Western Area Power Administration 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a power marketing administration (PMA) of the Department of Energy (DOE), is publishing the draft recommendations of the Western/DOE Joint Outreach Team (JOT) for review and comment by Western's customers, Tribes, stakeholders, and the public at large.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a proposal to improve the United States Highway 93 (U.S. 93) corridor through Henderson and Boulder City, Nevada, from the Foothills Road grade separation on U.S. 93/95 in Henderson to the western end of the Hoover Dam Bypass project near the Hacienda Hotel and Casino. Western Area Power Administration (Western), an agency within the Department of Energy (DOE), needs to modify its transmission system and facilities to accommodate the construction of the Boulder City Bypass Project (Project). Western was a cooperating agency for the EIS. Western will ensure that its responsibilities under the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA) are met before the modifications are implemented.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Western Area Power Administration (Western) is issuing this notice to advise the public that it is cancelling the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on an interconnection request by Heartland Wind, LLC (Heartland), a wholly owned subsidiary of Iberdrola Renewables, Inc.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a power marketing administration with the Department of Energy (DOE), is proposing to extend the existing formula rates for Central Arizona Project (CAP) transmission services on the CAP 115-kilovolt (kV) and 230-kV transmission facilities through December 31, 2015. The existing Transmission Service Formula Rate Schedules CAP-FT2, CAP-NFT2, and CAP- NITS2, expire December 31, 2012. This notice of proposed extension of rates is issued pursuant to 10 CFR 903.23(a). Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed extension of the CAP Transmission Formula Rates.

Western Area Power Administration (Western), a power marketing administration within the Department of Energy (DOE), is proposing an adjustment to the Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (Intertie) transmission service rates. The current rates, under Rate Schedules INT-FT4 and INT-NFT3, expire September 30, 2012. The existing rates are being adjusted to provide sufficient revenue to cover all annual costs, including interest expense, and to repay capital investment obligations within the required period. Western will prepare and provide a brochure detailing information on the proposed rates. The proposed rates, under Rate Schedules INT-FT5 and INT-NFT4, are scheduled to become effective on October 1, 2012, and remain in effect through September 30, 2017. Publication of this Federal Register notice initiates the formal process for the proposed rate adjustment.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), an agency of the Department of Energy (DOE), intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the proposed interconnection of the Grande Prairie Wind Farm (Project) in Holt County, near the city of O'Neill, Nebraska. Grande Prairie Wind, LLC (Grande Prairie Wind), a majority- owned subsidiary of Midwest Wind Energy, LLC, has applied to Western to interconnect their proposed wind energy generation project to Western's power transmission system. Western's Federal action would be to execute an interconnection agreement with Grande Prairie Wind and make any necessary modifications to the transmission system to accommodate the interconnection at Grande Prairie Wind's expense. Western is issuing this notice to inform the public and interested parties about Western's intent to prepare an EIS, conduct a public scoping process, and invite the public to comment on the scope, proposed action, alternatives, and other issues to be addressed in the EIS. Construction activities proposed by Grande Prairie Wind may affect floodplains and wetlands, so this Notice of Intent (NOI) also serves as a notice of proposed floodplain or wetland action in accordance with DOE floodplain and wetland environmental review requirements.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a power marketing administration within the Department of Energy (DOE), is proposing an adjustment to the Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) electric service base charge and rates. The current base charge and rates expire September 30, 2012, under Rate Schedule BCP-F8. The existing base charge is being adjusted to ensure it includes all annual costs including operation, maintenance, replacements, interest expense, and to repay investment obligations within the required period. The proposed base charge will provide sufficient revenue to cover all annual costs and to repay investment obligations within the allowable period. A detailed rate package that identifies the reasons for the base charge and rates adjustment will be available in March 2012. The proposed base charge and rates are scheduled to become effective October 1, 2012, and will remain in effect through September 30, 2013. This Federal Register notice initiates the formal process for the proposed base charge and rates.