[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 22 (Thursday, February 1, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8576-8577]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-2728]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC01-515-000, FERC-515]


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

January 26, 2001.
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 on or before 
April 2, 2001.

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, 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 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirementes of FERC-515 ``Hydropower Licensing, Declaration of 
Intention'' (OMB No. 1902-0079) is used by the Commission to implement 
the statutory provisions of part I, sections 23(b) of the Federal Power 
Act (FPA) 16 U.S.C. 817. Section 23(b) authorizes the Commission to 
make a determination as to whether it has jurisdiction over a proposed 
hydroelectric project. Section 23(b) also requires that any person 
intending to construct project works on a navigable commerce clause 
water must file a declaration of their intention to do so with the 
Commission. If the Commission finds the proposed project will have an 
impact on ``interstate or foreign commerce'', then the person intending 
to construct the project must obtain a Commission license or exemption 
before starting construction. Such sites are generally on streams 
defined by as U.S. navigation waters, and over which the Commission has 
jurisdiction under its authority to regulate foreign and interstate 
commerce. The information is collected in the form of a written 
application, declaring the applicant's intent and use by Commission 
staff to research the jurisdictional aspects of the project. This 
research includes examining maps and land ownership records to 
establish whether or not there is Federal jurisdiction over the lands 
and waters affected by the project. A finding of non-jurisdictional by 
the Commission eliminates a substantial paperwork burden for the 
applicant who might otherwise have to file for a license or exemption 
application. The Commission implements these filing requirements in the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR part 24.
    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:

[[Page 8577]]



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                                                                  Number of      Average burden
                Number of respondents annually                  responses per      hours per       Total annual
                                                                  respondent        response       burden hours
(1)                                                                       (2)              (3)   (1) x (2) x (3)
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10...........................................................               1               80              800
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    Estimated cost burden to respondents: 800 hours/2,080 hours per 
year  x  $115,357 per year = $44,368. The cost per respondent is equal 
to $4,436.
    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 previous applicable instructions and requirements; 
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) 
search 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.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 01-2728 Filed 1-31-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M