Comments of the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Boards to the Critical Energy Infrastructure Information Notice of Proposed Rulemaking & Revised Statement of Policy under RM02-4 et al.

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS ENERGY FACILITIES SITING BOARD ONE SOUTH STATION BOSTON, MA 02110 (617) 305-3525 JANE SWIFT GOVERNOR November 14, 2002 Magalie R. Salas, Secretary Office of the Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 888 First Street, N.E. Washington D.C. 20426 RE: Docket Nos. RM02-4-000, PL02-1-000 Dear Ms. Salas: Attached is the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board's comments to the Critical Energy Infrastructure Information Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Revised Statement of Policy, RM02-4-000 and PL02-1-000. These comments are being filed electronically. Please include the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board to the service list. Thank you for your assistance. Sincerely, Denise L. Desautels Fax: (617) 443-1116 www.mass.gov/dpu EFSB 02-2 Page 2 October 17, 2002 Fax: (617) 443-1116 www.mass.gov/dpu UNITED STATES OF AMERICA FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION Rule Regarding Critical Energy ) Infrastructure Information Policy, ) Docket Nos. RM02-4- 000, Statement on the Treatment of ) PL02-1-000 Previously Public Documents ) COMMENTS OF THE MASSACHUSETTS ENERGY FACILITIES SITING BOARD The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (AMassachusetts Siting Board@) files comments in the above-captioned proceedings in response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking and Revised Statement of Policy (ANOPR@) issued September 5, 2002. The staff of the Massachusetts Siting Board respectfully requests that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC" or "Commission") consider these comments in preparation of the revision to its regulations to restrict public availability of critical energy infrastructure information (ACEII@). Page 2 The Massachusetts Siting Board is an independent board of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (the "Commonwealth" or "Massachusetts") within the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Energy ("MDTE"), and is empowered to ensure "a reliable energy supply for the commonwealth with a minimum impact on the environment at the lowest possible cost." M. G.L. c. 164, ' 69H.1 As part of its mandate, the Massachusetts Siting Board must approve, prior to construction, major energy facilities to be built in Massachusetts, including power plants over 100 MW, electric transmission lines over a mile in lengths and at least 69 kV in new rights-of-way, or over 10 miles in length and at least 115 kV in existing rights-of-way, natural gas pipelines over a mile in length and at least 100 psig, and natural gas storage facilities. For energy infrastructure projects under its exclusive jurisdiction, the Massachusetts Siting Board conducts an extensive review of project need, cost and alternatives (except for power plants), site selection, and environmental impacts. This review is conducted through formal adjudication, and ...