[Federal Register: June 24, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 121)]
[Notices]               
[Page 42550-42551]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24jn02-47]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. EA-206-A]

 
Application To Export Electric Energy; Frontera Generation 
Limited Partnership and TECO EnergySources, Inc. for Transfer of 
Authorization

AGENCY: Office of Fossil Energy, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of application.

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SUMMARY: Frontera Generation Limited Partnership (Frontera and TECO 
EnergySource, Inc. (TES) have jointly applied to transfer, from 
Frontera to TES, Frontera's authority 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 July 9, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments, protests or requests to intervene should be 
addressed as follows: Office of Coal & Power Import/Export (FE-27), 
Office of Fossil Energy, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence 
Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585-0350 (FAX 202-287-5736).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steven Mintz (Program Office) 202-586-
9506 or Michael Skinker (Program Attorney) 202-586-6667.

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 July 12, 1999, in Presidential Permit PP-206, the Office of 
Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy (DOE) authorized 
Frontera to construct, operate, maintain and connect electric 
transmission facilities across the U.S. border with Mexico. At full 
build-out, the authorized facilities are to consist of approximately 
2.0 miles of double circuit 230-kV electric transmission line. However, 
the Order authorized Frontera to construct the facilities using a 
phased approach consisting initially of a single circuit 138-kV 
transmission line (current existing facilities). In a related 
proceeding, on July 20, 1999, in Docket EA-206, FE authorized Frontera 
to transmit electric energy from the United States to Mexico using the 
electric transmission facilities authorized in PP-206.
    At that time Frontera, and its general partner, CSW Frontera GP II, 
were wholly-owned subsidiaries of CSW Energy, Inc., a Texas 
corporation, involved in the non-regulated generation and sale of 
electric power. On March 15, 2001, the partnership

[[Page 42551]]

interests of Frontera were transferred from CSW Frontera GP II, Inc. 
and CSW Frontera LP II, Inc. to TPS Tejas GP, LLC and TPS Tejas LP, 
LLC; these entities are in turn each wholly owned subsidiaries of TPS 
Holdings, Inc., a Florida corporation which itself is a wholly owned 
subsidiary of TECO Power Services Corporation. TES is also a wholly-
owned subsidiary of TPS.
    On May 21, 2002, Frontera and TES jointly filed to have Frontera's 
authority to export electric energy generated at the Frontera 
powerplant in Mission, Texas, to Comision Federal de Electrcidad (CFE, 
the national electric utility of Mexico) transferred to TES. The 
applicants made this request because they contemplate retail sales of 
electric energy to one or more entities in Mexico which TES, but not 
Frontera, may make. The requested transfer of authorization is to 
enable TES to export electricity to Mexico using the transmission 
facilities that were authorized by Presidential Permit PP-206.
    The applicants have requested expedited processing of its 
application so that electric power exports currently being negotiated 
can meet the condition precedent to the power sales, that is, DOE 
approval of authorization transfer. Accordingly, DOE has set a 15-day 
comment period for this proceeding.

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 section 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 application to transfer the export authorization 
from Frontera to TES should be clearly marked with Docket EA-268. 
Additional copies are to be filed directly with David A. Crabtree, 
Director, Market Design and Regulatory Analysis, TECO EnergySource, 
Inc., P.O. Box 111, 702 North Franklin Street, Tampa, FL 33602 AND 
Glenn J. Berger, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, Flom LLP, 1440 New York 
Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005-2111.
    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, and a determination is made by the 
DOE that the proposed action will not 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 Fossil Energy Home Page at http://www.fe.de.gov. Upon 
reaching the Fossil Energy Home page, select ``Electricity 
Regulation,'' and then ``Pending Procedures'' from the options menus.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 19, 2002.
Anthony J. Como,
Deputy Director, Electric Power Regulation, Office of Coal & Power 
Import/Export, Office of Coal & Power Systems, Office of Fossil Energy.
[FR Doc. 02-15858 Filed 6-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P