[Federal Register: October 16, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 199)]
[Notices]
[Page 60703]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16oc06-33]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[Docket No. EA-294-A]
Application To Export Electric Energy; TexMex Energy, LLC
AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of application.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: TexMex Energy, LLC (TexMex) has applied to renew its
authorization to transmit electric energy from the United States to
Mexico pursuant to section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act.
DATES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene must be submitted on
or before November 15, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene should be
addressed as follows: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability, Mail Code: OE-20, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0350 (FAX 202-586-5860).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Russell (Program Office) 202-
586-9624 or Michael Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-2793.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Exports of electricity from the United
States to a foreign country are regulated and require authorization
under section 202(e) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C.
824a(e)).
On August 25, 2004, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued Order No.
EA-294 authorizing TexMex to transmit electric energy from the United
States to Mexico for a two-year term. That authorization expired on
August 25, 2006.
On September 8, 2006, TexMex filed an application with DOE for
renewal of the export authority contained in Order No. EA-294. TexMex
proposes to export electric energy to Mexico and to arrange for the
delivery of those exports over the international transmission
facilities presently owned by Central Power and Light Company,
Sharyland Utilities, and Comision Federal de Electricidad, the national
electric utility of Mexico.
In its application TexMex states, without further explanation, that
it was unable to file its renewal application prior to the expiration
of its current export authorization on August 25, 2006. TexMex requests
that its renewal request be granted as soon as possible.
DOE notes that TexMex did not utilize its previous authority to
export electricity to Mexico during the two-year term of Order No. EA-
294, as verified by quarterly reports filed with DOE by TexMex and as
stated in their current renewal application. TexMex's previous
authorization permitted an application for renewal to be filed within
six months prior to expiration of its authorization on August 25, 2006.
Renewal applications must be filed at least sixty days prior to
expiration in order to provide DOE with sufficient time to process an
application and provide adequate opportunity for public comment.
TexMex has not demonstrated sufficient good cause for DOE to
expedite the processing of its renewal application by the use of a
shortened public comment period. Therefore, in this notice, DOE has
retained the normal thirty-day public comment period for the filing of
comments, protests, or petitions to intervene.
DOE notes that TexMex shall have no authority to export electricity
to Mexico until the conclusion of this proceeding and the issuance of
another order granting authority to export.
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 Sec. Sec. 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.
Comments on the TexMex application to export electric energy to
Mexico should be clearly marked with Docket EA-294-A. Additional copies
are to be filed directly with Guillermo Gonzalez G., c/o Protama S.A.
de C.V., Tonala 44, Col. Roma, 06700 Mexico D.F., Mexico and Douglas F.
John, John & Hengerer, 1200 12th Street, NW., Suite 600, Washington, DC
20036-3013.
A final decision will be made on this application after the
environmental impacts have been evaluated pursuant to the National
Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA), and a determination is made by
the DOE on whether the proposed action would adversely impact on the
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 or by
accessing the program's Web site at http://www.oe.energy.gov/permitting/electricity_imports_exports.htm
.
Issued in Washington, DC, on October 10, 2006.
Anthony J. Como,
Director, Permitting and Siting, Office of Electricity Delivery and
Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. E6-17094 Filed 10-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P