[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7460-7461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-291]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC04-512-000, FERC-512]


Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed 
Collection; Comment Request; Extension

February 10, 2004.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice.

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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: Comments on the collection of information are due by April 16, 
2004.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained from Michael Miller, Office of the Executive Director, ED-30, 
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Comments may be filed 
either in paper format or electronically. Those parties filing 
electronically do not need to make a paper filing. For paper filings, 
the original and 14 copies of such comments should be submitted to the 
Office of the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 
First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426 and refer to Docket No. IC04-
512-000.
    Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared in 
WordPerfect, MS Word, Portable Document Format, or ASCII format. To 
file the document, access the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov and click on ``Make an E-filing'' and then follow the 
instructions for each screen. First time users will have to establish a 
user name and password. The Commission will send an automatic 
acknowledgement to the sender's E-mail address upon receipt of 
comments.
    All comments may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely via the 
Internet through FERC's homepage using the eLibrary link. For user 
assistance, contact [email protected] or

[[Page 7461]]

toll free at (866) 208-3676 or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by 
telephone at (202) 502-8415, by fax at (202) 273-0873 and by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Abstract: The information collected under 
the requirements of 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 797, 798 and 800. The purpose of obtaining a 
preliminary permit is to maintain priority of the application for a 
license for a hydropower facility while the applicant conducts surveys 
to prepare maps, plans, specifications and estimates; conducts 
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 the 
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 an applicant's 
qualifications to hold a preliminary permit, review the proposed hydro 
development for feasibility and to issue a notice of the application in 
order to solicit public and agency comments. The Commission implements 
these mandatory filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) under 18 CFR 4.31-4.33, 4.81-4.83.
    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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50............................................               1               73            3,650
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    Estimated cost burden to respondents is $188,089 (i.e., 3,650 hours 
divided by 2,080 hours per full time employee per year multiplied by 
$107,185 per year equals $188,089).
    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 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 
anyone 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.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E4-291 Filed 2-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P