[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 224 (Monday, November 20, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69754-69755]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-29580]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC01-512-000]


Notice of Proposed Information Collection and Request for 
Comments

November 14, 2000.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

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 on or before 
January 19, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Written comments on the proposed collection of information 
may be submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: 
Michael Miller, Office of the Chief Information Officer, CI-1, 888 
First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by 
telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax at (202) 208-2425 and by E-mail at 
mike. [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Abstract: The FERC-512, ``Application for Preliminary Permit'' (OMB 
No. 1902-0073) 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 mandatory 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, with no changes to the existing collection of 
data.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated as:

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                                                                    Annual       Average burden    Total annual
                  Number of respondents (1)                     responses per      hours per       burden hours
                                                                respondent (2)    response (3)   (1) x (2) x (3)
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45...........................................................               1               73            3,285
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    Estimated cost burden to respondents is $182,186; (i.e., 3,285 
hours divided by 2,080 hours per full time employee per year multiplied 
by $115,357 per year equals $182,186). The cost per respondent is 
$4,049.

[[Page 69755]]

    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, or 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 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.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-29580 Filed 11-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M