Notice2023-18734
Application for Presidential Permit; Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 30, 2023
Issuing agencies
Energy Department
Abstract
Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative, Inc. (the Applicant or EMEC) has applied for a Presidential permit to acquire, operate, and maintain facilities for the distribution of electric energy at the international border between the United States and Canada.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 167 (Wednesday, August 30, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 167 (Wednesday, August 30, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59884-59885]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-18734]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[GDO Docket No. PP-501]
Application for Presidential Permit; Eastern Maine Electric
Cooperative, Inc.
AGENCY: Grid Deployment Office, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of application.
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SUMMARY: Eastern Maine Electric Cooperative, Inc. (the Applicant or
EMEC) has applied for a Presidential permit to acquire, operate, and
maintain facilities for the distribution of electric energy at the
international border between the United States and Canada.
DATES: Comments, protests, or motions to intervene must be submitted on
or before September 29, 2023.
ADDRESSES: Comments, protests, motions to intervene, or request for
more information should be addressed by electronic email to
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e7a28b828493958e848e939ec9a29f9788959394a78f96c9838882c9808891"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e5a089808691978c868c919ccba09d958a979196a58d94cb818a80cb828a93">[email protected]</span></a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christina Gomer, (240) 474-2403,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#0e4b626b6d7a7c676d677a77204b767e617c7a7d4e667f206a616b20696178"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ebae878e889f998288829f92c5ae939b84999f98ab839ac58f848ec58c849d">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department of Energy (DOE) issues
permits for the construction, operation, maintenance, or connection of
electric transmission facilities at the United States international
border, pursuant to E.O. 10485, as amended by E.O. 12038. On April 10,
2023, the authority to issue such orders was delegated to the DOE's
Grid Deployment Office (GDO) by Delegation Order No. S1-DEL-S3-2023 and
Redelegation Order No. S3-DEL-GD1-2023.
On June 2, 2022, EMEC filed an application (Application or App.)
with the DOE ``to import a small amount of energy from New Brunswick,
Canada to serve two small seasonal camps that are in EMEC's service
territory near the Canadian border.'' App. at 1. EMEC ``is a nonprofit
utility built by and belonging to the communities it serves in
Aroostook County, Penobscot County, and Washington County, Maine, which
are located on Maine's Eastern Border with Canada.'' Id. at 2. The
Applicant states ``the two camps have been served by New Brunswick
Power Corporation (NB Power)'', Id. at 1, via the existing Loon Bay
Distribution Line. See Id. at Exhibit 1. NB Power ``is a vertically-
integrated Crown Corporation wholly owned by the Government of New
Brunswick, Canada'', Id. at 2, and it ``would like to cease retail
service to the camps.'' Id. at 4. The Applicant further represents
that, ``To facilitate EMEC's acquisition and operation of the
distribution assets, NB Power has applied to the Canadian Energy
Regulator for a border accommodation export permit.'' Id. at 5.
Additionally, EMEC has an agreement with NB Power ``for the purchase of
electric energy,'' effective from November 1, 2020, through October 31,
2025. Id. at 3.
The facilities for which EMEC seeks a permit ``consists of one
single phase overhead circuit, which is a 7200-volt distribution line,
60Hz. The conductor size is either #6 or #4 wire. It is a single-phase
line with a neutral.'' Id. at 4. The total length of the line is
approximately 940 feet. Id. The line serves two seasonal dwellings and
the annual kilowatt hours transmitted are estimated at less than 10,000
kilowatt hours. Id. at 5.
DOE Evaluation: Before a Presidential permit may be issued or
amended, DOE must determine that the proposed action is in the public
interest. In making that determination, DOE considers the environmental
impacts of the proposed project, determines the project's impact on
reliability of the United States electric grid, and weighs any other
factors that it may also deem relevant to the public interest. DOE must
also obtain favorable recommendations of the Secretary of State and the
Secretary
[[Page 59885]]
of Defense before taking final action on a Presidential permit
application.
Procedural Matters: Any person desiring to be heard in this
proceeding should file a comment or protest to the Application at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#d194bdb4b2a5a3b8b2b8a5a8ff94a9a1bea3a5a291b9a0ffb5beb4ffb6bea7"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0f4a636a6c7b7d666c667b76214a777f607d7b7c4f677e216b606a21686079">[email protected]</span></a>. Protests should be filed in accordance
with Rule 211 of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) Rules of
Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211). Any person desiring to become
a party to this proceeding should file a motion to intervene at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#286d444d4b5c5a414b415c51066d5058475a5c5b684059064c474d064f475e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3e7b525b5d4a4c575d574a47107b464e514c4a4d7e564f105a515b10595148">[email protected]</span></a> in accordance with FERC Rule 214 (18 CFR
385.214).
Comments and other filings concerning EMEC's Application should be
clearly marked with GDO Docket No. PP-501. Additional copies are to be
provided directly to Scott Hallowell, PO Box 425, Calais, ME 04619,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dfacbcb0ababb79fbab2babcf1bcb0b2"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0c7f6f637878644c6961696f226f6361">[email protected]</span></a>; and Michael Postar and Ellen Hill, Duncan, Weinberg,
Genzer & Pembroke, P.C., 1667 K Street NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC
20006, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#dbb6a9ab9bbfacbcabf5b8b4b6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cea3bcbe8eaab9a9bee0ada1a3">[email protected]</span></a> and <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e3868f8ba387948493cd808c8e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9dcd5d1f9ddcedec997dad6d4">[email protected]</span></a>.
Copies of this Application will be made available, upon request, on
the program website at <a href="https://www.energy.gov/gdo/pending-applications-0">https://www.energy.gov/gdo/pending-applications-0</a> or by emailing <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e2a78e878196908b818b969bcca79a928d909691a28a93cc868d87cc858d94"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="70351c1513040219131904095e3508001f0204033018015e141f155e171f06">[email protected]</span></a>.
Signing Authority: This document of the Department of Energy was
signed on August 24, 2023, by Maria Robinson, Director, Grid Deployment
Office, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy.
That document with the original signature and date is maintained by
DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with
requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE
Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit
the document in electronic format for publication, as an official
document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no
way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the
Federal Register.
Signed in Washington, DC, on August 25, 2023.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2023-18734 Filed 8-29-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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