[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 102 (Wednesday, May 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 28844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13884]



[[Page 28844]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC-512]


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

May 22, 1997.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection 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. No. 104-13), the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public 
comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described 
below.

DATES: Consideration will be given to comments submitted July 28, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained from and written comments may be submitted to the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael P. Miller, Information 
Services Division, ED-12.4, 888 First Street N.E., Washington, DC 
20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael P. Miller may be reached by telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax 
at (202) 273-0837, and by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-512 ``Application for a Preliminary Permit'' (OMB 
No. 1902-0058) is used by the Commission to implement the statutory 
provisions of Sections 4(f), 5 and 7 of the Federal Power Act (FPA), 16 
U.S.C. Sections 791a et seq. & 3301-3432. The purpose of obtaining a 
preliminary permit is to maintain priority of the application for a 
license for a hydroelectric power facility while examining and 
surveying to prepare maps, plans, specifications and estimates; 
conducting engineering, economic and environmental feasibility studies; 
and making financial arrangements. The conditions under which the 
priority will be maintained are set forth in each permit. During the 
term of the permit, no other application for a preliminary permit or 
application for a license submitted by another party can be accepted. 
The term of a permit is three years. The information collected under 
the designation FERC-512 is in the form of a written application for a 
preliminary permit which is used by Commission staff to determine the 
qualifications of the applicant to hold a preliminary permit, review 
the proposed hydro development for feasibility and to issue a notice of 
the application to solicit public and agency comments. The Commission 
implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) under 18 CFR 4.31-.33, 4.81-82.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
current expiration date.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated as:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Number of         Number of      Average burden  Total annual burden
   respondents     responses  per      hours per      hours (1) x (2) x 
  annually  (1)    respondent (2)     response (3)           (3))       
------------------------------------------------------------------------
150.............            150                73             10,950    
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated cost burdens to respondents: 10,950 hours divided by 
2,087 hours per year times $104,350 per year equals $547,550. The cost 
per respondent is equal to $3,650.
    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 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 of the 
proposed collection 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 collection 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.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-13884 Filed 5-27-97; 8:45 am]
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