Western Area Power Administration January 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Acting Deputy Secretary of Energy has confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-142 and Rate Schedule L-F8, placing firm electric service rates from the Loveland Area Projects (LAP) of the Western Area Power Administration (Western) into effect on an interim basis. The Provisional Rates will be in effect until the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) confirms, approves, and places them into effect on a final basis or until they are replaced by other rates. The Provisional Rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repayment of power investment and irrigation aid within the allowable periods.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), an agency of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), intends to prepare a joint environmental impact statement/environmental impact report (EIS/EIR) for the construction and operation of the proposed Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC) Transmission Project (Project) in California. Western is issuing this Advance Notice to inform the public and interested parties early about the proposed Project. At a later date, Western plans to issue a formal Notice of Intent (NOI) and conduct a public scoping process, during which Western will invite the public to comment on the scope, proposed action, alternatives, and other issues to be addressed in the EIS/EIR. The EIS/EIR will address the construction, maintenance, and operation of the proposed Project, which would include building and upgrading over 500 miles of 230-kilovolt (kV) and 500-kV transmission lines and associated equipment and facilities in northern California. Portions of the proposed Project may affect floodplains and wetlands in the area. Western will hold public scoping meetings in several locations near the Project area during the public scoping period, anticipated to begin in early 2009. At the scoping meetings, Western will share information and receive comments and suggestions on the scope of the EIS/EIR.