[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 29 (Monday, February 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 9826]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-3491]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[FE Dockets No. PP-231]


Application for Presidential Permit; Northern States Power 
Company

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of Application.

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

SUMMARY: Northern States Power Company (NSP) has applied for a 
Presidential permit to construct, operate, maintain, and connect a 
230,000-volt (230-kV) electric transmission line across the U.S. border 
with Canada.

DATES: Comments, protests, or requests to intervene must be submitted 
on or before March 14, 2001.

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, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0350.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Mintz (Program Office) 202-586-
9506 or Michael T. Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-2793.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The construction, operation, maintenance, or 
connection 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 November 2, 2000, NSP, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xcel Energy 
Incorporated (Xcel), filed an application with the Office of Fossil 
Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) for a Presidential 
permit. NSP, doing business as Excel, proposes to construct a 230-kV 
transmission line that would extend approximately 53 miles from a new 
substation to be built in Rugby, North Dakota, to the U.S.-Canadian 
border. From the border, the proposed transmission line would extend an 
additional 50 miles into Canada to an existing substation located in 
Glenboro, Manitoba, Canada. The facilities within Canada will be 
developed, owned, and operated by Manitoba Hydro. The proposed Rugby-
to-Glenboro transmission line is one component of a larger set of 230-
kV transmission system improvements being implemented jointly by Xcel 
and Otter Tail Power Company.
    Since the restructuring of the electric power industry began, 
resulting in the introduction of different types of competitive 
entities into the marketplace, DOE has consistently expressed its 
policy that cross-border trade in electric energy should be subject to 
the same principles of comparable open access and non-discrimination 
that apply to transmission in interstate commerce. DOE has stated that 
policy in export authorizations granted to entities requesting 
authority to export over international transmission facilities. 
Specifically, DOE expects transmitting utilities owning border 
facilities constructed pursuant to Presidential permits to provide 
access across the border in accordance with the principles of 
comparable open access and non-discrimination contained in the FPA and 
articulated in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Order No. 888, as 
amended (Promoting Wholesale Competition Through Open Access Non-
Discriminatory Transmission Services by Public Utilities). In 
furtherance of this policy, DOE intends to condition any Presidential 
permit issued in this proceeding on compliance with these open access 
principles.

Procedural Matters

    Any person desiring to become a party to this proceeding or to be 
heard by filing comments or protests to this application should file a 
petition to intervene, comment or protest at the address provided above 
in accordance with Secs. 385.211 or 385.214 of the FERC's Rules of 
Practice and Procedures (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of 
each petition and protest should be filed with the DOE on or before the 
date listed above. Additional copies of such petitions to intervene or 
protests also should be filed directly with: James Alders, Xcel Energy, 
Inc., 414 Nicollet Mall--4th Floor, Minneapolis, MN 55401.
    Before a Presidential permit may be issued or amended, the 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 actions 
pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. 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 ``Electricity'' from the options menu, and 
then ``Pending Proceedings.''

    Issued in Washington, D.C., on February 5, 2001.
Anthony J. Como,
Deputy Director, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal & Power Im/
Ex, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 01-3491 Filed 2-9-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P