The document summarizes the following: 1) The US Department of Energy (DOE) intends to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of granting a Presidential permit for a proposed electric transmission line across the US-Mexico border in southeastern California. 2) The proposed transmission line would connect wind turbines in Mexico to an existing transmission line in the US. It would involve one mile of transmission line construction within the US and two miles within Mexico. 3) The DOE will consider potential impacts of granting the permit, alternatives to the proposed action, and a no action alternative in the EIS. It will evaluate public comments received by March 27, 2009 to define the

1. Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 25, 2009 / Notices 8517
consistent with legislated activities and Washington, DC 20585–0350 (FAX 202– provided above in accordance with
to determine the dollar share of the 586–8008). §§ 385.211 or 385.214 of the Federal
Congressional appropriation to be FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Energy Regulatory Commission’s Rules
awarded to successful applicants. Ellen Russell (Program Office) 202–586– of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR
This information collection is being 9624 or Michael Skinker (Program 385.211, 385.214). Fifteen copies of each
submitted under the Streamlined Attorney) 202–586–2793. petition and protest should be filed with
Clearance Process for Discretionary SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Exports of DOE on or before the date listed above.
Grant Information Collections (1894– electricity from the United States to a Comments on the Bruce Power Inc.
0001). Therefore, the 30-day public foreign country are regulated by the application to export electric energy to
comment period notice will be the only Department of Energy (DOE) pursuant to Canada should be clearly marked with
public comment notice published for sections 301(b) and 402(f) of the Docket No. EA–349. Additional copies
this information collection. Department of Energy Organization Act are to be filed directly with Richard
Requests for copies of the information (42 U.S.C. 7151(b), 7172(f)) and require Horrobin, Vice President of Power
collection submission for OMB review authorization under section 202(e) of Marketing, Bruce Power L.P., 177 Tie
may be accessed from http:// the FPA (16 U.S.C. 824a(e)). Road, R.R. #2, P.O. Box 1540, Building
edicsweb.ed.gov, by selecting the On February 3, 2009, DOE received an B10, Tiverton, ON N0G 2T0 AND Brian
‘‘Browse Pending Collections’’ link and application from Bruce Power Inc. for Armstrong, Executive Vice President &
by clicking on link number 3958. When authority to transmit electric energy General Counsel, Bruce Power L.P., 177
you access the information collection, from the United States to Canada as a Tie Road, R.R. #2, P.O. Box 1540,
click on ‘‘Download Attachments’’ to power marketer using international Building B10, Tiverton, ON N0G 2T0. A
view. Written requests for information transmission facilities located at the final decision will be made on this
should be addressed to U.S. Department United States border with Canada. application after the environmental
of Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, Bruce Power Inc. is incorporated under impacts have been evaluated pursuant
SW., LBJ, Washington, DC 20202–4537. the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) to the National Environmental Policy
Requests may also be electronically and has its principal place of business Act of 1969, and a determination is
mailed to the Internet address in Tiverton, Ontario, Canada. Bruce made by DOE that the proposed action
ICDocketMgr@ed.gov or faxed to 202– Power Inc. does not own any electric will not adversely impact on the
401–0920. Please specify the complete transmission facilities nor does it hold reliability of the U.S. electric power
title of the information collection when a franchised service area. The electric supply system.
making your request. energy which Bruce Power Inc. Copies of this application will be
Comments regarding burden and/or proposes to export to Canada would be made available, upon request, for public
the collection activity requirements surplus energy purchased from electric inspection and copying at the address
should be electronically mailed to utilities, Federal power marketing provided above, by accessing the
ICDocketMgr@ed.gov. Individuals who agencies, and other entities within the program Web site at http://
use a telecommunications device for the United States. Bruce Power Inc. has www.oe.energy.gov/
deaf (TDD) may call the Federal requested an electricity export permits_pending.htm, or by e-mailing
Information Relay Service (FIRS) at 1– authorization with a 5-year term. Odessa Hopkins at
800–877–8339. Bruce Power Inc. will arrange for the Odessa.hopkins@hq.doe.gov.
[FR Doc. E9–3994 Filed 2–24–09; 8:45 am] delivery of exports to Canada over the Issued in Washington, DC, on February 18,
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P international transmission facilities 2009.
owned by Bangor Hydro-Electric Anthony J. Como,
Company, Basin Electric Power Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of
Cooperative, Bonneville Power Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Administration, Eastern Maine Electric [FR Doc. E9–4051 Filed 2–24–09; 8:45 am]
[OE Docket No. EA–349] Cooperative, International Transmission BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
Co., Joint Owners of the Highgate
Application To Export Electric Energy; Project, Long Sault, Inc., Maine Electric
Bruce Power Inc. Power Company, Maine Public Service DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Company, Minnesota Power, Inc.,
AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery Minnkota Power Cooperative, Inc., New [OE Docket No. PP–334]
and Energy Reliability, DOE. York Power Authority, Niagara Mohawk
ACTION: Notice of application.
Notice of Intent To Prepare an
Power Corp., Northern States Power Environmental Impact Statement;
Company, Vermont Electric Power Energia Sierra Juarez U.S.
SUMMARY: Bruce Power Inc. has applied
Company, and Vermont Electric Transmission, LLC
for authority to transmit electric energy
Transmission Co.
from the United States to Canada The construction, operation, AGENCY:Department of Energy (DOE).
pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal maintenance, and connection of each of
Power Act. ACTION:Notice of Intent to Prepare an
the international transmission facilities Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
DATES: Comments, protests, or requests to be utilized by Bruce Power Inc. have
to intervene must be submitted on or previously been authorized by a SUMMARY: The Department of Energy
before March 27, 2009. Presidential permit issued pursuant to (DOE) announces its intention to
ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, or Executive Order 10485, as amended. prepare an EIS on the proposed Federal
requests to intervene should be Procedural Matters: Any person action of granting a Presidential permit
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
addressed as follows: Office of desiring to become a party to these to construct a new electric transmission
Electricity Delivery and Energy proceedings or to be heard by filing line across the U.S.-Mexico border in
Reliability, Mail Code: OE–20, U.S. comments or protests to this application southeastern California. DOE has
Department of Energy, 1000 should file a petition to intervene, determined that issuance of a
Independence Avenue, SW., comment, or protest at the address Presidential permit for the proposed
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2. 8518 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 25, 2009 / Notices
project would constitute a major Federal a finding that the proposed project is requests by power suppliers to connect
action that may have a significant effect consistent with the public interest and to the SWPL. The substation, to be
upon the environment within the after favorable recommendations from known as the East County Substation,
meaning of the National Environmental the U.S. Departments of State and would be located just south of the SWPL
Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). For this Defense. In determining consistency right-of-way near the community of
reason, DOE intends to prepare an EIS with the public interest, DOE considers Jacumba, California, and would contain
entitled Energia Sierra Juarez the environmental impacts of the equipment for accepting
Transmission Line Environmental proposed project under NEPA, interconnections at both the 230-kV and
Impact Statement (DOE/EIS–0414) to determines the project’s impact on the 500-kV level. The 230-kV
address potential environmental electric reliability (including whether connection equipment would be located
impacts from the proposed action and the proposed project would adversely just to the west of the 500-kV
reasonable alternatives. The EIS will be affect the operation of the U.S. electric connection equipment, both within the
prepared in compliance with NEPA and power supply system under normal and confines of the substation boundary.
applicable regulations, including DOE contingency conditions), and considers Accordingly, ESJ has identified two
NEPA implementing regulations at 10 any other factors that DOE may find routing/voltage alternatives to coincide
CFR Part 1021. Because of previous relevant to the public interest. The with interconnection at the 230-kV or at
public participation activities, DOE does regulations implementing the EO have the 500-kV level.
not plan to conduct additional scoping been codified at 10 CFR 205.320–
Agency Purpose and Need, Proposed
meetings for this EIS. However, any 205.329. DOE’s issuance of a
Action, and Alternatives
timely written comments submitted will Presidential permit indicates that there
be considered by DOE in determining is no Federal objection to the project, The purpose and need for DOE’s
the scope of the EIS. but does not mandate that the project be action is to decide whether to grant
DATES: As discussed below, the public undertaken. ESJ’s application for a Presidential
participation process that DOE Energia Sierra Juarez U.S. permit for the proposed international
conducted following publication of a Transmission, LLC (ESJ, formerly Baja electric transmission line. DOE’s
notice of intent to prepare an Wind U.S. Transmission, LLC), has proposed action is to issue a
environmental assessment will serve as applied to DOE’s Office of Electricity Presidential permit for the construction,
the scoping for this EIS. DOE will Delivery and Energy Reliability (OE) for operation, maintenance, and connection
consider any additional comments a Presidential permit to construct either of the proposed international electric
received or postmarked by March 27, a double-circuit 230,000-volt (230-kV) transmission line. If granted, the
2009 in defining the scope of the EIS. or a single-circuit 500-kV transmission Presidential permit would authorize
Comments received or postmarked after line on either lattice towers or steel only the one-mile portion of the
that date will be considered to the monopoles. ESJ’s proposed transmission applicant’s proposal that would be
extent practicable. line would connect wind turbines (the constructed and operated wholly within
La Rumorosa Project) to be located in the United States.
ADDRESSES: Comments on the scope of Both of ESJ’s proposed route
the vicinity of La Rumorosa, Baja
the EIS and requests to be added to the alternatives would cross the U.S.-
California, Mexico, to the existing
document mailing list should be Mexico border at the same location.
Southwest Powerlink (SWPL) 500-kV
addressed to: Dr. Jerry Pell, Office of However, the route alternative
transmission line. The ESJ Presidential
Electricity Delivery and Energy identified as A1 in the Presidential
permit application, including associated
Reliability (OE–20), U.S. Department of permit application would be
maps and drawings, can be downloaded
Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, constructed at 500-kV and would be the
in its entirety from the DOE program
SW., Washington, DC 20585; by eastern alternative; the other route
Web site at http://www.oe.energy.gov/
electronic mail to Jerry.Pell@hq.doe.gov; alternative, identified as A2, would be
permits_pending.htm (see PP–334).
or by facsimile to 202–318–7761. One portion of the proposed constructed at 230-kV and be located to
For general information on the DOE transmission project would consist of the west of the A1 alternative. Both
NEPA process contact: Ms. Carol M. two miles of transmission located in alternatives would be located wholly
Borgstrom, Director, Office of NEPA Mexico that would be constructed, within private property in eastern San
Policy and Compliance (GC–20), U.S. owned, operated, and maintained by a Diego County near the unincorporated
Department of Energy, 1000 subsidiary of Sempra Energy Mexico community of Jacumba. In addition to
Independence Avenue, SW., and would be subject to the permitting the alternatives proposed by ESJ, DOE
Washington, DC 20585; or by facsimile requirements of the Mexican will also consider the environmental
at 202–586–7031. Government. The remaining portion of impacts of a ‘‘No Action’’ alternative.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. the proposed transmission project DOE originally considered an
Jerry Pell, 202–586–3362, or would consist of a one-mile environmental assessment (EA) (to be
Jerry.Pell@hq.doe.gov. For general transmission line constructed by ESJ titled Baja Wind U.S. Transmission
information on the DOE NEPA process, within the United States on private Environmental Assessment) to be the
contact Ms. Carol M. Borgstrom at 202– land. The entire electrical output of the appropriate level of review under
586–4600 or leave a message at 800– La Rumorosa Project (1250 megawatts) NEPA. DOE published a Notice of Intent
472–2756. would be dedicated to the U.S. market to Prepare an Environmental
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Executive and delivered using the proposed Assessment and to Conduct Public
Order (EO) 10485, as amended by EO international transmission line. For Scoping Meetings in the Federal
12038, requires that a Presidential reasons discussed below, the EIS will Register on August 4, 2008 (73 FR
permit be issued by DOE before electric consider only impacts that occur inside 45218). In that notice DOE stated ‘‘if at
pwalker on PROD1PC71 with NOTICES
transmission facilities may be the United States. any time during preparation of the EA
constructed, operated, maintained, or ESJ’s proposed transmission line DOE determines that an environmental
connected at the U.S. international would connect to a substation to be impact statement (EIS) is needed * * *
border. The EO provides that a constructed by the San Diego Gas & DOE will consider any comments on the
Presidential permit may be issued after Electric Company in response to scope of the EA received during [the EA
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3. Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 36 / Wednesday, February 25, 2009 / Notices 8519
scoping process] in preparing such an Agency’s (EPA’s) Notice of Availability of 17,000 acre-feet and normal water
EIS.’’ (NOA) of the Draft EIS and will hold at surface elevation of 1,527 feet mean sea
least one public hearing during the level (msl); (3) a proposed 12,600-foot-
Identification of Environmental Issues
public comment period. long, 6 to 12-inch diameter combination
When publishing its notice of intent DOE will include all comments bored tunnel and steel penstock; (4) a
to prepare an EA on August 4, 2008, received on the Draft EIS, and responses proposed powerhouse containing three
DOE opened a 30-day scoping period to those comments, in the Final EIS. new generating units having an installed
during which the public was invited to DOE will issue a Record of Decision no capacity of 20 megawatts; (5) an existing
participate in the identification of sooner than 30 days from EPA’s NOA of 20-mile-long, 138 kilovolt transmission
potential environmental impacts that the Final EIS. line; and (6) appurtenant facilities. The
may result from construction of the ESJ Persons who submitted comments proposed Ruth Lake Project would have
transmission line project and reasonable during the scoping process will receive an average annual generation of 70
alternatives. DOE conducted two a copy of the Draft EIS. Other persons gigawatt-hours. Cascade is also
scoping meetings in Jacumba. Nine who would like to receive a copy of the exploring alternatives that would
issues and concerns were identified as document for review when it is issued connect this project to their Cascade
a result of the scoping opportunity. should notify Dr. Jerry Pell at the Creek Project, which they have
These issues and concerns are (1) visual address provided above. preliminary permit for FERC No. 12495.
impacts, (2) avian mortality, (3) impacts Issued in Washington, DC, on February 18, The proposed Ruth Lake Project by
to protected, threatened, endangered, or 2009. City and Borough of Wrangell, Alaska
sensitive species of animals or plants, or Patricia A. Hoffman, for Project No. 13363–000 filed on
their critical habitats, (4) impacts to February 3, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. would
Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of
cultural or historic resources, (6) Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. consist of: (1) A proposed 170-foot-high
impacts to human health and safety, (6) concrete arch dam at the exit of the
[FR Doc. E9–4049 Filed 2–24–09; 8:45 am]
impacts to air, soil, and water, (7) land natural Ruth Lake; (2) an existing
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
use impacts, (8) impacts of seismic reservoir having a surface area of 130
activity, and (9) impacts from acres and a storage capacity of 17,000
development of wind generation. In the DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY acre-feet and normal water surface
EIS DOE will analyze these issues and elevation of 1,527 feet mean sea level
others it finds appropriate to address, Federal Energy Regulatory (msl); (3) a proposed 12,600-foot-long, 6
such as greenhouse gas emissions and Commission to 12-foot diameter combination bored
global climate change and also tunnel and steel penstock; (4) a
[Project No. 12619–002; Project No. 13363– proposed powerhouse containing three
intentional destructive acts, such as
000; Project No. 13364–000; Project No.
terrorism. No additional construction or 13366–000] new generating units having an installed
routing alternatives were proposed as a capacity of 20 megawatts; (5) an existing
result of the scoping process. Cascade Creek, LLC; City and Borough 20-mile-long, 138 kilovolt transmission
Several commenters in this of Wrangell, AK; Petersburg Municipal line; and (6) appurtenant facilities. The
proceeding have asked DOE to evaluate Power and Light; City of Angoon, AK; proposed Ruth Lake Project would have
the impacts associated with activities Notice of Competing Preliminary an average annual generation of 70
that will occur inside Mexico (e.g., from Permit Applications Accepted for gigawatt-hours.
the construction and operation in Filing and Soliciting Comment, The proposed Ruth Lake Project by
Mexico of the wind generators). NEPA Motions To Intervene, and Competing Petersburg Municipal Power and Light
does not require an analysis of Applications for Project No. 13363–000 filed on
environmental impacts that occur February 3, 2009 at 8:30 a.m. would
within another sovereign nation that February 18, 2009. consist of: (1) A proposed 200-foot-high
result from approved actions by that Cascade Creek, LLC (Cascade), City concrete faced rockfill dam at the exit of
nation. The EIS, however, will evaluate and Borough of Wrangell, Alaska the natural Ruth Lake; (2) an existing
all relevant environmental impacts (Wrangell), Petersburg Municipal Power reservoir having a surface area of 190
within the U.S. related to or caused by and Light (Petersburg) and the City of acres and a storage capacity of 17,000
project-related activities in Mexico. Angoon, Alaska filed applications, acre-feet and normal water surface
Based on comments received during pursuant to section 4(f) of the Federal elevation of 1,560 feet mean sea level
the initial EA process, and the potential Power Act, proposing to study the (msl); (3) a proposed 3,500-foot-long, 10-
for public controversy, DOE has feasibility of the Ruth Lake Project, to be foot diameter tunnel and a 7,800-foot-
determined an EIS to be the proper located on Ruth Lake and Delta Creek, long, 6-foot-diameter steel penstock; (4)
NEPA compliance document. in an unorganized Borough near a proposed powerhouse containing
Petersburg, Alaska. There are no three new generating units having an
EIS Preparation and Schedule existing facilities. The project would be installed capacity of 20 megawatts; (5)
In preparing the Draft EIS, DOE will located in the Tongass National Forest. would connect directly to their
consider comments received during the All of these applications were filed distribution system; and (6) appurtenant
scoping period. Because of previous electronically and given the filing date facilities. The proposed Ruth Lake
public participation activities, DOE does of February 3, 2009, at 8:30 a.m. Project would have an average annual
not plan to conduct additional scoping The proposed Ruth Lake Projects: generation of 70 gigawatt-hours.
meetings for this EIS. However, any The proposed Ruth Lake Project by The proposed Ruth Lake Project by
timely additional written comments Cascade Creek, LLC for Project No. City of Angoon, Alaska for Project No.
submitted will be considered by DOE in 12619–002 filed on February 3, 2009 at 13366–000 filed on February 3, 2009 at
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determining the scope of the EIS. 8:30 a.m. would consist of: (1) A 8:30 a.m. would consist of: (1) A
DOE anticipates issuing a Draft EIS in proposed 170-foot-high concrete arch proposed 170-foot-high concrete arched
the fall of 2009. DOE will provide a dam at the exit of the natural Ruth Lake; dam at the exit of the natural Ruth Lake;
public comment period of at least 45 (2) an existing reservoir having a surface (2) an existing reservoir having a surface
days from the Environmental Protection area of 130 acres and a storage capacity area of 130 acres and a storage capacity
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