57350 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 192 / Thursday, October 2, 2008 / Notices 

1Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, 118 FERC 

¶61,123. 

2 Id., 120 FERC ¶61,072. 

3Saltville Gas Storage Company LLC, 124 FERC 

¶61,209. 

4East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC, 124 FERC 

¶61,210. 

becoming an intervenor are included in 

the User’s Guide under the ‘‘eFiling’’ 

link on the Commission’s Web site. 

Please note that you may not request 

intervenor status at this time. You must 

wait until a formal application is filed 

with the Commission. You do not need 

intervenor status to have your 

environmental comments considered. 

Environmental Mailing List 

If you received this notice, you are 

currently on the environmental mailing 

list for this project. If you do not want 

to send comments at this time and have 

not previously sent comments to us on 

this project or presented comments at 

one of the public scoping meetings, but 

still want to remain on our mailing list, 

please return the Mailing List Retention 

Form (appendix 2). If you do not submit 

or present comments or if you do not 

return the Mailing List Retention Form, 

you will be removed from the 

Commission’s environmental mailing 

list for this project. 

Availability of Additional Information 

Additional information about the 

Project is available from the FERC’s 

Office of External Affairs at 1–866–208– 

FERC (3372) or on the FERC Internet 

Web site (http://www.ferc.gov) using the 

eLibrary link. Click on the eLibrary link, 

click on ‘‘General Search,’’ and enter the 

docket number excluding the last three 

digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., 

PF08–9). Be sure you have selected an 

appropriate date range. For assistance, 

please contact FERC Online Support at 

FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll 

free at 1–866–208–3676, or for TTY, 

contact (202) 502–8659. The eLibrary 

link on the FERC Internet Web site also 

provides access to the text of formal 

documents issued by the Commission, 

such as orders, notices, and 

rulemakings. 

In addition, the FERC offers a free 

service called eSubscription that allows 

you to keep track of all formal issuances 

and submittals in specific dockets. This 

can reduce the amount of time you 

spend researching proceedings by 

automatically providing you with 

notification of these filings, document 

summaries, and direct links to the 

documents. To register for this service, 

go to the eSubscription link on the 

FERC Internet Web site (http:// 

www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ 

esubscription.asp). 

Information concerning the 

involvement of the BLM in the EIS 

process may be obtained from Mark 

Mackiewicz, PMP, National Project 

Manager, at (435) 636–3616. Information 

concerning the involvement of the USFS 

may be obtained from Catherine 

Callaghan at the Fremont-Winema 

National Forest at (541) 947–2151, and 

David Ream (801) 236–3400 at the 

Wasatch-Cache National Forest. 

Finally, Ruby has established an 

Internet Web site for its project at 

http://www.rubypipeline.com. The Web 

site includes a description of the project 

as well as project maps and links to 

related documents. Information can also 

be obtained by calling Ruby directly at 

1–877–598–5263 (toll free) or 1–719– 

520–4450. 

Kimberly D. Bose, 

Secretary. 

[FR Doc. E8–23216 Filed 10–1–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6717–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission 

[Docket Nos. RP07–139–000, RP08–479– 

000, RP08–487–000 (not consolidated)] 

Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, 

Saltville Gas Storage Company, LLC, 

East Tennessee Natural Gas, LLC; 

Notice of Technical Conference 

September 26, 2008. 

On January 19, 2007, Algonquin Gas 

Transmission, LLC (Algonquin) filed 

proposed changes to its tariff sheets 

concerning, among other things, a net 

present value (NPV) allocation 

methodology for available capacity that 

considered probability of default as one 

of its factors. On February 16, 2007, the 

Commission accepted and suspended 

the proposed tariff changes, subject to 

refund and conditions.1 On July 19, 

2007, the Commission accepted 

Algonquin’s compliance filing subject to 

certain modifications.2 On September 

19, 2007, the Commission granted a 

request for rehearing for further 

consideration. 

On August 1, 2008, in Docket No. 

RP08–479–000, Saltville Gas Storage 

Company, LLC (Saltville) and, in Docket 

No. RP08–487–000, East Tennessee 

Natural Gas, LLC (East Tennessee) filed 

proposed changes to their respective 

tariffs concerning, among other things, a 

NPV allocation methodology for 

available capacity that considered 

probability of default as one of its 

factors. On August 29, 2008, the 

Commission accepted and suspended 

the proposed tariff changes of both 

Saltville3 and East Tennessee,4 subject 

to refund and conditions, and the 

outcome of a technical conference. In 

both orders, the Commission directed its 

Staff to convene a technical conference 

to address the proposed services and 

terms and conditions, and to report the 

results of the technical conference to the 

Commission within 120 days. 

On September 24, 2008 the 

Commission staff sent data requests to 

Algonquin, Saltville, and East 

Tennessee requesting information about 

the companies’ credit practices, default 

history, and proposed use of a 

probability of default factor in 

determining NPV of bids for available 

capacity. Responses to the data requests 

are due on October 6, 2008. 

Take notice that a technical 

conference to discuss issues raised by 

the filings of Algonquin, Saltville, and 

East Tennessee will be held on 

Wednesday, October 22, 2008 at 9:30 am 

(EST), in a room to be designated at the 

offices of the Federal Energy Regulatory 

Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 

Washington, DC 20426. 

The parties to all three proceedings 

should be prepared to discuss the issues 

raised by the filings, in particular issues 

concerning the probability of default 

factor. Parties should also be prepared 

to discuss companies’ responses to the 

data requests including their current 

methodologies for allocating capacity, 

what, if any deficiencies may exist with 

these methodologies, and how the 

proposed probability of default factor 

addresses the deficiencies. The parties 

should also be prepared to discuss the 

need for a probability of default factor 

for both creditworthy and noncreditworthy customers, whether the 

proposed use of a probability of default 

factor unreasonably limits the pool of 

qualified potential bidders for available 

capacity, and the merits of not 

separating the probability of default 

assessment from the NPV bid. 

The Commission’s conferences are 

accessible under section 508 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For 

accessibility accommodations please 

send an e-mail to accessibility@ferc.gov 

or call toll free 1–866–208–3372 (voice) 

or 202–208–1659 (TTY), or send a FAX 

to 202–208–2106 with the required 

accommodations. 

All parties and staff are permitted to 

attend. For further information please 

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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 192 / Thursday, October 2, 2008 / Notices 57351 

contact Vince Mareino at (202) 502– 

6167 or Vince.Mareino@ferc.gov. 

Kimberly D. Bose, 

Secretary. 

[FR Doc. E8–23210 Filed 10–1–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6717–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 

Southwestern Power Administration 

Robert D. Willis Hydropower Rate 

Schedules 

AGENCY: Southwestern Power 

Administration, DOE. 

ACTION: Notice of rate order. 

SUMMARY: Pursuant to Delegation Order 

Nos. 00–037.00, effective December 6, 

2001, and 00–001.00C, effective January 

31, 2007, the Deputy Secretary has 

approved and placed into effect on an 

interim basis Rate Order No. SWPA–59, 

which increases the power rate for the 

Robert Douglas Willis Hydropower 

Project (Willis) pursuant to the 

following Willis Rate Schedule: 

Rate Schedule RDW–08, Wholesale Rates 

for Hydro Power and Energy Sold to Sam 

Rayburn Municipal Power Agency (Contract 

No. DE–PM75–85SW00117) 

DATES: The effective period for the rate 

schedule specified in Rate Order No. 

SWPA–59 is October 1, 2008, through 

September 30, 2012. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. 

James K. McDonald, Assistant 

Administrator, Office of Corporate 

Operations, Southwestern Power 

Administration, Department of Energy, 

One West Third Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 

74103, (918) 595–6690, 

jim.mcdonald@swpa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

existing hydroelectric power rate for the 

Robert Douglas Willis project is 

$815,580 per year. The Federal Energy 

Regulatory Commission approved this 

rate on a final basis on February 23, 

2007, in Docket EF–07–4081–000 for the 

period January 1, 2007, through 

September 30, 2010 (see 118 FERC 

¶ 62150). The 2008 Willis Power 

Repayment Studies indicate the need for 

an increase in the annual rate by 

$113,808 or 14.0 percent beginning 

October 1, 2008. 

The Administrator, Southwestern 

Power Administration (Southwestern) 

has followed Title 10, Part 903 Subpart 

A, of the Code of Federal Regulations, 

‘‘Procedures for Public Participation in 

Power and Transmission Rate 

Adjustments and Extensions’’ in 

connection with the proposed rate 

schedule. On August 5, 2008, 

Southwestern published notice in the 

Federal Register (73 FR 45435), of a 30- 

day comment period, together with a 

combined Public Information and 

Comment Forum, to provide an 

opportunity for customers and other 

interested members of the public to 

review and comment on a proposed rate 

increase for the Willis project. The 

public forum was canceled when no one 

expressed an intention to participate. 

Written comments were accepted 

through September 4, 2008. One 

comment was received from Gillis & 

Angley, Counsellors at Law, on behalf of 

Sam Rayburn Municipal Power Agency, 

Sam Rayburn Dam Electric Cooperative, 

and the Vinton Public Power Authority, 

which stated that they had no objection 

to the proposed rate adjustment. 

Information regarding this rate 

proposal, including studies and other 

supporting material, is available for 

public review and comment in the 

offices of Southwestern Power 

Administration, One West Third Street, 

Tulsa, Oklahoma 74103. 

Following review of Southwestern’s 

proposal within the Department of 

Energy, I approved Rate Order No. 

SWPA–59, on an interim basis, which 

increases the existing Robert D. Willis 

rate to $929,388, per year, for the period 

October 1, 2008, through September 30, 

2012. 

Dated: September 25, 2008. 

Jeffrey Kupfer, 

Deputy Secretary. 

Deputy Secretary of Energy 

[Rate Order No. SWPA–59] 

In the matter of: Southwestern Power 

Administration, Robert D. Willis 

Hydropower Project Rate; Order 

Confirming, Approving and Placing 

Increased Power Rate Schedule In 

Effect On an Interim Basis 

Pursuant to Sections 302(a) and 

301(b) of the Department of Energy 

Organization Act, Public Law 95–91, the 

functions of the Secretary of the Interior 

and the Federal Power Commission 

under Section 5 of the Flood Control 

Act of 1944, 16 U.S.C. 825s, relating to 

the Southwestern Power Administration 

(Southwestern) were transferred to and 

vested in the Secretary of Energy. By 

Delegation Order No. 0204–108, 

effective December 14, 1983, the 

Secretary of Energy delegated to the 

Administrator of Southwestern the 

authority to develop power and 

transmission rates, delegated to the 

Deputy Secretary of the Department of 

Energy the authority to confirm, 

approve, and place in effect such rates 

on an interim basis and delegated to the 

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 

(FERC) the authority to confirm and 

approve on a final basis or to disapprove 

rates developed by the Administrator 

under the delegation. Delegation Order 

No. 0204–108, as amended, was 

rescinded and subsequently replaced by 

Delegation Orders 00–037.00 (December 

6, 2001) and 00–001–00C (January 23, 

2007). The Deputy Secretary issued this 

rate order pursuant to said delegations. 

Background 

Dam B (Town Bluff Dam), located on 

the Neches River in eastern Texas 

downstream from the Sam Rayburn 

Dam, was originally constructed in 1951 

by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers 

(Corps) and provides streamflow 

regulation of releases from the Sam 

Rayburn Dam. The Lower Neches Valley 

Authority contributed funds toward 

construction of both projects and makes 

established annual payments for the 

right to withdraw up to 2000 cubic feet 

of water per second from Town Bluff 

Dam for its own use. Power was 

legislatively authorized at the project, 

but installation of hydroelectric 

facilities was deferred until justified by 

economic conditions. A determination 

of feasibility was made in a 1982 Corps 

study. In 1983, the Sam Rayburn 

Municipal Power Agency (SRMPA) 

proposed to sponsor and finance the 

development at Town Bluff Dam in 

return for the output of the project to be 

delivered to its member municipalities 

and participating member cooperatives 

of the Sam Rayburn Dam Electric 

Cooperative. Since the hydroelectric 

facilities at the Town Bluff Dam have 

been completed, the facilities have been 

renamed the Robert Douglas Willis 

Hydropower Project (Willis). 

The Willis rate is unique in that it 

excludes the costs associated with the 

hydropower design and construction 

performed by the Corps, because all 

funds for these costs were provided by 

SRMPA. Under the Southwestern/ 

SRMPA power sales Contract No. DE– 

PM75–85SW00117, SRMPA will 

continue to pay all annual operating and 

marketing costs, as well as expected 

capital replacement costs, through the 

rate paid to Southwestern, and will 

receive all power and energy produced 

at the project for a period of 50 years. 

In the FERC Docket No. EF07–4081– 

000, issued February 23, 2007, for the 

period January 1, 2007, through 

September 30, 2010, the FERC 

confirmed and approved the current 

annual Willis rate of $815,580. 

Discussion 

Southwestern’s Current PRS indicates 

that the existing annual power rate of 

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