[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 48266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24373]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC Form 556]


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

September 9, 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)(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 within 60 days 
of the publication of this notice.

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 Miller, Information 
Services Division, ED-12.4, 888 First Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 
20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by 
telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC Form 556 ``Cogeneration and Small Power 
Production'' (OMB No. 1902-0075) is used by the Commission to implement 
the statutory provisions of Section 3 of the Federal Act (EPA), 16 
U.S.C. 792-828C, and Sections 201 and 210 of the Public Utility 
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). The reporting requirements 
associated with FERC Form 556 require owners or operators of small 
power production or cogeneration facilities who seek qualifying status 
for these facilities to file an application to the Commission for 
certification as a qualifying facility (QF).
    A primary objective of PURPA is the conservation of energy through 
efficient use of energy resources and facilities by energy facilities. 
One means of achieving this goal is to encourage production of 
production of electric power by cogeneration facilities which make use 
of reject heat associated with commercial or industrial processes, and 
by small power production facilities which use other wastes and 
renewable resources. PURPA, through establishment of various regulatory 
benefits, encourages the development of small power production 
facilities and cogeneration facilities which meet certain technical and 
corporate criteria. Facilities that meet these criteria are called QFs.
    The purposes of FERC Form 556 are to: specify the certification 
procedures which must be followed by owners or operator of small power 
production and cogeneration facilities; specify the criteria which must 
be met; specify the information which must be submitted to FERC in 
order to obtain qualifying status; specify the PURPA benefits which are 
available to QFs to encourage small power production and cogeneration; 
and specify the requirements pertaining to PURPA implementation plans 
regarding the transaction obligations that electric utilities have with 
respect to QFs. Respondents comply with these requirements in order to 
obtain or retain a benefit. The Commission implements these filing 
requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR part 
292.
    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   
   respondents      responses per       hours per      burden hours  (1)
  annually  (1)   respondents  (2)    response  (3)       x (2) x (3)   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
332.............              1                 6          \1\ 2,049    
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ approximate, includes application for Commission certification,     
  PURPA implementation waiver filings, and notices for self-            
  certification.                                                        

    Estimated cost burden to respondents: 2,049 hours divided by 2087 
hours per year times $110,000 per year equals $107,997. The cost per 
respondent is equal to $325.
    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 resources; (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 Commission'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. 97-24373 Filed 9-12-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M