Department of Energy February 3, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The U.S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Eastern Colorado Area Office (Reclamation) prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed Windy Gap Firming Project (Project) in North Central Colorado. The Municipal Subdistrict (Subdistrict), Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, acting by and through the Windy Gap Firming Project Water Activity Enterprise, on behalf of the Project Participants, obtained approval from Reclamation for additional physical connections to Colorado-Big Thompson Project (C-BT) facilities in order to implement the proposed Project. Western Area Power Administration (Western), an agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), participated in the development of the EIS as a cooperating agency. The EIS evaluated a no action alternative, along with four action alternatives each entailing the construction of new reservoirs along with pipelines and operational facilities at different locations. The action alternatives were designed to provide more reliable water deliveries to Front Range and West Slope communities and industry. Reclamation selected Alternative 2Chimney Hollow Reservoir in its Record of Decision (ROD) dated December 19, 2014. In order to support Reclamation's decision, Western would need to relocate 3.8 miles of its existing Estes-Lyons 115-kilovolt (kV) wood H-frame transmission line away from the proposed Chimney Hollow Reservoir site to avoid its inundation.

The U.S. Department of Energy (``DOE'' or, in context, ``the Department'') is giving notice of a public meeting and that DOE intends to establish a negotiated rulemaking working group under the Appliance Standards and Rulemaking Federal Advisory Committee (``ASRAC'') in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (``FACA'') and the Negotiated Rulemaking Act (``NRA'') to negotiate proposed amended energy conservation standards for circulator pumps. The purpose of the working group will be to discuss and, if possible, reach consensus on a proposed rule regarding definitions, test procedures, and energy conservation standards, as authorized by the Energy Policy and Conservation Act (EPCA) of 1975, as amended. The working group will consist of representatives of parties having a defined stake in the outcome of the proposed standards, and will consult as appropriate with a range of experts on technical issues. Per the ASRAC Charter, the working group is expected to make a concerted effort to negotiate a final term sheet by September 30, 2016.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) Parker-Davis (P-DP) and Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie (Intertie) Projects' Network Integration Transmission Service (NITS) formula rates under Rate Schedules PD-NTS3, INT-NTS3 and Western Area Lower Colorado Balancing Authority's (WALC) Ancillary Services formula rates under Rate Schedules DSW-SD3, DSW-RS3, DSW-FR3, DSW-EI3, DSW-GI1, DSW-SPR3, and DSW-SUR3 expire on September 30, 2016. Western is proposing modifications to the existing formula rate schedules and adding two new rate schedules, referred to as Transmission Losses Services (DSW-TL1) and Penalty Rate for Unreserved Use of Transmission Service (DSW-UU1). Western will prepare a brochure that provides detailed information on the proposed formula rates. If adopted, the proposed formula rates, under Rate Schedules PD-NTS4, INT-NTS4, DSW-TL1, DSW-UU1, DSW-SD4, DSW- RS4, DSW-FR4, DSW-EI4, DSW-GI2, DSW-SPR4, and DSW-SUR4 will become effective October 1, 2016, and will remain in effect through September 30, 2021, or until superseded. Publication of this Federal Register notice (FRN) begins the formal process for the proposed formula rates.