Notice2024-01587
Falcon and Amistad Projects-Rate Order No. WAPA-216
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
January 26, 2024
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentWestern Area Power Administration
Abstract
The Colorado River Storage Project Management Center (CRSP MC) of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) proposes to extend the existing firm power formula rate, without any changes, for the Falcon and Amistad Projects (Projects) through June 7, 2029. The existing firm power formula rate expires on June 7, 2024.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 18 (Friday, January 26, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 18 (Friday, January 26, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5226-5227]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01587]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Western Area Power Administration
Falcon and Amistad Projects--Rate Order No. WAPA-216
AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of proposed extension of firm power formula rate for the
Falcon and Amistad Projects.
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SUMMARY: The Colorado River Storage Project Management Center (CRSP MC)
of the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) proposes to extend the
existing firm power formula rate, without any changes, for the Falcon
and Amistad Projects (Projects) through June 7, 2029. The existing firm
power formula rate expires on June 7, 2024.
DATES: A consultation and comment period will begin January 26, 2024
and end February 26, 2024. The CRSP MC will accept written comments any
time during the consultation and comment period.
ADDRESSES: Written comments and requests to be informed of Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) actions concerning the proposed
extension submitted by WAPA to FERC for approval should be sent to:
Rodney Bailey, CRSP Manager, Colorado River Storage Project Management
Center, Western Area Power Administration, 1800 South Rio Grande
Avenue, Montrose, CO 81401, or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a2e1f0f1f2efe18fd0c3d6c7c3c6c8e2d5c3d2c38cc5cdd4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0c4f5e5f5c414f217e6d78696d68664c7b6d7c6d226b637a">[email protected]</span></a>. The CRSP
MC will post information about the proposed formula rate extension and
written comments received to its website at: <a href="http://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/about-wapa/regions/crsp/rates/rate-order-216">www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/about-wapa/regions/crsp/rates/rate-order-216</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tamala Gheller, Rates Manager,
Colorado River Storage Project Management Center, Western Area Power
Administration, 970-240-6545, or email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3d7e6f6e6d707e104f5c4958105c59577d4a5c4d5c135a524b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="97d4c5c4c7dad4bae5f6e3f2baf6f3fdd7e0f6e7f6b9f0f8e1">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Falcon and Amistad Dams are features of
international water storage projects located on the Rio Grande River
between Texas and Mexico. The portion of the dams located in the United
States is operated by the United States International Boundary and
Water Commission (USIBWC). Under arrangements with the United States
Department of State and USIBWC, WAPA is the Federal agency responsible
for marketing and selling the electricity generated at these
facilities. WAPA markets the power generated at the Falcon and Amistad
Dams as a combined product to only one customer: South Texas Electric
Cooperative. The cost of the power is determined by a formula rate.
This formula rate was initially approved by the Federal Power
Commission (FPC), the predecessor to FERC, in FPC Docket No. E-9566 on
August 12, 1977 (59 FPC 1653), for a 5-year period effective on the
date of initial operation of Amistad Power Plant, June 8, 1983.\1\ The
formula rate has been subsequently extended and re-approved without
change. The current formula rate was approved in 2009 \2\ and extended
in 2014 and 2019.
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\1\ A 5-year rate extension of this same formula rate through
June 7, 1993, was approved by FERC on June 20, 1988, at 44 FERC ]
62,058. Subsequent 5-year extensions of the same formula rate have
been approved by FERC; the most recent approval was on June 20,
2019, in Docket No. EF19-3-000, which approved the same formula rate
through June 7, 2024.
\2\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedule on a Final
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF09-5101-000, 129 FERC ] 62,206 (2009).
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Most recently, on June 20, 2019, FERC approved and confirmed Rate
Schedule Falcon and Amistad Projects' Firm Power Formula Rate under
Rate Order No. WAPA-186 for a 5-year period through June 7, 2024.\3\
This schedule applies to firm energy sales. In accordance with 10 CFR
903.23(a),\4\ the CRSP MC is proposing to extend the existing formula
rate under Rate Schedule Falcon and Amistad Projects' Firm Power
Formula Rate for the period of June 8, 2024, through June 7, 2029. The
existing formula rate is viewable on the CRSP MC website at:
<a href="http://www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/crsp/rates/amistad-history">www.wapa.gov/about-wapa/regions/crsp/rates/amistad-history</a>. The formula
rate calculates the amount WAPA must annually repay to the Department
of the Treasury for the United States' investment in the Falcon and
Amistad hydroelectric facilities, with interest, as well as associated
operation, maintenance, and administrative costs. This annual
installment is collected in 12 monthly payments and is independent of
the amount of available generation. The existing formula rate provides
sufficient revenue to pay all annual costs, including interest expense,
and repay investment within the allowable period consistent with the
cost recovery criteria set forth in Department of Energy (DOE) Order RA
6120.2.
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\3\ Order Confirming and Approving Rate Schedule on a Final
Basis, FERC Docket No. EF19-3-000, 167 FERC ] 62,187 (2019).
\4\ 50 FR 37835 (Sept. 18, 1985) and 84 FR 5347 (Feb. 21, 2019).
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In accordance with 10 CFR 903.23(a), the CRSP MC has determined it
is not necessary to hold public information or public comment forums
for this rate action but is initiating a 30-day consultation and
comment period to give the public an opportunity to comment on the
proposed extension. The CRSP MC will review and consider all timely
public comments at the conclusion of the consultation and comment
period and adjust the proposal as appropriate.
Legal Authority
By Delegation Order No. S1-DEL-RATES-2016, effective November 19,
2016, the Secretary of Energy delegated: (1) the authority to develop
power and transmission rates to the WAPA
[[Page 5227]]
Administrator; (2) the authority to confirm, approve, and place such
rates into effect on an interim basis to the Deputy Secretary of
Energy; and (3) the authority to confirm, approve, and place into
effect on a final basis, or to remand or disapprove such rates, to
FERC. By Delegation Order No. S1-DEL-S3-2023, effective April 10, 2023,
the Secretary of Energy also delegated the authority to confirm,
approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis to the
Under Secretary for Infrastructure. By Redelegation Order No. S3-DEL-
WAPA1-2023, effective April 10, 2023, the Under Secretary for
Infrastructure further redelegated the authority to confirm, approve,
and place such rates into effect on an interim basis to WAPA's
Administrator.
Ratemaking Procedure Requirements
Environmental Compliance
WAPA is in the process of determining whether an environmental
assessment or an environmental impact statement should be prepared or
if this action can be categorically excluded from those
requirements.\5\
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\5\ In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) of 1969, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 4321-4347; the Council on
Environmental Quality Regulations for implementing NEPA (40 CFR
parts 1500-1508); and DOE NEPA Implementing Procedures and
Guidelines (10 CFR part 1021).
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Determination Under Executive Order 12866
WAPA has an exemption from centralized regulatory review under
Executive Order 12866; accordingly, no clearance of this notice by the
Office of Management and Budget is required.
Signing Authority
This document of the Department of Energy was signed on January 22,
2024, by Tracey A. LeBeau, Administrator, Western Area Power
Administration, 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 January 23, 2024.
Treena V. Garrett,
Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.
[FR Doc. 2024-01587 Filed 1-25-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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