Department of Energy March 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Under section 215(d)(2) of the Federal Power Act, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approves regional Reliability Standard, BAL-502-RFC-02 (Planning Resource Adequacy Analysis, Assessment and Documentation), developed by ReliabilityFirst Corporation (RFC) and submitted to the Commission by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. The approved regional Reliability Standard requires planning coordinators within the RFC geographical footprint to analyze, assess and document resource adequacy for load in the RFC footprint annually, to utilize a ``one day in ten years'' loss of load criterion, and to document and post load and resource capability in each area or transmission-constrained sub-area identified. The Commission also approves four regional reliability definitions related to the approved regional Reliability Standard and the violation risk factors and violation severity levels assigned to the BAL-502-RFC-02 Requirements.

In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

Under section 215 of the Federal Power Act, the Commission approves three Emergency Operations and Preparedness (EOP) Reliability Standards, EOP-001-1 (Emergency Operations Planning), EOP-005-2 (System Restoration from Blackstart Resources), and EOP-006-2 (System Restoration Coordination) as well as the definition of the term ``Blackstart Resource'' submitted to the Commission for approval by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC), the Electric Reliability Organization certified by the Commission. The approved Reliability Standards require transmission operators, generation operators, and certain transmission owners and distribution providers to ensure that plans, facilities and personnel are prepared to enable system restoration from Blackstart Resources and require reliability coordinators to establish plans and prepare personnel to enable effective coordination of the system restoration process. The Commission also approves the NERC's proposal to retire four existing EOP Reliability Standards and a definition that are replaced by the Standards and definition approved in this Final Rule.

This notice announces the availability of the ROD to implement the Central FerryLower Monumental 500-kilovolt (kV) Transmission Line Project in Garfield, Columbia, and Walla Walla counties, Washington. BPA has decided to implement the Combination A Alternative identified in the Central FerryLower Monumental 500-kV Transmission Line Project Final Environmental Impact Statement (DOE/EIS-0422, February 2011). The Combination A Alternative consists of constructing a new 500-kV single- circuit transmission line from BPA's new Central Ferry Substation near the Port of Central Ferry in Garfield County generally west through Garfield, Columbia, and Walla Walla counties to BPA's existing Lower Monumental Substation in Walla Walla County, a distance of about 38 miles. The transmission line route begins at the new Central Ferry Substation along the Snake River, and runs southwest for about 11 miles mostly parallel to and about 1,200 to 2,500 feet (about \1/4\; mile to [frac12] mile) south of BPA's two existing Little Goose-Lower Granite 500-kV steel lattice transmission lines. The route then angles away from the existing lines and proceeds southwest for about 6 miles before crossing the Tucannon River directly north of the town of Starbuck. The route then proceeds west for about 20 miles from the Tucannon River crossing to BPA's existing Lower Monumental Substation. BPA will acquire new 150-foot-wide right-of-way for the entire length of the new line. Approximately 161 new lattice steel transmission towers, ranging in height from about 104 to 189 feet with an average span length between towers of about 1,200 feet, will be constructed in the new right-of-way. The conductor and overhead ground wire for the new transmission line will be placed on these towers, and counterpoise would be buried in the ground at selected towers. Construction of the new line also will include the upgrade of about 5 miles of existing access roads, and the construction of about 38 miles of new access roads. Power circuit breakers, disconnect switches, and other electrical equipment will be installed at Lower Monumental Substation. In the vicinity of the Lower Monumental Substation, six existing steel lattice towers that support existing transmission lines in this area will be relocated to allow entry of the Central Ferry-Lower Monumental transmission line into the substation. Fiber optic cable will be installed along a portion of the new line. All mitigation measures identified in the EIS are adopted.

The Department of Energy (DOE), pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995), intends to extend for three years, an information collection request with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the extended 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.