[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 238 (Tuesday, December 11, 2012)] [Notices] [Pages 73631-73632] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2012-29849] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. IC12-18-000] Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-500 and FERC- 505); Comment Request AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE. ACTION: Comment request. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 USC 3507(a)(1)(D), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting the information collections Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects with Greater than 5 Megawatt Capacity (FERC-500), and Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects with 5 Megawatt or Less Capacity (FERC-505) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. The Commission issued a Notice in the Federal Register (77 FR 56636, 09/13/2012) requesting public comments. FERC received no comments on the FERC-500 and FERC-505 and is making this notation in its submittal to OMB. DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due by January 10, 2013. ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by the OMB Control Nos. 1902-0058 (FERC-500) and/or 1902-0114 (FERC-505), should be sent via email to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs: [email protected], Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. The Desk Officer may also be reached via telephone at 202-395-4718. A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, identified by the Docket No. IC12-18-000, by one of the following methods:eFiling at Commission's Web Site: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance contact FERC Online Support by email at [email protected], or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 (toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY. 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/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at [email protected], by telephone at (202) 502-8663, and by fax at (202) 273-0873. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Titles: FERC-500: Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects with Greater than 5 Megawatt Capacity; FERC-505: Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects with 5 Megawatt or Less Capacity. OMB Control Nos.: FERC-500 (1902-0058); FERC-505 (1902-0114). Type of Request: 16 U.S.C. 797(e) authorizes the Commission to issue licenses to citizens of the United States for the purpose of constructing, operating, and maintaining dams, across, along, from, or within waterways over which Congress has jurisdiction. The Electric Consumers Protection Act amended the Federal Power Act to provide the Commission with the responsibility of issuing licenses for non-federal hydroelectric plants. 16 U.S.C. 797(e) also requires the Commission to give equal consideration to preserving energy conservation, the protection, mitigation of damage to, and enhancement of, fish and wildlife, the protection of recreational opportunities, and the preservation of other aspects of environmental quality when approving licenses. Finally, 16 U.S.C. 799 stipulates conditions upon which the Commission issues hydroelectric licenses. The Commission requires all hydroelectric license applications to address a variety of environmental concerns. Many of these concerns address environmental requirements developed by other agencies. The applicants must provide facts in order for the Commission to understand and resolve potential environmental problems associated with the application in the interests of the United States public. Types of Respondents: Non-federal hydroelectric plants greater than 5 megawatt capacity (FERC-500); non-federal hydroelectric plants less than 5 megawatts capacity (FERC-505). Estimate of Annual Burden \1\: The Commission estimates the total Public [[Page 73632]] Reporting Burden for each information collection as: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ The Commission defines burden as 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, reference 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3. The estimated burden for these collections has decreased significantly. For more explanation, see the supporting statement submitted to OMB at reginfo.gov (available when this notice publishes in the Federal Register). FERC-500 (IC12-18-000): Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects With Greater than 5 Megawatt Capacity -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Average burden Number of responses per Total number of hours per Estimated total respondents respondent responses response annual burden (A) (B) (A)*(B)=(C) (D) (C)*(D) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Non-federal hydroelectric plants greater than 5 megawatt capacity.. 219 1 219 87 19,053 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FERC-505 (IC12-18-000): Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects with 5 Megawatt or Less Capacity -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Average burden Number of responses per Total number of hours per Estimated total respondents respondent responses response annual burden (A) (B) (A)*(B)=(C) (D) (C)*(D) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Non-federal hydroelectric plants less than 5 megawatts capacity.... 16 1 16 273 4,368 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- FERC-500 total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $1,314,839.32 [(19,053 hours / 2080 hours/year \2\) * $143,540/year \3\ = $1,314,839.32] --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ 2080 hours = 52 weeks * 40 hours per week (i.e. 1 year of full-time employment). \3\ Average salary plus benefits per full-time equivalent employee. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- FERC-505: total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $301,502.90 [(4,368 hours / 2080 hours/year) * $143,540/year = $301,434.00] Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the 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 estimate of the burden and cost of the collections of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information collections; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collections of information on those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Dated: December 5, 2012. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2012-29849 Filed 12-10-12; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P