[Federal Register: April 10, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 68)]
[Notices]
[Page 16377-16379]
[DOCID:fr10ap09-47]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. IC09-500-000 and IC09-505-000]

Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-500 and FERC-
505); Comment Request; Extensions

April 6, 2009.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Energy.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collections and request for
comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a)
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public
comment on the specific aspects of the information collections
described below.

DATES: Comments in consideration of the collections of information are
due June 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Examples of these collections of information may be obtained
from the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
elibrary.asp. Comments may be filed either electronically or in paper
format, and should refer to Docket Nos. IC09-500-000 and IC09-505-000.
Documents must be prepared in an acceptable filing format and in
compliance with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission submission
guidelines at http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp.
    Comments may be filed electronically via the eFiling link on the
Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. First time users will
have to establish a user name and password (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-
filing/eregistration.asp) before eFiling. The Commission will send an
automatic acknowledgment to the sender's e-mail address upon receipt of
comments through eFiling.
    Commenters filing electronically should not make a paper filing.
Commenters that are not able to file electronically must send the
original and 14 copies of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
    Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in
this docket may do so through eSubscription at http://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/esubscription.asp. In addition, all comments and FERC
issuances may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely through FERC's
Web site using the ``eLibrary'' link and searching on Docket Numbers
IC09-500 and IC09-505. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support
at<EMAIL_ADDRESS>(866) 208-3676 (toll free), or (202)
502-8659 (TTY).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by
telephone at<PHONE_NUMBER>, by fax at<PHONE_NUMBER>, or by e-mail at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: For the purpose of publishing this notice
and seeking public comment, FERC requests comments on both FERC-500
(Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects with Capacity
Greater than 5 MW; OMB Control No. 1902-0058), and FERC-505
(Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects with Capacity 5
MW or Less; OMB Control No. 1902-0115). The associated regulations,
reporting requirements, burdens, and OMB clearance numbers will
continue to remain separate and distinct for FERC-500 and FERC-505.
    FERC-500: The information collected under the requirements of FERC-
500 is used by the Commission to determine the broad impact of a
hydropower project (including hydrokinetic projects) license
application. In deciding whether to issue a license, the Commission
gives equal consideration to a full range of licensing purposes related
to the potential value of a stream, river, or other navigable waterway
including the oceans. Among these purposes are: Hydroelectric or
hydrokinetic development; energy conservation; fish and wildlife
resources (including their spawning grounds and habitat); visual
resources; cultural resources; recreational opportunities; other
aspects of environmental quality; irrigation; flood control and water
supply. Submittal of the information is necessary to fulfill the
requirements of the Federal Power Act in order for the Commission to
determine whether the proposal is best adapted to a comprehensive plan
for improving or developing a waterway(s).
    Under Part I of the Federal Power Act (FPA; 16 U.S.C. 791a et
seq.), the Commission has the authority to issue licenses for
hydroelectric projects on the waters over which Congress has
jurisdiction. The Electric Consumers Protection Act (ECPA; Pub. L. 99-
495, 100 Stat. 1243) provides the Commission with the responsibility of
issuing licenses for nonfederal hydroelectric plants. ECPA also amended
the language of the FPA concerning environmental issues to ensure
environmental quality. In Order No. 2002 (68 FR 51070, August 25,
2003), the Commission revised its regulations to create a new licensing
process \1\ in which a potential license applicant's pre-filing
consultation and the Commission's scoping process pursuant to the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321) are conducted
concurrently rather than sequentially.
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    \1\ Applicants have benefited from: (a) Increased public
participation in pre-filing consultation; (b) increased assistance
from Commission staff to the potential applicant and stakeholders
during the development of a license application; (c) development by
the potential applicant of a Commission-approved study plan; (d)
elimination of the need for post-application study requests; (e)
issuance of public schedules and enforcement of deadlines; (f)
better coordination between the Commission's processes, including
the NEPA document preparation, and those of Federal and state
agencies and Indian Tribes with authority to require conditions for
Commission-issued licenses.
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    The information collected is needed: (1) To evaluate license
applications pursuant to the comprehensive development standard of FPA
sections 4(e) and 10(a)(1), (2) to consider the

comprehensive development analysis of certain factors with respect to
the new license set forth in section 15, and (3) to comply with NEPA,
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the National
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). Commission staff
conducts a systematic review of the application, with supplemental
documentation provided through the solicitation of comments from other
agencies and the public.
    Submittal of the FERC-500 information is necessary for the
Commission to carry out its Statutory responsibilities as defined in
the filing requirements in 18 CFR 4.32, 4.38, 4.40-.41, 4.50-.51, 4.61,
4.71, 4.93, 4.107-.108, 4.201-.202, Part 5, 16.1, 16.10, 16.20, 292.203
and 292.208.
    FERC-505: Submission of the information is necessary for the
Commission to carry out its responsibilities in implementing the
statutory provisions of Part I of the FPA (16 U.S.C. 791a et seq. &
3301-3432, as amended by the ECPA (Pub. L. 99-495, 100 Stat. 1234
(1986))). The FPA as amended by ECPA provides the Commission with the
responsibility of issuing licenses for nonfederal hydroelectric power
plants, plus requiring the Commission in its licensing activities to
give equal consideration to preserving environmental quality. ECPA also
amended sections 10(a) and 10(j) of the FPA to specify the conditions
on which hydropower licenses are issued, to direct that the project be
adopted in accordance with a comprehensive plan that improves waterways
for interstate/foreign commerce and for the protection, enhancement and
mitigation of damages to fish and wildlife.
    Submittal of the information is necessary to fulfill the
requirements of sections 9 and 10(a) of the Act in order for the
Commission to make the required finding that the proposal is
technically and environmentally sound, and is best adapted to a
comprehensive plan for the development of the water resources of the
region. Under section 405(c) of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies
Act of 1978 (PURPA), the Commission may in its discretion (by rule or
order) grant an exemption in whole or in part from the requirements of
Part I of the FPA to small hydroelectric power projects having a
proposed installed capacity of 5,000 kilowatts or less (5-MW
exemption). The filing requirements to prepare an application for a 5-
MW exemption in lieu of a licensing application are also included in
this analysis. The information collected under FERC-505 is used by
Commission staff to determine the broad impact of a license (including
licenses for hydrokinetic projects) or exemption application. The
information collected for license applications is needed to evaluate
the hydroelectric project pursuant to the comprehensive development
standard of FPA sections 4(e) and 10(a)(1), to consider in the
comprehensive development analysis certain factors with respect to the
new license as set forth in section 15, and to comply with NEPA, the
Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and the National
Historic Preservation Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). The information
collected for 5-MW exemption applications is needed to evaluate the
hydroelectric project for compliance with NEPA, the Endangered Species
Act (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), and the National Historic Preservation
Act (16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.). Commission staff conducts a systematic
review of the prepared application with supplemental documentation
provided by the solicitation of comments from other agencies and the
public.
    The filing requirements are contained in 18 CFR 4.61, 4.71, 4.93,
4.107, 4.108, 4.201, 4.202, Part 5, 292.203, and 292.208.
    Action: The Commission is requesting three-year extensions of the
current expiration dates for the FERC-500 and FERC-505, with no change
to the reporting requirements.
    Burden Statement: The estimated annual public reporting burdens and
the associated public costs follow.\2\
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    \2\ These figures may not be exact, due to rounding.

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                                                                                Projected
                                                     Projected       Number of        average      Total annual
    Data collection \3\ and process used \4\         number of     responses per   burden hours    burden hours
                                                    respondents     respondent     per response
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                                                    FERC-500
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Traditional.....................................             3.0               1         105,715         317,144
Alternative.....................................             1.0               1         107,964         107,964
Integrated......................................             2.0               1         104,965         209,930
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Annual Burden Hours for FERC-500......  ..............  ..............  ..............         635,037
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                                                    FERC-505
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Traditional.....................................            13.0               1           3,691          47,988
Alternative.....................................             1.0               1           3,598           3,598
Integrated......................................             2.0               1           3,598           7,196
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Annual Burden Hours for FERC-505......  ..............  ..............  ..............          58,782
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    Using actual cost figures provided by filers,\3\ the average annual
cost per respondent is estimated as follows.
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    \3\ Per sections 4.41(e)(9), 4.51(e)(7) and 4.61(c)(3)
applicants are now required to submit their total cost of
collection; these figures were used in determining the average
burden hours. The information presented here is based on actual FY
2007 and FY 2008 filings.
    \4\ The Commission has three licensing processes; each process
has its own requirements and schedules. More details are available
at http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/gen-info/licensing/
licen-pro.asp.

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                                                                                Total annual        Projected
                                                            Number of filers       cost of       average annual
                      Data collection                       providing actual   collection ($)       cost per
                                                              cost figures           \3\         respondent ($)
                                                                         (1)               (2)           (2)/(1)
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FERC-500..................................................                17      $109,331,372        $6,431,257
FERC-505..................................................                14         3,123,000           223,071
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    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide
the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing,
acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the
purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining,
disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways
to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements;
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5)
searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of
information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the
information.
    The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for
professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect
overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to
providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost
for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs
incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs
apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than
any one particular function or activity.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collections of
information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions
of the Commission, including whether the information will have
practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the
burden of the proposed collections of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collections of information
on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting
electronic submission of responses.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-8235 Filed 4-9-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 215 (Thursday, November 5, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70604-70605]
[FR Doc No: 2020-24551]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC20-22-000]

Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-588); Comment
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or
FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved
information collection FERC-588 (Emergency Natural Gas Transportation,
Sale, and Exchange Transactions), and is submitting the information
collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Any
interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should
address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due December 7,
2020.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-588 to OMB through
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB control number (1902-
0144) in the subject line. Your comments should be sent within 30 days
of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
    Please submit copies of your comments to the Commission (identified
by Docket No. IC20-22-000) by any of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Website: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
     U.S. Postal Service Mail: Persons unable to file
electronically may mail similar pleadings to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
     Effective 7/1/2020, delivery of filings other than by
eFiling or the U.S. Postal Service should be delivered to Health and
Human Services, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
Instructions:
    OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with
submission guidelines at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain; Using the
search function under the Currently Under Review field, select Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission; click submit and select comment to the
right of the subject collection.
    FERC submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with
submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov. For user assistance,
contact FERC Online Support by email at<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or
by phone at:<PHONE_NUMBER> (toll-free).
    Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of
activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and
issuances in this docket may do so at http://www.ferc.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Ellen Brown may be reached by email
at<EMAIL_ADDRESS>and telephone at<PHONE_NUMBER>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: FERC-588 (Emergency Natural Gas Transportation, Sale, and
Exchange Transactions).
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0144.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-588 information
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting and
recordkeeping requirements.
    Abstract: FERC-588 is an existing information collection consisting
of filing requirements and notice procedures at 18 CFR 157.17 and
284.270. These regulations pertain to non-jurisdictional companies'
assistance in natural gas emergency circumstances. The non-
jurisdictional companies that assist in such emergency transactions
must file information with the Commission under 18 CFR 284.270, so that
the Commission may ensure compliance with relevant legal requirements.
An interstate pipeline that seeks an emergency certificate for
facilities must file an application under 18 CFR 157.17.
    On July 17, 2020, the Commission published a Notice in the Federal
Register (85 FR 43579) in Docket No. IC20-22-000 requesting public
comments. The Commission received no public comment in response.
    Types of Respondents: Providers and recipients of assistance in
natural gas emergency circumstances.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \1\ The Commission estimates the total
annual burden and cost \2\ for this information collection in the
following table:
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    \1\ Burden is the total time, effort, or financial resources
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or
provide information to or for a Federal agency. For further
explanation of what is included in the information collection
burden, refer to 5 CFR 1320.3.
    \2\ The Commission staff believes that industry and Commission
staff are similarly situated in terms of cost for wages and
benefits. Therefore, we are using $83.00 per hour in this
calculation. That is the 2020 average hourly cost, for wages plus
benefits, for one FERC full-time equivalent.

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                  Annual number of
    Number of       responses per      Total number of     Average burden (hr.) and    Total annual burden (hr.)
   respondents       respondent           responses          cost ($) per response           and cost ($)
A.                             B.                      C. D.........................  E.
                                                      (Col. A x Col. B)               (Col. C x Col D)
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             10                 3                    30   10 hrs; $830..............  300 hrs.; $24,900
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    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the Commission, including whether the information will have practical
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden and
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of

the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.

    Dated: October 30, 2020.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-24551 Filed 11-4-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P