Department of Energy February 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice has been issued under the authority of Section 131 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended (42 U.S.C. 2160). The Department is providing notice of a proposed ``subsequent arrangement'' under the Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Civil Uses of Atomic Energy between the United States and Canada and Agreement for Cooperation in the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy between the United States and the European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM). This subsequent arrangement concerns the retransfer of 4,393,500 kg of U.S.-origin natural uranium hexafluoride, 2,970,000 kg of which is uranium, from Cogema Resources Inc., Saskatoon Saskatchewan, Canada to Urenco Almelo, Netherlands, Eurodif France, and Urenco Gronau, Germany. The material, which is now located at Cameco Corp., Port Hope, Ontario, will be transferred to the aforementioned recipients for toll enrichment. Urenco Almelo will receive 660,000 kg uranium, Eurodif France will receive 1,650,000 kg uranium, and Urenco Gronau will receive 660,000 kg uranium. Upon completion of the enrichment, the recipients will transfer the material to the Electicite de France, British Energy, and RWE Germany. Cameco Corp. originally obtained the uranium hexafluoride under the UF6 Fee Implementing Contract Component. In accordance with Section 131 of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as amended, we have determined that this subsequent arrangement is not inimical to the common defense and security. This subsequent arrangement will take effect no sooner than fifteen days after the date of publication of this notice.

On February 12, 1999, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced its intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) for the Public Service Company of New Mexico's (PNM) request for a Presidential permit for proposed international electric transmission lines. The proposed Federal action in this EIS was to grant PNM a Presidential permit for the construction, operation, maintenance, and connection of two 345,000-volt electric transmission lines originating at the switchyard of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station (PVNGS) near Phoenix, Arizona, and extending approximately 160 miles to the south, crossing the United States border with Mexico in the vicinity of Nogales, Arizona. The EIS would have evaluated the potential environmental impacts associated with the proposed Federal action and reasonable alternatives. In a letter dated November 16, 2004, PNM notified DOE that it no longer finds the proposed project viable and withdrew its application for a Presidential permit. Therefore, further preparation of an EIS is not necessary. The notice of intent to prepare an EIS is withdrawn and the NEPA process is hereby terminated.

Sea Breeze Pacific Regional Transmission System, Inc., (Sea Breeze) has applied for a Presidential permit to construct, operate, maintain, and connect a 150,000-volt (150-kV), direct current transmission line across the U.S. border with Canada.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) is initiating a rate adjustment process for Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) electric service. Western proposes to extend the existing rate-setting formula, and approve the proposed base charge and rates for FY 2006. Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process to extend the existing rate-setting formula and the proposed base charge and rates. The proposed base charge and rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repayment of required investment within the allowable period.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is amending its regulations to establish requirements governing the conduct of open seasons for proposals to construct Alaska natural gas transportation projects. This final rule fulfills the Commission's responsibilities to issue open season regulations under section 103 of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act (the Act), enacted on October 13, 2004. Section 103(e)(1) of the Act directs the Commission, within 120 days from enactment of the Act, to promulgate regulations governing the conduct of open seasons for Alaska natural gas transportation projects, including procedures for allocation of capacity. As required by section 103(e)(2) of the Act, these regulations include the criteria for and timing of any open season, promote competition in the exploration, development, and production of Alaska natural gas, and for any open seasons for capacity exceeding the initial capacity, provide for the opportunity for the transportation of natural gas other than from the Prudhoe Bay and Point Thomson units.

DOE announces the availability of the ``Joint Stakeholders Comments on Standards for Commercial Package Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps'' (hereafter ``Joint Stakeholders Comments'') and an opportunity for public comment. DOE received the Joint Stakeholders Comments from a group of nineteen stakeholders in response to DOE's advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANOPR) concerning standards for commercial unitary air conditioners and heat pumps. This notice informs the public of the recommended minimum energy efficiency standards presented in the Joint Stakeholders Comments. To help DOE determine the appropriate next step in this rulemaking, DOE invites interested members of the public who did not join in the Joint Stakeholders Comments to submit any comments they may have on the Joint Stakeholders Comments, including the recommendation for expediting the proceedings by adopting these recommended efficiency standards through a direct final rule.