[Federal Register: February 25, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 37)]
[Notices]               
[Page 9324-9325]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr25fe99-41]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[FE Docket No. PP-204]

 
Application for Presidential Permit; Sumas Energy 2, Inc.

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of application.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: Sumas Energy 2, Inc. (SE2) has applied for a Presidential 
permit to construct, connect, operate and maintain electric 
transmission facilities across the U.S. border with Canada.

DATES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene must be submitted 
on or before March 29, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office of Coal & Power Import and Export (FE-27), 
Office of Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585-0350.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Russell (Program Office) 202-
586-9624 or Michael T. Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-6667.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The construction, connection, operation, and 
maintenance of facilities at the international border of the United 
States for the transmission of electric energy between the United 
States and a foreign country is prohibited in the absence of a 
Presidential permit issued pursuant to Executive Order (EO) 10485, as 
amended by EO 12038.
    On February 10, 1999, SE2, an independent power producer in the

[[Page 9325]]

State of Washington, filed an application with the Office of Fossil 
Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) for a Presidential 
permit. SE2 proposes to construct a double-circuit 230,000-volt (230-
kV) transmission line across the U.S. border with Canada. The proposed 
transmission lines would extend approximately one half mile from a 710-
megawatt (MW) gas-fired, electric powerplant SE2 proposes to construct 
in Sumas, Washington. At the border, the SE2 transmission lines would 
continue approximately 6 additional miles into Canada to the Abbotsford 
and the Clayburn substations of British Columbia Hydro, the provincial 
utility of Canada's Province of British Columbia.
    In its application, SE2 asserts that the facilities proposed herein 
are not to be interconnected with any other part of the U.S. electric 
power system thereby precluding third party use of these transmission 
facilities.
    Prior to exporting electric energy to Canada, SE2 will be required 
to obtain an authorization from DOE pursuant to section 202(e) of the 
Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. Sec. 824a(e)).

Procedural Matters

    Any person desiring to be heard or to protest this application 
should file a petition to intervene or protest at the address provided 
above in accordance with section 385.211 or 385.214 of the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 
385.211, 385.214).
    Fifteen copies of such petitions and protests should be filed with 
DOE on or before the date listed above. Additional copies of such 
petitions to intervene or protests also should be filed directly with: 
Matthew M. Schreck, Corbett & Schreck, P.C., 820 Gessner, Suite 1390, 
Houston, TX 77024.
    Before a Presidential permit may be issued or amended, DOE must 
determine that the proposed action will not adversely impact on the 
reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system. In addition, DOE 
must consider the environmental impacts of the proposed action pursuant 
to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). DOE also must 
obtain the concurrence of the Secretary of State and the Secretary of 
Defense before taking final action on a Presidential permit 
application.
    Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, 
for public inspection and copying at the address provided above. In 
addition, the application may be reviewed or downloaded from the Fossil 
Energy Home Page at: http://www.fe.doe.gov. Upon reaching the Fossil 
Energy Home page, select ``Regulatory Programs,'' then ``Electricity 
Regulations,'' and then ``Pending Proceedings'' from the options menus.

    Issued in Washington, D. C., on February 22, 1999.
Anthony J. Como,
Manager, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal & Power Im/Ex, 
Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 99-4708 Filed 2-24-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P