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###### Department of Energy

          - [OE Docket No. EA-459]

# AGENCY:

Office of Electricity, DOE.

# ACTION:

Notice of application.

# SUMMARY:

Mercuria Energy America, Inc. (MEAI or Applicant) has applied for authority to transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico pursuant to the Federal Power Act.

# DATES:

Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on or before September 28, 2018.

# ADDRESSES:

                        Comments, protests, motions to intervene, or requests for more information should be addressed to: Office of Electricity, Mail Code: OE-20, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0350. Because of delays in handling conventional mail, it is recommended that documents be transmitted by overnight mail, by electronic mail to                         *Electricity.Exports@hq.doe.gov,*                         or by facsimile to 202-586-8008.                    

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Exports of electricity from the United States to a foreign country are regulated by the United States Department of Energy (DOE) pursuant to sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the Department of Energy Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7151(b) and 7172(f)) and require authorization under section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)).

On July 30, 2018, DOE received an application from MEAI for authority to transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico as a power marketer for a five-year term using existing international transmission facilities. MEAI is also registered as a Purchasing and Selling Entity, as defined by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC).

In its application, MEAI states that it “does not currently own or control electric generation or transmission facilities of its own in the United States over which the export of wholesale electricity could have a reliability, fuel use, or system stability impact,” and that it does not have a franchised service area. The electric energy that MEAI proposes to export to Mexico would be surplus energy purchased from third parties such as electric utilities and Federal power marketing agencies pursuant to voluntary agreements. The existing international transmission facilities to be utilized by the Applicant have previously been authorized by Presidential Permits issued pursuant to Executive Order 10485, as amended, and are appropriate for open access transmission by third parties.

*Procedural Matters:*                     Any person desiring to be heard in this proceeding should file a comment or protest to the application at the address provided above. Protests should be filed in accordance with Rule 211 of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC's) Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211). Any person desiring to become a party to these proceedings should file a motion to intervene at the above address in accordance with FERC Rule 214 (18 CFR 385.214). Five (5) copies of such comments, protests, or motions to intervene should be sent to the address provided above on or before the date listed above.                

Comments and other filings concerning MEAI's application to export electric energy to Mexico should be clearly marked with OE Docket No. EA-459. An additional copy is to be provided to both Chloe Cromarty and Mark Greenberg, 20 E. Greenway Plaza, Suite 650, Houston, TX 77046.

A final decision will be made on this application after the environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to DOE's National Environmental Policy Act Implementing Procedures (10 CFR part 1021) and after a determination is made by DOE that the proposed action will not have an adverse impact on the sufficiency of supply or reliability of the U.S. electric power supply system.

                    Copies of this application will be made available, upon request, for public inspection and copying at the address provided above, by accessing the program website at                     *http://energy.gov/​node/​11845,*                     or by emailing Angela Troy at                     *Angela.Troy@hq.doe.gov.*

Signed in Washington, DC, on August 23, 2018.

Christopher Lawrence,

Electricity Policy Analyst, Office of Electricity.

[FR Doc. 2018-18743 Filed 8-28-18; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P