Department of Energy 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

DOE announces its decision to issue a Presidential permit to Montana Alberta Tie Ltd. to construct, operate, maintain, and connect a new single-circuit 230,000-volt (230-kV) electric transmission line across the U.S.-Canada border near Cut Bank, Montana, along the preferred alternative identified in the EIS, with the environmental mitigation measures and electric reliability conditions noted below. The environmental impacts that would be associated with the line were analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement for the Montana Alberta Tie Ltd. (MATL) 230-kV Transmission Line (DOE/EIS-0399, MATL EIS). The transmission line, known as the MATL Project, would originate at an existing NorthWestern Energy (NWE) 230-kV Switchyard at Great Falls, Montana, and extend north to a new substation to be constructed northeast of Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Approximately 130 miles of the 203-mile long transmission line would be constructed in the United States. In reaching this decision, DOE considered the low environmental impacts in the United States from constructing, operating, maintaining, and connecting the proposed international transmission line, the absence of adverse impacts to the reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system, the absence of major issues of concern to the public, and the favorable recommendations of the Departments of State and Defense. DOE has prepared this ROD in accordance with the regulations of the Council on Environmental Quality (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) for implementing the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and DOE's NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR Part 1021).

The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a proposed collection of information that DOE is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for clearance under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

The Industry Advisory Board (IAB) to the International Energy Agency (IEA) will meet on November 19, 2008, at the headquarters of the IEA in Paris, France, in connection with a joint meeting of the IEA's Standing Group on Emergency Questions (SEQ) and the IEA's Standing Group on the Oil Market on November 19, and on November 20 in connection with a meeting of the SEQ on November 20.

Today's interim final rule establishes the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program authorized by section 136 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, as amended. Section 136 provides for grants and loans to eligible automobile manufacturers and component suppliers for projects that reequip, expand, and establish manufacturing facilities in the United States to produce light-duty vehicles and components for such vehicles, which provide meaningful improvements in fuel economy performance beyond certain specified levels. Section 136 also provides that grants and loans may cover engineering integration costs associated with such projects. This interim final rule establishes applicant eligibility and project eligibility requirements for both the grant and the loan program. Today's interim final rule also establishes the application requirements and the general terms for the loan program. At present, Congress has appropriated funds through the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, for only the loan program. As such, DOE will be implementing the loan program only at this time, though issuing rules for both the grant and loan programs.