Proposed Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects Firm Power Rate Formula Adder

AGENCY:

Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION:

Notice of extension of comment and consultation period.

SUMMARY:

The Western Area Power Administration's (Western) Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) Management Center (MC) published a Notice of Proposed Salt Lake City Area Integrated Projects (SLCA/IP) Firm Power Rate Formula Adder in the Federal Register (65 FR 66995) on November 8, 2000. This notice extends the comment and consultation period by 3 weeks. The MC plans to have the rate formula adder become effective March 1, 2001, instead of February 1, 2001, as was previously stated in the Federal Register, dated November 8, 2000.

DATES:

The consultation and comment period will end on December 29, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments may be sent to: Mr. Dave Sabo, CRSP Manager, CRSP Management Center, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 11606, Salt Lake City, UT 84147-0606, e-mail sabo@wapa.gov. Western must receive written comments by the end of the consultation and comment period to assure consideration.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms. Carol Loftin, Rates Manager, CRSP Management Center, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 11606, Salt Lake City, UT 84147-0606, telephone (801) 524-6380, e-mail loftinc@wapa.gov, or visit CRSP MC's home page at: www.wapa.gov/crsp/crsp.htm.

Procedural Requirements

Since the proposed rate formula adder constitutes a major rate adjustment as defined at 10 CFR 903.2, both public information forums and public comment forums have been held. However, the consultation and comment period has been shortened because of the financial hardship faced by the CRSP Basin Fund. After reviewing public comments, Western will recommend that the proposed rate formula adder or a revised proposed rate formula adder be approved on an interim basis by the DOE Deputy Secretary.

The proposed rate formula adder to the SLCA/IP firm power rates is being established pursuant to the Department of Energy Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7101-7352; the Reclamation Act of 1902, ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388, as amended and supplemented by subsequent enactments, particularly section 9(c) of the Reclamation Project Act of 1939, 43 U.S.C. 485h(c); and other acts specifically applicable to the projects involved.

By Amendment No. 3 to Delegation Order No. 0204-108, published November 10, 1993 (58 FR 59716), the Secretary of DOE delegated (1) the authority to develop long-term power and transmission rates on a nonexclusive basis to the Administrator of Western; and (2) the authority to confirm, approve, and place into effect on a final basis, to remand, or to disapprove such rates to FERC. In Delegation Order No. 0204-172, effective November 24, 1999, the Secretary of Energy delegated the authority to confirm, approve, and place such rates into effect on an interim basis to the Deputy Secretary. Existing DOE procedures for public participation in power rate adjustments are found at 10 CFR part 903.

Availability of Information

All studies, comments, letters, memorandums, or other documents made or kept by Western for developing the proposed rates are and will be made available for inspection and copying at the CRSP Management Center, located at 150 East Social Hall Avenue, Suite 300, Salt Lake City, UT 84111-1534.

Regulatory Procedural Requirements

Regulatory Flexibility Analysis

The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 (5 U.S.C. 601, et seq.) requires Federal agencies to perform a regulatory flexibility analysis if a final rule is likely to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities and there is a legal requirement to issue a general notice of proposed rulemaking. Western has determined that this action does not require a regulatory flexibility analysis since it is a rulemaking of particular applicability involving rates or services applicable to public property.

Environmental Compliance

In compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.); Council on Environmental Quality Regulations (40 CFR parts 1500-1508); and DOE NEPA Regulations (10 CFR part 1021), Western determined that this action is categorically excluded from the preparation of an environmental assessment or an environmental impact statement.

Determination Under Executive Order 12866

Western 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.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

Western has determined that this rule is exempt from Congressional notification requirements under 5 U.S.C. 801 because the action is a rulemaking of particular applicability relating to rates or services and involves matters of procedure.