Western Area Power Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) is proposing to update the rate-setting formulas for electric service for the Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) under proposed Rate Schedule BCP-F10, and adjust the annual calculation for the fiscal year (FY) 2018 base charge and rates. The expiration of the current base charge and rates on September 30, 2017, and beginning of the new 50-year marketing period on October 1, 2018, require these actions. The current base charge under Rate Schedule BCP-F9 is not sufficient to cover all annual costs including operation and maintenance, replacements, and interest expense; and repay investment obligations within the allowable period. After collaborating with the BCP contractors, WAPA proposes an FY 2018 base charge that includes a one-time $15 million working capital fund primarily for the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) for the new marketing period. The FY 2019 base charge is expected to decrease by $15 million after the collection of working capital in FY 2018. The proposed base charge will provide sufficient revenue to cover all annual costs and repay investment obligations within the allowable period. WAPA will post proposed Rate Schedule BCP-F10 and a detailed rate package that identifies the reasons for the base charge and rates adjustment on its Web site during the consultation and comment period. The proposed base charge and rates are scheduled to become effective on October 1, 2017, and will remain in effect through September 30, 2018. Publication of this Federal Register notice initiates the formal public process to implement the proposed rate-setting formulas and the FY 2018 base charge and rates.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) 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 NextEra Energy Resources, LLC (NextEra).

On December 18, 2015, Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), an agency of the Department of Energy (DOE), announced the Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement/ Environmental Impact Report (EIS/EIR) for the proposed 500-kilovolt (kV) transmission line. This proposed Project is known as the Colusa- Sutter (CoSu) 500-kV Transmission Line Project. In that previous notice, WAPA described the schedule for scoping meetings and advised the public that comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR were due by February 16, 2016. On February 5, 2016, an additional notice was published extending the due date for comments on the scope of the EIS/ EIR to April 18, 2016. By this notice, WAPA announces additional public scoping meetings and reopens the period for submitting comments on the scope of the EIS/EIR.

Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), a Federal power marketing agency of the Department of Energy, is seeking comments about this Proposed Olmsted Power Marketing Plan. WAPA has responsibility for the marketing of energy from the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP), among other projects, and operates the transmission infrastructure associated with these Federal projects.

In this notice, the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) establishes the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 base charge and rates for Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) electric service, as approved by the Deputy Secretary of Energy (Deputy Secretary). The base charge will provide sufficient revenue to cover all annual costs, including interest expense, and to repay investments within the allowable period.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy has confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-175 and Rate Schedules PD-NTS4 and INT-NTS4, placing formula rates for Network Integration Transmission Service (Network) on the Parker-Davis Project (P-DP) and Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (Intertie) of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) into effect on an interim basis. The Deputy Secretary also confirmed and approved Rate Schedules DSW-TL1, DSW-UU1, DSW-SD4, DSW- RS4, DSW-FR4, DSW-EI4, DSW-SPR4, DSW-SUR4, and DSW-GI2, placing formula rates for transmission losses, unreserved use penalties, and ancillary services from WAPA's Desert Southwest Region (DSW) and Western Area Lower Colorado Balancing Authority (WALC) into effect on an interim basis. The provisional formula rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay applicable investments within the allowable periods.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a power marketing administration within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and the San Luis & Delta-Mendota Water Authority (Authority), a California joint powers agency, have prepared a joint Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)/Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the San Luis Transmission Project (SLTP or Proposed Project). Western is the Federal lead agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Authority is the state lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is a NEPA Cooperating Agency. The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) is a CEQA Responsible Agency. Western proposes to construct, own, operate, and maintain approximately 95 miles of new transmission lines within easements ranging from 125 to 250 feet wide through Alameda, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Merced Counties along the foothills of the western San Joaquin Valley. Western also would upgrade or expand its existing substations, make the necessary arrangements to upgrade or expand existing Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) substations, or construct new substations to accommodate the interconnections of these new transmission lines. The Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Final EIS/EIR was published in the Federal Register on March 25, 2016 (81 FR 16175). After considering the environmental impacts, Western has decided to construct, operate, and maintain the transmission line and other project components within the corridors identified as the Agency Preferred Alternative in the Final EIS/EIR.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM), acting as joint lead agencies, issued the Proposed Southline Transmission Line Project (Project) Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (DOE/EIS-0474) on November 6, 2015. The Agency Preferred Alternative developed by Western and the BLM through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and described in the Final EIS is summarized in this Record of Decision (ROD). This alternative is also the Environmentally Preferred Alternative for most of the Project. One segment in the New Build Section and some local alternatives in the Upgrade Section were selected that reduce substantial existing resource conflicts while creating only minor new impacts. All practicable means to avoid or minimize environmental harm have been adopted. Since the BLM and Western were joint lead agencies in the preparation of the EIS, each agency will issue its own ROD(s) addressing the overall Project and the specific matters within its jurisdiction and authority. This ROD constitutes Western's decision with respect to the alternatives considered in the Final EIS. Western has selected the Agency Preferred Alternative identified in the Final EIS as the route for the Project. This decision on the route will enable design and engineering activities to proceed. This ROD also commits Western and Southline Transmission, LLC (Southline) to implement the proponent-committed environmental measures (PCEMs) identified in table 2-8, Project PCEMs by Resource, of the Final EIS. Selection of the Agency Preferred Alternative will also allow detailed Project costs to be developed, which are necessary for future participation and financing decisions. This ROD does not make decisions about Western's participation in the Project or financing. Those decisions are contingent on the successful development of participation agreements and financial underwriting, and would be recorded in a second ROD.

Western Area Power Administration (Western), Colorado River Storage Project Management Center (CRSP MC), a Federal power marketing agency of the Department of Energy, is extending the public comment period on its Proposed 2025 Marketing Plan for the SLCA/IP. This Federal Register notice (FRN) extends the public comment period for the Proposed 2025 Marketing Plan for the SLCA/IP contained in Western's December 16, 2015, FRN.

Western Area Power Administration (Western) transferred functional control of eligible Western-Upper Great Plains Region (Western-UGP) transmission facilities to Southwest Power Pool, Inc. (SPP) on October 1, 2015. Transmission service is being provided over Western-UGP's eligible facilities under SPP's Open Access Transmission Tariff. Western-UGP costs are included in Western-UGP Formula rates for Transmission and Ancillary Services under Rate Schedules WAUGP-ATRR, WAUGP-AS1, WAUW-AS3, WAUW-AS4, WAUW-AS5, WAUW-AS6 and WAUW-AS7, which became effective on October 1, 2015.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) Loveland Area Projects' (LAP) Transmission and Western Area Colorado Missouri Balancing Authority's (WACM) Ancillary Services formula rates under Rate Schedules L-NT1, L-FPT1, L-NFPT1, L-AS1, L-AS2, L-AS3, L-AS4, L- AS5, L-AS6, L-AS7, L-AS9, and L-UU1 expire on September 30, 2016. Western is proposing modifications to the existing formula rate schedules and also is proposing to add a new rate schedule, referred to as ``LAP Marketing Sale of Surplus Products, L-M1.'' Western has prepared a brochure that provides detailed information on the proposed formula rates. If adopted, the proposed formula rates, under Rate Schedules L-NT1, L-FPT1, L-NFPT1, L-AS1, L-AS2, L-AS3, L-AS4, L-AS5, L- AS6, L-AS7, L-AS9, L-UU1, and L-M1, 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 consideration of the proposed formula rates.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-172 and Rate Schedules CAP-FT3, CAP-NFT3, and CAP-NITS3, placing transmission service formula rates for the Central Arizona Project (CAP) 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 repay required investment within the allowable periods.

Western Area Power Administration (Western), Colorado River Storage Project Management Center (CRSP MC), a Federal power marketing agency of the Department of Energy, is seeking comments on its Proposed 2025 Marketing Plan for the Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects (SLCA/IP). The current SLCA/IP marketing plan will expire on September 30, 2024. The Proposed General Power Marketing Criteria provides the basis for marketing the long-term, firm hydroelectric resources of the SLCA/IP to be effective October 1, 2024. The Proposed General Power Marketing Criteria for the SLCA/IP are published herein. This Federal Register notice (FRN) formally initiates Western's public process and request for public comments. Western will prepare and publish the final 2025 General Power Marketing Criteria after public comments on the criteria are considered. The Energy Planning and Management Program as set forth in 10 CFR part 905 is not specifically applicable to the SLCA/IP; however, Western used the Power Marketing Initiative outlined in Subpart C for general guidance in developing a framework for this proposal. This FRN is not a call for applications. A call for applications from those interested in an allocation of SLCA/IP power will occur in a future notice.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) (DOE/EIS-0417) for the construction of the proposed South Mountain Freeway (Loop 202) (Project), from the east-west alignment of Interstate 10 (Papago Freeway) to north-south alignment of Interstate 10 (Maricopa Freeway). The Project is located in the Greater Metropolitan Phoenix Area, southwest of the City of Phoenix in Maricopa County, Arizona. Western Area Power Administration (Western) was a cooperating agency in FHWA's EIS process. The FHWA selected a combination of the alternatives W59 and E1 as described in the EIS as their selected alternative in their Record of Decision (ROD). FHWA's selected alternative requires Western to issue letter agreements for two crossings of its transmission rights-of-way, and to modify its transmission system and facilities at these crossing locations to accommodate the construction of the Project.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), joint lead agencies, announce the availability of the Upper Great Plains Wind Energy Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (Final PEIS) (DOE/EIS-0408). The Final PEIS evaluates issues and environmental impacts associated with wind energy development within Western's Upper Great Plains Customer Service Region (UGP Region) and upon the Service's landscape-level grassland and wetland easements. The area covered by the PEIS encompasses all or parts of the states of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota that fall within the UGP Region boundaries. In response to an increase in wind energy development, Western and the Service have interests in streamlining their procedures for conducting environmental reviews of wind energy applications by implementing standardized evaluation procedures and identifying measures to address potential environmental impacts associated with wind energy projects in the UGP Region. The U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utility Services (RUS), have participated as cooperating agencies. The Final PEIS and related project information is available on the project Web site at https:// plainswindeis.anl.gov.

Western Area Power Administration (Western) extends, on an interim basis, the existing Provo River Project Formula Rate through March 31, 2020. The existing Formula Rate under Rate Order No. WAPA-149 expires on March 31, 2015. The Formula Rate will be in effect until the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) places it into effect on a final basis or until it is replaced by another rate.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a Federal power marketing agency of the Department of Energy (DOE), announces the Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) Post-2017 Resource Pool Final Allocation of Power (BCP Final Allocation). The BCP Final Allocation was developed pursuant to the Conformed Power Marketing Criteria or Regulations for the Boulder Canyon Project (2012 Conformed Criteria) published in the Federal Register on June 14, 2012, as required by the Hoover Power Allocation Act of 2011, and Western's final BCP post-2017 marketing criteria and call for applications published in the Federal Register on December 30, 2013. This notice also includes Western's responses to comments on proposed allocations published on August 8, 2014. The BCP Final Allocation documents Western's decisions prior to beginning the contractual phase of the process. Electric service contracts will provide for delivery from October 1, 2017 to September 30, 2067.

Western Area Power Administration (Western), an agency within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), received a request from Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric) to interconnect its proposed Antelope Valley Station (AVS) to Neset Transmission Project (Project) to Western's Williston Substation and Williston to Charlie Creek 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line. The Project would be located in northwest North Dakota including parts of Mercer, Dunn, McKenzie, Williams, and Mountrail counties. On May 30, 2014, the Notice of Availability (NOA) of the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Project was published in the Federal Register (79 FR 31085). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Rural Utilities Service (RUS) was the lead Federal agency for the EIS. Western was a cooperating agency in preparation of the EIS. After considering the environmental impacts, Western has decided to allow Basin Electric's request for interconnection.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-166 and Rate Schedules P-SED-F12 and P-SED-FP12, placing firm power and firm peaking power rates for the Western Area Power Administration (Western) Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin ProgramEastern Division (P-SMBPED) into effect on an interim basis.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a power marketing administration within the Department of Energy (DOE), is proposing new formula transmission and ancillary services rates for the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin ProgramEastern Division (P-SMBPED). The proposed formula rates would become effective October 1, 2015, and remain in effect until September 30, 2020, or until Western changes the formula rates through another public rate process pursuant to 10 CFR part 903, whichever is sooner. Western's Upper Great Plains Region (Western-UGP) has joined the Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) contingent upon Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approval of Western-UGP's negotiated provisions in the SPP Membership Agreement, Bylaws, and Tariff (SPP Governing Documents). Transmission and ancillary services will be provided over Western-UGP facilities under the SPP Open Access Transmission Tariff (Tariff) by SPP as the transmission service provider upon Western-UGP transferring functional control to SPP. Western-UGP needs to adopt new formula rates for these transmission and ancillary services so Western-UGP's costs can be recovered under the SPP Tariff. These formula rates will provide Western sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expenses, and repay required investments within the allowable periods. Western-UGP's membership in SPP and the functional control of its facilities will be in accordance with the SPP Governing Documents and other contractual arrangements with SPP. Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed rates.

Western Area Power Administration (Western), an agency within the Department of Energy (DOE), has submitted an extension to an existing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review, comment and approval, as required under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The ICR seeks a 3- year extension for Western's Applicant Profile Data form (APD), OMB Control No. 1910-5136. The ICR described below identifies the request, including the anticipated public burdens. The ICR is necessary for the proper performance of Western's functions. Western markets a limited amount of Federal power. Due to the high demand for Western's power and limited amount of available power, Western needs to be able to collect information under the ICR to evaluate who will receive an allocation. This public process only determines the information Western will collect in its ICR. The actual allocation of Federal power will be done through a separate process and is outside the scope of this notice.

In this notice, the Deputy Secretary of Energy (Deputy Secretary) approves the Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Base Charge and Rates for Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) electric service provided by the Western Area Power Administration (Western). The Base Charge will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay investments within the allowable period.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) Loveland Area Projects' (LAP) Rate Schedule L-F9 expires December 31, 2014. LAP consists of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project (Fry-Ark) and the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program (P-SMBP)Western Division, which were integrated for marketing and rate-making purposes in 1989. Western is proposing modifications to the charge components in Rate Schedule L-F9 in order to true up the base and drought adder charges, which require a minor rate adjustment process. The revenue requirement and the total rate charges in the firm electric service rate schedule are not changing from Rate Schedule L-F9 and will continue to provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay investments within the allowable periods. If approved, the proposed Rate Schedule L-F10 will become effective on January 1, 2015, and will remain in effect through December 31, 2019. Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed rate schedule.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin ProgramEastern Division (P-SMBPED) Rate Schedules P- SED-F11 and P-SED-FP11 for firm power and firm peaking power service expire December 31, 2014. Western is proposing modifications to the charge components in Rate Schedules P-SED-F11 and P-SED-FP11 in order to true up the base and drought adder charges, which require a minor rate adjustment process. The revenue requirement and the total rate charges in the firm power and firm peaking power service rate schedules are not changing from Rate Schedules P-SED-F11 and P-SED-FP11 and will continue to provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay investments within the allowable periods. If approved, the proposed Rate Schedules P-SED-F12 and P-SED- FP12 will become effective on January 1, 2015, and will remain in effect through December 31, 2019. Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed rate schedules.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-163 and Rate Schedule WC-8, placing new hourly, non- firm, point-to-point transmission service formula rates for the Loveland Area Projects (LAP), Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP), Pacific Northwest-Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (INT), Central Arizona Project (CAP), and Parker-Davis Project (P-DP) in use under WestConnect's PA into effect on an interim basis.