposes but is not used to determine the
charge for service.
On June 6, 2018, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
confirmed and approved Rate Schedule BCP-F10 for a five-year period
ending September 30, 2022.\2\ Rate Schedule BCP-F10 and the BCP
Electric Service Contract require WAPA to determine the annual base
charge and rates for the next fiscal year before October 1 of each
year. The FY 2020 BCP base charge and rates expire on September 30,
2020.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedule on a Final
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF18-1-000, 163 FERC ] 62,154 (2018).
Comparison of Base Charge and Rates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FY 2020 FY 2021 Amount change Percent change
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base Charge ($)................................. $66,419,402 $65,606,080 - $813,322 - 1.2
Composite Rate (mills/kWh)...................... 18.08 18.83 0.75 4.1
Energy Rate (mills/kWh)......................... 9.04 9.42 0.38 4.2
Capacity Rate ($/kW-Mo)......................... $1.75 $1.73 - $0.02 - 1.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reclamation's FY 2021 budget is increasing $4.5 million to $80.2
million, a 5.9 percent increase from FY 2020. Higher operations and
maintenance expenses ($2.6 million) and replacement costs ($1.7
million) account for most of this increase. The rate impact of these
increases to Reclamation's budget are more than offset, however, by an
increase in prior year carryover ($2.8 million) and non-power revenue
projections ($2 million) following completion of the Hoover Dam visitor
center renovations.
WAPA's FY 2021 budget is decreasing $400,000 to $8.4 million, a 4.2
percent reduction from FY 2020. Lower operations and maintenance
expenses ($300,000) and the elimination of WAPA's contingency fund
($100,000) account for this decrease.
While there is a 1.2 percent reduction to the FY 2021 base charge,
the composite and energy rates are increasing 4.1 and 4.2 percent
respectively from FY 2020. The composite and energy rates use a
forecasted energy value, which decreased due to the long-term drought
in the Lower Colorado River Basin. The capacity rate is a 1.1 percent
reduction from FY 2020 due to the decrease in the base charge.
Forecasted energy and capacity values may be updated when determining
the final base charge due to changing hydrological conditions.
This proposal, to be effective October 1, 2020, is preliminary and
subject to change based on modifications to forecasts before
publication of the final base charge and rates. In particular, the
forecast of non-power revenue projections associated with the Hoover
Dam visitor center may require modification due to social distancing
requirements resulting from COVID-19.
Legal Authority
This action constitutes a major rate adjustment as defined by 10
CFR 903.2(e). Pursuant to 10 CFR 903.15 and 10 CFR 903.16, WAPA will
hold public information and public comment forums for this rate
adjustment. WAPA will review and consider all timely public comments
and adjust the proposal, as appropriate, at the conclusion of the
consultation and comment period.
WAPA is establishing rates for BCP electric service in accordance
with section 302 of the Department of Energy (DOE) Organization Act (42
U.S.C. 7152). This provision transferred to, and vested in, the
Secretary of Energy certain functions of the Secretary of the Interior,
along with the power marketing functions of Reclamation. Those
functions include actions that specifically apply to the BCP.
The BCP Electric Service Contract states that in years other than
the first and fifth years of a rate schedule approved by the FERC on a
final basis, adjustments to the base charge shall be effective upon
approval by the Deputy Secretary of Energy. Under the DOE Organization
Act, the Secretary of Energy holds plenary authority over DOE affairs
with respect to the Power Marketing Administrations. By Delegation
Order No. 00-002.00S, effective January 15, 2020, the Secretary of
Energy delegated to the Under Secretary of Energy the authority vested
in the Secretary with respect to WAPA. By Redelegation Order No. 00-
002.10E, effective February 14, 2020, the Under Secretary of Energy
delegated to the Assistant Secretary for Electricity the same authority
with respect to WAPA.\3\ This rate action is issued under the
Redelegation Order and DOE's procedures for public participation in
rate adjustments set forth at 10 CFR parts 903 and 904.\4\
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\3\ Delegation Orders No. 00-002-00S and 00-002.10E both clarify
that this delegation of authority is ``in addition'' to the
authority to approve and place into effect on an interim basis
WAPA's power and transmission rates.
\4\ 50 FR 37,835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 (Feb. 21,
2019).
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Availability of Information
All studies, comments, letters, memoranda, and other documents WAPA
initiates or uses to develop the proposed base charge and rates are
available for inspection and copying at the Desert Southwest Customer
Service Regional Office, Western Area Power Administration located at
615 South 43rd Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85009. Many of these documents
and supporting information are also available on WAPA's website at
https://www.wapa.gov/regions/DSW/Rates/Pages/boulder-canyon-rates.aspx.
Ratemaking Procedure Requirements
Environmental Compliance
WAPA is in the process of determining whether an environmental
assessment or an environmental impact statement should be prepared or
if this
[[Page 19146]]
action can be categorically excluded from those requirements.\5\
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\5\ 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 Procedures and Guidelines (10 CFR part
1021).
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Determination Under Executive Order 12866
WAPA 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: March 25, 2020.
Mark A. Gabriel,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 2020-07154 Filed 4-3-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
