Western Area Power Administration – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Western Area Power Administration (Western), Rocky Mountain Region (RMR), a Federal power marketing agency of the Department of Energy (DOE), is seeking comments on this proposed 2025 Power Marketing Initiative (2025 PMI). Western's firm electric service contracts associated with the current marketing plan will expire September 30, 2024. This proposed 2025 PMI provides the basis for marketing the long- term firm hydroelectric resources of the Loveland Area Projects (LAP) beginning with the Federal fiscal year 2025. The 2025 PMI proposes to extend the current marketing plan, with amendments to key marketing plan principles. This Federal Register notice initiates Western's public process for the proposed 2025 PMI and requests public comments. Western will prepare and publish the final 2025 PMI in the Federal Register after all public comments are considered.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy has confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-151 and Rate Schedules PD-NTS3, INT-NTS3, DSW-SD3, DSW- RS3, DSW-FR3, DSW-EI3, DSW-SPR3, DSW-SUR3, and DSW-GI1, placing the Western Area Power Administration's (Western) Desert Southwest Customer Service Region (DSWR) Parker-Davis Project (P-DP) Network Integration Transmission Service (NITS), the AC Intertie Project (Intertie) NITS, and the Western Area Lower Colorado (WALC) Balancing Authority Ancillary Services formula rates into effect on an interim basis. The Provisional Formula 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 formula rates. The Provisional Formula Rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and to repay power investment within the allowable periods.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-156 and Rate Schedules CV-F13, CPP-2, CV-T3, CV-NWT5, COTP-T3, PACI-T3, CV-TPT7, CV-UUP1, CV-SPR4, CV-SUR4, CV-RFS4, CV-EID4, and CV-GID1, placing formula rates for power, transmission, and ancillary services for the Central Valley Project (CVP), transmission service on the California-Oregon Transmission Project (COTP), transmission service on the Pacific Alternating Current Intertie (PACI), and third-party transmission service into effect on an interim basis. The Rate Order also provides information on the Western Area Power Administration's (Western) transmission capacity entitlement on the Path 15 Transmission Upgrade. The provisional formula 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 superseded. The provisional formula rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, repayment of power investments and aid to irrigation, within the allowable periods.

In this notice, the Deputy Secretary of Energy approves the Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Base Charge and Rates (Rates) for Boulder Canyon Project (BCP) electric service provided by the Western Area Power Administration (Western). The Rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense, and repay investments within the allowable period.

Western Area Power Administration (Western), Upper Great Plains Region, a Federal power marketing agency of the Department of Energy (DOE) published the proposed 2021 Power Marketing Initiative (2021 PMI) in the Federal Register on March 4, 2011. The proposed 2021 PMI provides the basis for marketing the long-term firm hydroelectric resources of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin ProgramEastern Division (P-SMBPED) beyond December 31, 2020, when Western's Firm Electric Service contracts associated with the current marketing plan will expire. The proposed 2021 PMI extends the current P-SMBPED marketing plan, with amendments to the contract term and resource pools marketing plan principles. The comment period for the proposed 2021 PMI ended on May 4, 2011. Western received a comment requesting additional time to supplement comments on the proposed 2021 PMI. This Federal Register notice re-opens the written comment period for the proposed 2021 PMI until September 6, 2011.

NextEra Energy Resources (NextEra) applied to interconnect its proposed 99-megawatt (MW) Wilton IV Wind Energy Center Project (Project) with Western Area Power Administration's (Western) existing Hilken Switching Station in Burleigh County, North Dakota. The proposed Project would consist of up to 62 1.6-MW wind turbine generators and associated infrastructure located across approximately 15,725 acres of land in Burleigh County, about 20 miles north of Bismarck. In addition to constructing and operating the above proposed Project, NextEra has requested to operate its nearby existing Wilton I (also known as Burleigh), Wilton II, and Baldwin Wind Energy Center projects at levels exceeding 50 average annual MW, when wind conditions warrant. Western will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on NextEra's proposal to interconnect their Project and to operate its existing projects above 50 average annual MW in accordance with the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) NEPA Implementing Procedures, and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA. Portions of NextEra's proposed Project 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.

Western Area Power Administration (Western) published proposed Principles for Integrated Resource planning (IRP) for use in its acquisition of resources (supply-side and demand-side) and transmission planning in the Federal Register on December 6, 1994. After considering public comments on the proposed principles, Western adopted the Final Principles of IRP under which project-specific resource acquisition and transmission planning principles would be developed. The Final Principles of IRP were published in the Federal Register on June 9, 1995, and became effective on July 10, 1995. Through this notice, Western is requesting comments on the proposed Western-wide evaluation criteria and procedures that Western will use for future resource acquisitions instead of the current principle, which calls for developing project-by-project criteria. Western is also requesting comments on its proposal to eliminate the transmission planning principles set forth in the Final Principles of IRP.

This action is to temporarily extend the existing NITS formula rates for the Parker-Davis Project (P-DP), and the Pacific Northwest/ Pacific Southwest Intertie Project (Intertie) and Ancillary Services Rates for Western Area Lower Colorado (WALC) Balancing Authority through September 30, 2013. The existing NITS and Ancillary Services formula rates expire on June 30, 2011.

Western Area Power Administration (Western), Upper Great Plains Region, a Federal power marketing agency of the Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking comments on this proposed 2021 Power Marketing Initiative (2021 PMI). Western's Firm Electric Service (FES) contracts associated with the current marketing plan will expire on December 31, 2020. This proposed 2021 PMI provides the basis for marketing the long- term firm hydroelectric resources of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin ProgramEastern Division (P-SMBPED) beyond the year 2020. The 2021 PMI proposes to extend the current marketing plan, with amendments, to key marketing plan principles. This Federal Register notice initiates Western's public process for the proposed 2021 PMI and requests public comments. Western will prepare and publish the final 2021 PMI in the Federal Register after all public comments on the proposed 2021 PMI are considered.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) 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, 2011, under Rate Schedule BCP-F8. The current base charge is not sufficient to cover all annual costs including operation, maintenance, replacements, and 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 2011. The proposed base charge and rates are scheduled to become effective on October 1, 2011, and will remain in effect through September 30, 2012. This Federal Register notice initiates the formal process for the proposed base charge and rates.

Western Area Power Administration (Western) published separate Notices of Intent to prepare environmental impact statements (EISs) for the Hyde County Wind Energy Center Project and the Crowned Ridge Wind Energy Center Project in the Federal Register on November 30, 2010. Both Notices of Intent specified a 45-day public scoping period, which would end on January 14, 2011. Western received a request for an extension of the public scoping period deadline to January 30, 2010, due to the holidays. Western is granting that request, and by this notice and local advertising is extending the formal scoping period to midnight Monday, January 31, 2011.

This action is to extend the existing Central Arizona Project (CAP) formula rates through December 31, 2012. The existing Transmission Service Formula Rate Schedules CAP-FT2, CAP-NFT2, and CAP- NITS2 expire on December 31, 2010. These Transmission Service Rate Schedules contain formula rates that are recalculated from annual updated financial and load data.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) is proposing new and revised formula rates and information for the following: Western power, the Central Valley Project (CVP) transmission, the California-Oregon Transmission Project (COTP) transmission, the Pacific Alternating Current Intertie (PACI) transmission, ancillary services, custom product power, and information on Path 15 transmission upgrade. In addition to these existing rates for services, Western also is proposing to implement two new rates and services: Unreserved Use Penalties and Generator Imbalance Services (GI). Western is not proposing any changes to its existing formula rate methodologies. The proposed rates will provide sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs including interest expense, investments, and aid to irrigation within the allowable time periods. Western's rate brochure providing detailed information on the proposed formula rates will be available January 11, 2011, to all interested parties upon request. The current rates for existing services expire on September 30, 2011.\1\ If approved, the proposed rates would become effective on October 1, 2011, and remain in effect through September 30, 2016, or until superseded by another rate schedule. Publication of this Federal Register notice begins the formal process for the proposed rate adjustments.

Western Area Power Administration (Western), a Federal power marketing agency of the Department of Energy (DOE), is publishing this notice of allocation procedures and call for applications from preference entities interested in an allocation of Federal electric power. Subpart C of the Energy Planning and Management Program (Program), which was developed in part to implement Section 114 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, provides for establishing project-specific resource pools and allocating power from these pools to eligible new preference customers and for other appropriate purposes as determined by Western. These allocation procedures and call for applications, in conjunction with the Loveland Area Projects (LAP) Final Post-1989 Marketing Plan (Post-1989 Marketing Plan), establish the framework for allocating power from the LAP resource pool. This resource pool is comprised of up to one percent of the long-term marketable resource of the LAP.

NextEra Energy Resources (NextEra) applied to interconnect its proposed 150-megawatt (MW) Hyde County Wind Energy Center Project (Project), located in Hyde County, South Dakota, with the Western Area Power Administration's (Western) existing Fort Thompson Substation in Buffalo County, South Dakota. Western will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the proposal to interconnect the Project in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) NEPA Implementing Procedures, and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA. Western's need for agency action is precipitated by NextEra's application to interconnect with Western's power transmission system. Western needs to consider NextEra's interconnection request under its Open Access Transmission Service Tariff (Tariff). This EIS will address Western's Federal action of interconnecting the proposed Project to Western's transmission system, making changes within Western's existing Fort Thompson Substation to physically connect NextEra's proposed Project, and making any necessary system modifications to accommodate the interconnection. Existing transmission line approaches to Fort Thompson Substation may also need to be realigned. By taking these actions, power generated by NextEra's proposed Project would use Western's transmission system to reach the market. Portions of NextEra's proposed Project 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.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, the Department of Energy (DOE), which includes the Western Area Power Administration (Western) and the Loan Guarantee Program (LGP), the California Energy Commission (CEC), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and Staff Assessment (SA), which may require a California Desert Conservation Area (CDCA) Plan Amendment, as a joint environmental analysis document for the proposed Rice Solar Energy Project (Project), in Riverside County, California, and by this notice are announcing the opening of the comment period. Western, on behalf of DOE, and CEC are joint lead agencies for purposes of satisfying the requirements of NEPA and the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), with the BLM acting as a cooperating agency. The Draft EIS/SA is available on the Internet at: https://www.energy.ca.gov/ sitingcases/ricesolar/.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western) received two requests from Basin Electric Power Cooperative (Basin Electric); one to interconnect their proposed South Dakota PrairieWinds Project (Proposed Project) and one to interconnect the South Dakota Wind Partners, LLC's (Wind Partners') proposed development to Western's transmission system. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Rural Utilities Service (RUS), also received a request from Basin Electric for financial assistance for the Proposed Project. RUS is a joint lead agency in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. The Proposed Project includes a 151.5-megawatt (MW) nameplate capacity wind-powered energy generation facility that would feature 101 wind turbine generators; 6,000 square-foot operations and maintenance building and fence perimeter; 64 miles of underground communication system and electrical collector lines (within the same trench); 34.5- kilovolt (kV) to 230-kV collector substation and microwave tower; 11 mile-long overhead 230-kV transmission line; temporary equipment/ material storage or lay-down areas; temporary batch plant; temporary crane walks; and 81 miles of new and/or upgraded service roads to access the facilities. Wind Partners' proposed development would include the installation of an additional seven turbines within the Crow Lake Alternative and use a portion of the other facilities described for the Proposed Project. Through an agreement between Basin Electric and Wind Partners, Basin Electric would construct, operate, and maintain the Wind Partners' proposed development. Western considered the interconnection requests under the provisions of its Open Access Transmission Service Tariff (Tariff), along with the information in the EIS and all comments received, and has made the decision to allow both of Basin Electric's requests to interconnect at Western's existing Wessington Springs Substation.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Western Area Power Administration (Western), plans to authorize a new interconnection and design, construct, own, operate, and maintain a new 69-kilovolt (kV) transmission line and fiber optic cable for delivery of project use power as part of the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Mid-Pacific Region's (Reclamation) Delta-Mendota Canal (DMC)/California Aqueduct Intertie (Intertie) project. The Intertie, including the interconnection to Western's system and transmission line and fiber optic cable, was analyzed in a Reclamation Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) with the Final EIS dated and released in November 2009. The EIS was developed in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). Reclamation issued a Record of Decision (ROD) dated December 28, 2009, to proceed with the Intertie, described as its Proposed Action in the EIS. The Intertie would be located in Alameda County, California, and involves constructing and operating a pumping plant, a pipeline connection between the DMC and the California Aqueduct at Mile 7.2 of the DMC and Mile 9 of the California Aqueduct, a switchyard, access roads, and the transmission line. Reclamation served as the lead agency in the preparation of the NEPA documents for this project. Western, in accordance with the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Regulations for Implementing NEPA (40 CFR Parts 1500-1508) and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures (10 CFR Part 1021), served as a cooperating agency. Western adopted the EIS in March 2010 (DOE/EIS-0398) to meet its NEPA responsibilities for its transmission actions in support of the Intertie.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), a Federal power marketing agency of the United States Department of Energy (DOE), is requesting SOIs from entities that are interested in purchasing transmission service. Western is evaluating a proposal which would create a new transmission path on the Parker-Davis Project (P-DP) that could facilitate the transmission of renewable generation, and is seeking interest from any entity or entities desiring to purchase Long- Term Firm Transmission Service to deliver such renewable generation over the P-DP transmission system.

The Department of Energy (DOE or Department), acting through the Southwestern Power Administration (Southwestern) and the Western Area Power Administration (Western), both power marketing administrations (PMAs) within the Department, is seeking Project Proposals from entities that are interested in providing contributed funds under section 1222 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct) for Southwestern or Western's participation in the upgrade of existing transmission facilities owned by either PMA, or the construction of new transmission lines in the states in which either PMA operates.

Western Area Power Administration (Western) proposes to improve the way it manages vegetation along its rights-of-way (ROW) on National Forest System lands in the states of Colorado, Utah, and Nebraska. Implementing the proposal would include modifying existing United States Forest Service (Forest Service) authorizations or issuing new authorizations to accommodate Western's vegetation management proposal and maintenance of the electrical transmission facilities. Western and the FS will be joint lead agencies in the preparation of an environmental impact statement (EIS) on the proposal in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) NEPA Implementing Procedures, and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) regulations for implementing NEPA.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-149 placing a power rate formula for the Provo River Project (PRP) of Western Area Power Administration (Western) into effect on an interim basis. The provisional power rate formula will remain in effect on an interim basis until the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) confirms, approves, and places it into effect on a final basis, or until the power rate formula is replaced by another power rate formula.

The Western Area Power Administration (Western), an agency of the DOE, intends to prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for the proposed Quartzsite Solar Energy Project (Project) in La Paz County, near Quartzsite, Arizona. Quartzsite Solar Energy, LLC (QSE) has applied to Western to interconnect the proposed Project to Western's power transmission system. Western is issuing this notice to inform the public and interested parties about Western's intent to prepare an EIS, to conduct a public scoping process, and to invite the public to comment on the scope, proposed action, alternatives, and

Western Area Power Administration (Western), Upper Great Plains Region, a Federal power marketing agency of the Department of Energy (DOE), hereby announces the Post-2010 Resource Pool Power Allocation (Power Allocation) to fulfill the requirements of the Energy Planning and Management Program (Program). The Power Allocation comes from a Federal power resource pool of the long-term marketable resource of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin ProgramEastern Division (P-SMBPED) that is available January 1, 2011. Western will use power previously returned to Western for this resource pool and will not need to withdraw power from existing customers.

The Deputy Secretary of Energy confirmed and approved Rate Order No. WAPA-147 and Rate Schedules P-SED-F11 and P-SED-FP11, placing firm power and firm peaking power rates from the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin ProgramEastern Division (P-SMBPED) 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 power investments and irrigation aid within the allowable periods.