82 FR 31315 - Notice of Availability for Public Comment of Interconnection Facilities Studies Summary Prepared for the Proposed Northern Pass Transmission Project

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 128 (July 6, 2017)

Page Range		31315-31316
FR Document		2017-14165

Northern Pass Transmission LLC (NPT) applied to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for a Presidential permit to construct, operate, maintain, and connect an electric transmission line across the U.S. border with Canada, currently referred to as the Northern Pass Project. NPT would construct and operate an overhead high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electric transmission line that is to originate at an HVDC converter station near Sherbrooke, Qu[eacute]bec, Canada; connect to a facility in Franklin, New Hampshire, that will convert the line's direct current to alternating current (AC); and continue from there to its southern terminus in Deerfield, New Hampshire. The proposed facilities will be capable of transmitting up to 1,090 megawatts (MW) of power. The amended applications are summarized below. DOE hereby announces the availability for public comment of a summary of the interconnection facilities studies prepared for the NPT project.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 128 (Thursday, July 6, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 128 (Thursday, July 6, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31315-31316]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-14165]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[OE Docket No. PP-371]


Notice of Availability for Public Comment of Interconnection 
Facilities Studies Summary Prepared for the Proposed Northern Pass 
Transmission Project

AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, U.S. 
Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of availability for public comment of interconnection 
facilities studies summary.

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SUMMARY: Northern Pass Transmission LLC (NPT) applied to the U.S. 
Department of Energy (DOE) for a Presidential permit to construct, 
operate, maintain, and connect an electric transmission line across the 
U.S. border with Canada, currently referred to as the Northern Pass 
Project. NPT would construct and operate an overhead high-voltage 
direct current (HVDC) electric transmission line that is to originate 
at an HVDC converter station near Sherbrooke, Qu[eacute]bec, Canada; 
connect to a facility in Franklin, New Hampshire, that will convert the 
line's direct current to alternating current (AC); and continue from 
there to its southern terminus in Deerfield, New Hampshire. The 
proposed facilities will be capable of transmitting up to 1,090 
megawatts (MW) of power. The amended applications are summarized below. 
DOE hereby announces the availability for public comment of a summary 
of the interconnection facilities studies prepared for the NPT project.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 7, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be addressed to: Christopher Lawrence, 
Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, OE-20, U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20585-0001. Because of delays in handling conventional mail, it is 
recommended that documents be transmitted by overnight mail, by 
electronic mail to [email protected] (preferred), or by 
facsimile to 202-586-8008.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christopher Lawrence (Program Office) 
at 202-586-5260, or via electronic mail at 
[email protected]; or Rishi Garg (Program Attorney) at 
202-586-0258, or via electronic mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Executive Order (EO) 10485 (Sept. 9, 1953), as amended by EO 12038 
(Feb. 7, 1978), requires that a Presidential permit be issued by DOE 
before electricity transmission facilities may be constructed, 
operated, maintained, or connected at the U.S. border. DOE may issue or 
amend a permit if it determines that the permit is in the public 
interest and after obtaining favorable recommendations from the U.S. 
Departments of State and Defense. In determining whether issuance of a 
permit for a proposed action is in the public interest, DOE considers 
the potential environmental impacts of the proposed project, the 
project's impact on electricity reliability by ascertaining whether the 
proposed project would adversely affect the operation of the U.S. 
electric power supply system under normal and contingency conditions, 
and any other factors that DOE considers relevant to the public 
interest.
    On October 14, 2010, NPT applied to DOE for a Presidential permit 
to

[[Page 31316]]

construct, operate, maintain, and connect an HVDC transmission line 
across the U.S.-Canada border (the proposed Project). On July 1, 2013, 
NPT submitted an amended Presidential permit application to DOE. See 78 
FR 50,405 (Aug. 19, 2013). On August 31, 2015, NPT further amended its 
Presidential permit application. See 80 FR 58,725 (Sept. 30, 2015). The 
amended applications are summarized below.

Applicant's Proposal

    In its July 2013 amended application, NPT proposed to construct and 
operate a primarily overhead HVDC electric transmission line that would 
originate at an HVDC converter station to be constructed at the Des 
Cantons Substation in Val-Joli, Qu[eacute]bec, Canada; run from there 
across the international border to Franklin, New Hampshire, where the 
current would be converted from HVDC to AC; and continue on to its 
southern terminus in Deerfield, New Hampshire. Under this application, 
the proposed facilities were to be capable of transmitting up to 1,200 
MW of power.
    The New Hampshire portion of the proposed Project would be a 
single-circuit, 300-kilovolt (kV) HVDC transmission line running 
approximately 153 miles from the U.S. border crossing with Canada near 
Pittsburg, New Hampshire, to a new HVDC-to-AC transformer facility to 
be constructed in Franklin, New Hampshire. From Franklin to the Project 
terminus at the Public Service Company of New Hampshire's existing 
Deerfield Substation in Deerfield, New Hampshire, the proposed Project 
would consist of 34 miles of 345-kV AC electric transmission line. The 
total length of the proposed Project would be approximately 187 miles.
    NPT's August 2015 application amendment changed the proposed 
transmission line route by adding three miles of buried transmission 
line adjacent to a road not previously analyzed, adding two new 
transition stations (one in Bridgewater, New Hampshire and another in 
Bethlehem, New Hampshire, to transition the transmission line between 
aboveground and buried) of approximately one acre each, and increasing 
the amount of proposed buried transmission line from approximately 
eight miles to approximately 60 miles with a total proposed Project 
length of approximately 192 miles. In addition, the amendment proposed 
a shift (less than 100 feet) in the international border crossing 
location, changed the project size from 1,200 MW to 1,000 MW with a 
potential transfer capability of 1,090 MW, and included other design 
changes (e.g., change in converter technology and type of cable). A 
copy of the amended Presidential permit application and maps of the 
proposed Project route can be found at the DOE environmental impact 
statement (EIS) Web site (http://www.northernpasseis.us).

Technical Reliability Studies

    DOE considers the technical reliability impact of a Presidential 
permit application as part of the public interest determination, and 
typical practice is to review a study or studies prepared for 
interconnection purposes with entities such as the applicable regional 
transmission operator. In conjunction with the Independent System 
Operator of New England (ISO-NE), which operates the grid 
interconnected to the proposed Project, and NPT, the participating 
transmission owner, RLC Engineering prepared interconnection facilities 
studies, which consist of a system impact study and sub-synchronous 
torsional interaction screening study. As a general practice, ISO-NE 
does not make such studies available to the public, as they consist of 
critical electric infrastructure information (CEII). CEII includes 
specific engineering, vulnerability, or detailed design information 
that could be useful to a person planning an attack on critical 
infrastructure. However, in the interest of its commitment to 
transparency, DOE has made available a redacted executive summary of 
the technical transmission studies, as reviewed by ISO-NE to prevent 
publication of CEII, on DOE's project Web site at http://www.northernpasseis.us/ [first go to the ``Project Library'' and then 
select the ``Reliability Studies'' section that has been added at the 
very top of that page]. DOE's posting of the redacted executive summary 
of the Project's interconnection facilities studies, as well as this 
public comment invitation, are meant solely to respond to public 
participation interests unique to this case. The posting neither 
represents nor will constitute a new DOE practice in reviews of future 
Presidential permit applications.
    All comments received in response to this Notice will be posted on 
DOE's Presidential permit Web site at https://energy.gov/oe/services/electricity-policy-coordination-and-implementation/international-electricity-regulation/pending-applications under Docket No. PP-371 and 
made a part of the record in this proceeding to be considered by DOE 
before making a final determination on the issuance of a Presidential 
permit for the NPT Project.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 28, 2017.
Brian Mills,
Director, Transmission Development, Transmission Permitting and 
Technical Assistance, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy 
Reliability.
[FR Doc. 2017-14165 Filed 7-5-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 128 / Thursday, July 6, 2017 / Notices 31315

searching the Docket ID number ED– Total Estimated Number of Annual (HVDC) electric transmission line that is
2017–ICCD–0053. Comments submitted Responses: 8,700. to originate at an HVDC converter
in response to this notice should be Total Estimated Number of Annual station near Sherbrooke, Québec,
submitted electronically through the Burden Hours: 2,871. Canada; connect to a facility in
Federal eRulemaking Portal at http:// Abstract: The Teacher Loan Franklin, New Hampshire, that will
www.regulations.gov by selecting the Forgiveness (TLF) Application serves as convert the line’s direct current to
Docket ID number or via postal mail, the means by which an eligible Direct alternating current (AC); and continue
commercial delivery, or hand delivery. Loan or FFEL program borrower who from there to its southern terminus in
Please note that comments submitted by has completed five consecutive years of Deerfield, New Hampshire. The
fax or email and those submitted after qualifying teaching service applies for proposed facilities will be capable of
the comment period will not be forgiveness of up to $5,000 or up to transmitting up to 1,090 megawatts
accepted. Written requests for $17,500 of his or her eligible loans. (MW) of power. The amended
information or comments submitted by Eligible special education teachers and applications are summarized below.
postal mail or delivery should be secondary school math or science DOE hereby announces the availability
addressed to the Director of the teachers may receive a maximum of for public comment of a summary of the
Information Collection Clearance $17,500 in loan forgiveness. Other interconnection facilities studies
Division, U.S. Department of Education, teachers may receive a maximum of prepared for the NPT project.
400 Maryland Avenue SW., LBJ, Room $5,000 in loan forgiveness. Borrowers DATES: Comments must be submitted on
216–32, Washington, DC 20202–4537. who are working toward loan or before August 7, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For forgiveness may use the TLF ADDRESSES: Comments should be
specific questions related to collection Forbearance Request to request a addressed to: Christopher Lawrence,
activities, please contact Jon Utz, 202– forbearance during some or all of their Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
377–4040. required five consecutive years of Reliability, OE–20, U.S. Department of
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The
teaching service. A prospective TLF Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue
Department of Education (ED), in applicant may receive a forbearance SW., Washington, DC 20585–0001.
accordance with the Paperwork during some or all of the five-year Because of delays in handling
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) (44 U.S.C. teaching period only if the projected conventional mail, it is recommended
3506(c)(2)(A)), provides the general balance on the borrower’s eligible loans that documents be transmitted by
public and Federal agencies with an at the end of the five-year period (if the overnight mail, by electronic mail to
opportunity to comment on proposed, borrower made monthly loan payments Christopher.Lawrence@hq.doe.gov
revised, and continuing collections of during that period) would be less than (preferred), or by facsimile to 202–586–
information. This helps the Department the maximum forgiveness amount for 8008.
assess the impact of its information which the borrower qualifies. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
collection requirements and minimize Dated: June 29, 2017. Christopher Lawrence (Program Office)
the public’s reporting burden. It also Stephanie Valentine, at 202–586–5260, or via electronic mail
helps the public understand the Acting Director, Information Collection at Christopher.Lawrence@hq.doe.gov; or
Department’s information collection Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy Rishi Garg (Program Attorney) at 202–
requirements and provide the requested Officer, Office of Management. 586–0258, or via electronic mail at
data in the desired format. ED is [FR Doc. 2017–14132 Filed 7–5–17; 8:45 am] Rishi.Garg@hq.doe.gov.
soliciting comments on the proposed BILLING CODE 4000–01–P SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
information collection request (ICR) that
is described below. The Department of Background
Education is especially interested in DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Executive Order (EO) 10485 (Sept. 9,
public comment addressing the 1953), as amended by EO 12038 (Feb. 7,
following issues: (1) Is this collection [OE Docket No. PP–371] 1978), requires that a Presidential
necessary to the proper functions of the permit be issued by DOE before
Notice of Availability for Public
Department; (2) will this information be electricity transmission facilities may be
Comment of Interconnection Facilities
processed and used in a timely manner; constructed, operated, maintained, or
Studies Summary Prepared for the
(3) is the estimate of burden accurate; connected at the U.S. border. DOE may
Proposed Northern Pass Transmission
(4) how might the Department enhance issue or amend a permit if it determines
Project
the quality, utility, and clarity of the that the permit is in the public interest
information to be collected; and (5) how AGENCY: Office of Electricity Delivery and after obtaining favorable
might the Department minimize the and Energy Reliability, U.S. Department recommendations from the U.S.
burden of this collection on the of Energy. Departments of State and Defense. In
respondents, including through the use ACTION: Notice of availability for public determining whether issuance of a
of information technology. Please note comment of interconnection facilities permit for a proposed action is in the
that written comments received in studies summary. public interest, DOE considers the
response to this notice will be potential environmental impacts of the
considered public records. SUMMARY: Northern Pass Transmission proposed project, the project’s impact
Title of Collection: Federal Direct LLC (NPT) applied to the U.S. on electricity reliability by ascertaining
Department of Energy (DOE) for a
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

Loan Program and Federal Family whether the proposed project would
Education Loan Program Teacher Loan Presidential permit to construct, adversely affect the operation of the U.S.
Forgiveness Forms. operate, maintain, and connect an electric power supply system under
OMB Control Number: 1845–0059. electric transmission line across the U.S. normal and contingency conditions, and
Type of Review: An extension of an border with Canada, currently referred any other factors that DOE considers
existing information collection. to as the Northern Pass Project. NPT relevant to the public interest.
Respondents/Affected Public: would construct and operate an On October 14, 2010, NPT applied to
Individuals or Households. overhead high-voltage direct current DOE for a Presidential permit to

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31316 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 128 / Thursday, July 6, 2017 / Notices

construct, operate, maintain, and of 1,090 MW, and included other design the issuance of a Presidential permit for
connect an HVDC transmission line changes (e.g., change in converter the NPT Project.
across the U.S.-Canada border (the technology and type of cable). A copy of Issued in Washington, DC, on June 28,
proposed Project). On July 1, 2013, NPT the amended Presidential permit 2017.
submitted an amended Presidential application and maps of the proposed Brian Mills,
permit application to DOE. See 78 FR Project route can be found at the DOE
Director, Transmission Development,
50,405 (Aug. 19, 2013). On August 31, environmental impact statement (EIS) Transmission Permitting and Technical
2015, NPT further amended its Web site (http:// Assistance, Office of Electricity Delivery and
Presidential permit application. See 80 www.northernpasseis.us). Energy Reliability.
FR 58,725 (Sept. 30, 2015). The [FR Doc. 2017–14165 Filed 7–5–17; 8:45 am]
Technical Reliability Studies
amended applications are summarized BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
below. DOE considers the technical
reliability impact of a Presidential
Applicant’s Proposal permit application as part of the public DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
In its July 2013 amended application, interest determination, and typical
NPT proposed to construct and operate practice is to review a study or studies Federal Energy Regulatory
a primarily overhead HVDC electric prepared for interconnection purposes Commission
transmission line that would originate at with entities such as the applicable
an HVDC converter station to be regional transmission operator. In Combined Notice of Filings #1
constructed at the Des Cantons conjunction with the Independent
Substation in Val-Joli, Québec, Canada; System Operator of New England (ISO– Take notice that the Commission
run from there across the international NE), which operates the grid received the following electric corporate
border to Franklin, New Hampshire, interconnected to the proposed Project, filings:
where the current would be converted and NPT, the participating transmission Docket Numbers: EC17–134–000.
from HVDC to AC; and continue on to owner, RLC Engineering prepared Applicants: Ameren Illinois
its southern terminus in Deerfield, New interconnection facilities studies, which Company.
Hampshire. Under this application, the consist of a system impact study and Description: Application of Ameren
proposed facilities were to be capable of sub-synchronous torsional interaction Illinois Company for Authorization
transmitting up to 1,200 MW of power. screening study. As a general practice, under Section 203 of the Federal Power
The New Hampshire portion of the ISO–NE does not make such studies Act and Request for Expedited
proposed Project would be a single- available to the public, as they consist Consideration.
circuit, 300-kilovolt (kV) HVDC of critical electric infrastructure Filed Date: 6/28/17.
transmission line running information (CEII). CEII includes Accession Number: 20170628–5195.
approximately 153 miles from the U.S. specific engineering, vulnerability, or Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/19/17.
border crossing with Canada near detailed design information that could Take notice that the Commission
Pittsburg, New Hampshire, to a new be useful to a person planning an attack received the following exempt
HVDC-to-AC transformer facility to be on critical infrastructure. However, in wholesale generator filings:
constructed in Franklin, New the interest of its commitment to Docket Numbers: EG17–121–000.
Hampshire. From Franklin to the Project transparency, DOE has made available a Applicants: Cottonwood Wind
terminus at the Public Service Company redacted executive summary of the Project, LLC.
of New Hampshire’s existing Deerfield technical transmission studies, as Description: Notice of Self-
Substation in Deerfield, New reviewed by ISO–NE to prevent Certification of Exempt Wholesale
Hampshire, the proposed Project would publication of CEII, on DOE’s project Generator Status of Cottonwood Wind
consist of 34 miles of 345-kV AC electric Web site at http:// Project, LLC.
transmission line. The total length of the www.northernpasseis.us/ [first go to the Filed Date: 6/29/17.
proposed Project would be ‘‘Project Library’’ and then select the Accession Number: 20170629–5045.
approximately 187 miles. ‘‘Reliability Studies’’ section that has
NPT’s August 2015 application Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 7/20/17.
been added at the very top of that page].
amendment changed the proposed DOE’s posting of the redacted executive Take notice that the Commission
transmission line route by adding three summary of the Project’s received the following electric rate
miles of buried transmission line interconnection facilities studies, as filings:
adjacent to a road not previously well as this public comment invitation, Docket Numbers: ER10–2265–013;
analyzed, adding two new transition are meant solely to respond to public ER10–1581–019; ER10–2262–007;
stations (one in Bridgewater, New participation interests unique to this ER10–2346–009; ER10–2353–009;
Hampshire and another in Bethlehem, case. The posting neither represents nor ER10–2355–009; ER10–2783–014;
New Hampshire, to transition the will constitute a new DOE practice in ER10–2784–014; ER10–2795–014;
transmission line between aboveground reviews of future Presidential permit ER10–2798–014; ER10–2799–014;
and buried) of approximately one acre applications. ER10–2801–014; ER10–2875–014;
each, and increasing the amount of All comments received in response to ER10–2878–014; ER10–2879–014;
proposed buried transmission line from this Notice will be posted on DOE’s ER10–2880–014; ER10–2896–014;
approximately eight miles to Presidential permit Web site at https:// ER10–2913–014; ER10–2947–014;
approximately 60 miles with a total energy.gov/oe/services/electricity- ER10–2969–014; ER10–3223–008;
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

proposed Project length of policy-coordination-and- ER11–2062–022; ER11–2107–013;
approximately 192 miles. In addition, implementation/international- ER11–2108–013; ER11–2508–021;
the amendment proposed a shift (less electricity-regulation/pending- ER11–2805–021; ER11–2863–011;
than 100 feet) in the international applications under Docket No. PP–371 ER11–4307–022; ER11–4308–022;
border crossing location, changed the and made a part of the record in this ER11–4351–009; ER12–261–021; ER13–
project size from 1,200 MW to 1,000 proceeding to be considered by DOE 1745–009; ER13–1788–009; ER13–1789–
MW with a potential transfer capability before making a final determination on 009; ER13–1801–009; ER13–1802–009;

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Document Created: 2017-07-06 01:04:50
Document Modified: 2017-07-06 01:04:50

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice of availability for public comment of interconnection facilities studies summary.
Dates		Comments must be submitted on or before August 7, 2017.
Contact		Christopher Lawrence (Program Office) at 202-586-5260, or via electronic mail at [email protected]; or Rishi Garg (Program Attorney) at 202-586-0258, or via electronic mail at [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 31315