[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 20 (Wednesday, January 30, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5555-5561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1504]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Western Area Power Administration


Proposed Information Collection To Be Submitted to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for Approval Under the Paperwork Reduction 
Act

AGENCY: Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Western Area Power Administration (Western) invites public 
comment on a proposed collection of information that Western is 
developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.\1\ Western invites 
comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information shall 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 respondents, including 
through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
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    \1\ See 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.

DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be 
received on or before the close of the comment period which is March 
31, 2008. Consideration will be given to all comments received on or 
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before the close of the comment period.

ADDRESSES: Written comments or suggestions may be sent to the Acting 
Power Marketing Advisor at 12155 W. Alameda Parkway, Lakewood, CO 
80228, by fax at 720-962-7009, or by e-mail at [email protected]. 
Please include the subject matter: Paperwork Reduction Act Information 
Collection.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Melanie Reed at 970-461-7229.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 5556]]

I. Statutory Authority

    Reclamation Laws are a series of laws arising from the Desert Land 
Act of 1872 and include but are not limited to: The Desert Land Act of 
1872, Reclamation Act of 1902, Reclamation Project Act of 1939, and the 
Acts authorizing each individual project such as the Central Valley 
Project Authorizing Act of 1937.\2\ The Reclamation Act of 1902 
established the Federal reclamation program.\3\ The basic principle of 
the Reclamation Act of 1902 was that the United States, through the 
Secretary of Interior, would build and operate irrigation works from 
the proceeds of public land sales in the sixteen arid Western states (a 
seventeenth was added later). The Reclamation Project Act of 1939 
expanded the purposes of the reclamation program and specified certain 
terms for contracts that the Secretary of Interior enters into to 
furnish water and power.\4\ Congress enacted the Reclamation Laws for 
purposes that include enhancing navigation, protection from floods, 
reclaiming the arid lands in the Western United States, and for fish 
and wildlife.\5\ Congress intended that the production of power would 
be a supplemental feature of the multi-purpose water projects 
authorized under the Reclamation Laws.\6\ No contract entered into by 
the United States for power may impair the efficiency of the project 
for irrigation purposes.\7\ Section 5 of the Flood Control Act of 1944 
is read in pari materia with Reclamation Laws.\8\ In 1977, the 
Department of Energy Organization Act transferred the power marketing 
functions of the Department of Interior to Western.\9\ Pursuant to this 
authority, Western markets Federal hydropower. As part of Western's 
marketing authority, Western needs to obtain information from 
interested entities who desire an allocation of Federal power. The 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 requires Western to obtain a clearance 
from OMB before collecting certain information.\10\
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    \2\ See Ch. 107, 19 Stat. 377 (1872), Ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388 
(1902), Ch. 418, 53 Stat. 1187 (1939), Ch. 832, 50 Stat. 844, 850 
(1937), all as amended and supplemented.
    \3\ See, Ch. 1093, 32 Stat. 388, as amended and supplemented.
    \4\ See, Ch. 418, 53 Stat. 1187 (1939), as amended and 
supplemented.
    \5\ See, e.g., Ch. 832, 50 Stat. 844, 850 (1937), as amended and 
supplemented.
    \6\ See, e.g., Ch. 832, 50 Stat. 844, 850 (1937), as amended and 
supplemented.
    \7\ See, 43 U.S.C. 485h(c).
    \8\ See, Act of December 22, 1944, Ch. 665, 58 Stat. 887), as 
amended and supplemented.
    \9\ See, 42 U.S.C. 7152(a)(1)(E).
    \10\ See 44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq.
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II. Background

    Western is a Federal agency under the Department of Energy that 
markets and transmits wholesale electrical power from 56 Federal 
hydropower plants and one coal-fired plant. Western sells about 40 
percent of regional hydroelectric generation in a service area that 
covers 1.3 million square miles in 15 states. To provide this reliable 
electric power to most of the western half of the United States, 
Western markets and transmits about 10,000 megawatts of hydropower 
across an integrated 17,000-circuit mile, high voltage transmission 
system. Western's preference customers include municipalities, 
cooperatives, public utility and irrigation districts, Federal and 
State agencies, and Native American tribes. They, in turn, provide 
retail electric service to millions of consumers in Arizona, 
California, Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, 
Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and 
Wyoming.
    As part of its marketing mission, Western proposes to collect 
information from entities which may be interested in obtaining a power 
allocation from Western. Western will submit the information clearance 
requirement to the Office of Management and Budget after analyzing and 
responding to all comments received through this process. As required 
by the Paperwork Reduction Act, after receiving comments, Western will 
publish a notice of submittal.\11\
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    \11\ See, 44 U.S.C. 3507.
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    Pursuant to this proposed information collection, Western invites 
comments on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the 
accuracy of the agency's estimate of burden, 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 respondents, 
including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology. The proposed information collections in this 
program will not be part of a system of records covered by the Privacy 
Act,\12\ and will be available under the Freedom of Information 
Act.\13\
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    \12\ See, 5 U.S.C. 552(a).
    \13\ See, 5 U.S.C. 552.
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III. Purpose of Proposed Collection

    The proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of Western's functions. Western markets a limited amount of 
Federal power. Western has discretion to determine who will receive an 
allocation of Federal power. Due to the high demand for Western's power 
and limited amount of available power, under established marketing 
plans, Western needs to be able to collect information to evaluate who 
may receive an allocation of Federal power. As a result, the 
information Western collects is both necessary and useful.
    This public process only determines the information which Western 
will collect from an entity desiring to apply for a Federal power 
allocation. The information Western proposes to collect is voluntary. 
Western will use the information collected, in conjunction with its 
marketing plan, to determine an entity's eligibility and ultimately who 
will receive an allocation of Federal power. Western will issue a call 
for application, as part of its marketing plan which will occur through 
a separate process. The actual allocation of power is outside the scope 
of this proceeding.

IV. Information Western Proposes To Collect

A. Applicant Profile Data (APD)

    Western proposes to collect the information described below. 
Western will collect the information through an application. As part of 
this process, Western has identified what it believes is the minimum 
amount of information Western needs for its Regions to properly perform 
the functions of the agency. Due to the variations that may be 
developed in each Region, each Region through its marketing plan, may 
determine that it does not need all of the information. Each Region 
will identify the subset of the data that it will require in its 
application through its call for application.
    Western proposes the applicant provide the information requested or 
the most reasonable estimates that are available. If the requested 
information is not applicable or is not available, the applicant shall 
note it. Western will request, in writing, additional information from 
any applicant whose application is deficient. Western will notify the 
applicant when such information is due. In the event that by the due 
date, an applicant fails to provide sufficient information to allow 
Western to make a determination regarding eligibility, the application 
will not be considered. The content and

[[Page 5557]]

format of the proposed APD are outlined below.

B. Form of APD

OMB Clearance Number------
Applicant Profile Data
    All items of information in the Applicant Profile Data (APD) should 
be answered as if prepared by the entity/organization seeking the 
allocation of Federal power. The APD shall consist of the following:
    1. Applicant Information. Please provide the following:
    a. Applicant's (entity/organization requesting an allocation) name 
and address:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
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Applicant's
Name:
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Address:
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City:
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State:
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Zip:
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    b. Person(s) representing the applicant:

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Contact Person
(Name & Title):
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Address:
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City:
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State:
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Zip:
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Telephone:
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Fax:
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Email Address:
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    c. Type of entity/organization:

[ballot] Federal Agency
[ballot] Irrigation District
[ballot] Municipal, Rural, or Industrial User
[ballot] Municipality
[ballot] Native American Tribe
[ballot] Public Utility District
[ballot] Rural Electric Cooperative
[ballot] State Agency
[ballot] Other, please specify:

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    d. Parent entity/organization of the applicant, if any:

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    e. Name of the applicant's members, if any: (Separated by commas)

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    f. Applicable law under which the applicant was established:

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    g. Applicant's geographic service area (if available, please submit 
a map of the service area and indicate the date prepared):

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    h. Describe whether the applicant owns and operates its own 
electric utility system.

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    i. Provide the date the applicant attained utility status. 10 CFR 
part 905.35 defines utility status to mean ``that the entity has 
responsibility to meet load growth, has a distribution system, and is 
ready, willing, and able to purchase power from Western on a wholesale 
basis for resale to retail consumers.''

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    j. Describe the entity/organization that will interact with Western 
on contract and billing matters.

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    2. Service Requested:
    a. Provide the amount of power the applicant is requesting to be 
served by Western.

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    3. Applicant's Loads:
    a. Utility and non-utility applicants:
    (i) If applicable, provide the number and type of customers served 
(e.g., residential, commercial, industrial, military base, 
agricultural):

                                            Customer Type and Number
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                                    Residential   Commercial   Industrial    Military       Ag.         Other
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Number of customers
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If not applicable, explain why
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    (ii) Provide the actual monthly maximum demand (kilowatts) and 
energy use (kilowatt-hours) for each calendar month experienced in 
calendar year 20--:

                                               Calendar Year 20--
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                                      January      February      March        April         May          June
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Demand (kilowatts)
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Energy (kilowatt-hours)
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                                        July        August     September     October      November     December
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Demand (kilowatts)
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Energy (kilowatt-hours)
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[[Page 5558]]

    (iii) Provide the average annual load factor for calendar year 20--
:

Calendar Year 20-- Average Annual Load Factor

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    (iv) Provide the average monthly load factors for calendar year 
20--:

                                               Calendar Year 20--
                                          [Average Monthly Load Factor]
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                                      January      February      March        April         May          June
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Load Factor
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                                        July        August     September     October      November     December
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Load Factor
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    (v) Identify any factors or conditions in the next 5 years which 
may significantly change peak demands, load duration, or profile 
curves.

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    b. Native American Tribe applicants only:
    (i) Indicate the utility or utilities currently serving your loads:

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    (ii) If applicable, provide the number and type of customers served 
(e.g., residential, commercial, industrial, military base, 
agricultural):

                                            Customer Type and Number
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                                    Residential   Commercial   Industrial    Military       Ag.         Other
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of customers
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If not applicable, explain why:
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    (iii) Provide the actual monthly maximum demand (kilowatts) and 
energy use (kilowatt-hours) experienced in calendar year 20--. If the 
actual demand and energy data are not available provide the estimated 
monthly demand:

                                               Calendar Year 20--
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      January      February      March        April         May          June
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demand (kilowatts)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy (kilowatt-hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                        July        August     September     October      November     December
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Demand (kilowatts)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy (kilowatt-hours)
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    (iv) If the demand and energy data in 3.b(iii) above is estimated, 
provide a description of the method and basis for this estimation in 
the space provided below:

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    (v) Provide the actual average annual load factors for calendar 
year 20--. If the actual load factors are not available, provide the 
estimated load factors: Calendar Year 20-- Average Annual Load Factor

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    (vi) Provide the actual monthly load factors for calendar year 
20--. If the actual load factors are not available, provide the 
estimated load factors.

                                 Calendar Year 20-- Average Monthly Load Factor
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                                      January      February      March        April         May          June
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Load Factor
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                                        July        August     September     October      November     December
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Load Factor
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[[Page 5559]]

    (vii) If the load factor data in 3.b.(v-vi) is estimated, provide a 
description of the method and basis for this estimation in the space 
provided below:

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    (viii) Identify any factors or conditions in the next 5 years which 
may significantly change peak demands, load duration, or profile 
curves:

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    4. Applicant's Resources. Please provide the following information:
    a. A list of current power supplies if applicable, including the 
applicant's own generation, as well as purchases from others. For each 
supply, provide the resource name, capacity supplied, and the 
resource's location. Power supplies (resource name, capacity & 
location):

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    b. For each power supplier, provide a description and status of the 
power supply contract (including the termination date):

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    c. For each power supplier, provide the type of power:

[ballot] Power supply is on a firm basis.
[ballot] Power supply is not on a firm basis. Please explain:

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    5. Transmission:
    a. Points of delivery. Provide the requested point(s) of delivery 
on Western's transmission system (or a third party's transmission 
system), the voltage of service required, and the capacity desired, if 
applicable.

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    b. Transmission arrangements. Describe the transmission 
arrangements necessary to deliver firm power to the requested points of 
delivery. Include a brief description of the applicant's transmission 
and distribution system including major interconnections. Provide a 
single-line drawing of applicant's system, if one is available.

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    c. Provide a brief explanation of the applicant's ability to 
receive and use, or receive and distribute Federal power as of [date].

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    6. Other Information. The applicant may provide any other 
information pertinent to receiving an allocation.

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    7. Signature: Western requires the signature and title of an 
appropriate official who is able to attest to the validity of the APD 
and who is authorized to submit the request for an allocation.
    By signing below, I certify the information which I have provided 
is true and correct to the best of my information, knowledge and 
belief.
    Signature ------------------------
    Title ----------------------------

    Applications may be submitted by U.S. mail to the address below or 
electronically to [email protected] with an electronic signature. If 
submitting this application electronically and an electronic signature 
is not available, please fax this page with a signature to (xxx) xxx-
xxx, or mail it to ------ Region, Western Area Power Administration, 
Address, State, City, Zip Code.
    Recordkeeping Requirements: If Western accepts your application and 
you receive an allocation of Federal power you must keep all records 
associated with your APD for a period of 3 years after you sign your 
contract for Federal power. If you do not receive an allocation of 
Federal power, there is no recordkeeping requirement.
    Western has obtained an OMB Clearance Number ------ for the 
collection of the above information.

V. Paperwork Reduction Requirements

A. Introduction

    1. OMB Number: Western will obtain a new OMB Number. This number 
will be displayed on front page of the APD.
    2. Title: Western will title the Information Collection Request: 
Applicant Profile Data.
    3. Type of Review: Western will request that OMB treat its review 
as a New Review for an existing collection.
    4. Purpose: The proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of Western's functions. Western markets a 
limited amount of Federal power. Western has discretion to determine 
who may receive an allocation of Federal power. Due to the high demand 
for Western's power and limited amount of available power, under 
established marketing plans, Western needs to be able to collect 
information to evaluate who will receive an allocation of Federal 
power. As a result, the information Western collects is both necessary 
and useful. This public process only determines the information which 
Western will collect in its application. The actual allocation of 
Federal power will be done through a separate process and is outside 
the scope of this proceeding.
    5. Respondent: The response is voluntary. However, in the event an 
entity seeks an allocation of Federal power, the applicant must submit 
an APD. Western has identified the following class of respondents as 
the most likely to apply: municipalities, cooperatives, public 
utilities, irrigation districts, Native American Tribes, Federal and 
State agencies. The respondents will be located in Arizona, California, 
Colorado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New 
Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming. Depending 
on the amount of power that becomes available for allocation, Western 
anticipates it could receive up to 100 requests for power during the 3-
year period when the OMB Clearance Number is in effect. Western does 
not anticipate annual responses. The responses will be periodic and 
occur when Western has power available under an allocation process.
    6. Number of Burden Hours:
    a. Initial Application: Western anticipates that it will take less 
than 4 hours to complete the APD. Once the respondent completes the 
APD, it will submit the APD to Western for Western's review. After 
submitting the APD, provided the APD is complete and no clarification 
is required, Western does not anticipate requiring any further 
information for the APD from the applicant, unless the applicant is 
successful in obtaining a power allocation. The applicant submits only 
one APD. It does not submit an APD every year. If the applicant 
receives a power allocation, the applicant will need to complete a 
standard contract to receive its power allocation. Western's standard 
contract terms are outside the scope of this process.
    b. Record Keeping: There is no mandatory record keeping 
requirements on the applicant if it does not receive an allocation of 
Federal power. In such case, any record keeping of the APD by a 
respondent is voluntary. For those entities that receive a Federal 
power allocation, Western proposes a requirement to keep the 
information for 3 years after the applicant signs its Federal power 
contract. The 3-year record retention policy proposed for such 
applicants will allow Western sufficient time to administer the

[[Page 5560]]

contract and to ensure the applicant provided factual information in 
its application. Western anticipates that a 3-year record retention 
policy will have little impact on most businesses in the power 
industry. Western anticipates that it would take less than 1 hour per 
successful candidate per year for record keeping purposes. Western 
anticipates that in a 3-year period, Western will have less than 30 
successful applicants.
    c. Methodology: Based on the total number of burden hours and the 
total number of applications described above, Western expects that over 
a 3-year period, the total burden hours to fill out the APD is 400 
hours for 3 years (100 applicants over 3 years x 4 hours per 
applicant). This converts to an annual hourly burden of 133.333 hours. 
An entity will only fill out the APD once. It is not required to fill 
out the APD each year.
    Based on the above, Western anticipates that there will be 
additional cost burdens for record keeping of 1 hour per year for each 
successful applicant, i.e., each applicant who receives a Federal power 
allocation. Western anticipates that over the course of 3 years there 
will be 30 successful applicants. The power may be allocated in year 1, 
year 2 or year 3. For the purposes of determining the cost burden, 
Western will presume all 30 applicants received an allocation in year 
1. As a result, the annual hourly burden for record keeping is 30 
hours.
    For the purposes of this cost burden analysis, Western is assuming 
that a staff level power utility specialist will fill out the APD. 
Western estimates a staff level power utility specialist rate, 
including administrative overheard to be approximately $100/hour. For 
record keeping, Western estimates an administrative support rate of 
$50/hour. Based on the above, Western estimates the total annual cost 
as (133.333 hour/year x $100/hour) + (30 hour/year x $50/hour) = 
$14,833 per year.
    Using the above estimates, on a per applicant basis, assuming the 
applicant receives a Federal power allocation, the total cost for the 
applicant over a 3-year period is $550. The cost to fill out the APD is 
a one time cost of $400. In addition to the one time cost, the 
applicant, if it successfully receives a power allocation, will incur 
an additional expense of 1 hour for record keeping per year x $50 per 
hour for a total record keeping cost of $150 for 3 years.
    d. Summary of Burdens:

                                     Table 1.--Annual Hour Burden Estimates
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                                                                     Number of    Average burden
                    Activity                         Number of     responses per     hour per        Subtotal
                                                    respondents     respondent       response      burden hours
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APD.............................................          33.333               1               4          133.33
Recordkeeping...................................              30               1               1           30.00
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Burden................................  ..............  ..............  ..............          163.33
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                                                          Table 2.--Annual Cost Burden Estimate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                             Number of        Average
                       Instrument                            Number of     responses per  annual  burden     Cost per        Cost per      Subtotal cost
                                                            respondents     respondent         hour         burden hour      response
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prepare APD.............................................          33.333               1               4            $100            $400      $13,333.20
Recordkeeping...........................................              30               1               1              50              50        1,500.00
                                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Cost..........................................  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............  ..............       14,833.20
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The procedure and process for the allocation of power shall be the 
subject matter of a separate notice and is outside the scope of this 
process.

B. Does the proposed collection of data avoid unnecessary duplication?

    To avoid unnecessary duplication, Western proposes that only 
entities who desire a Western allocation be required to submit an APD.
    As it relates to each of the components of the APD, there is no 
duplication. Section 1 is information Western needs to determine who 
the applicant is, whether the applicant is a preference entity and 
whether the applicant is ready, willing and able to receive and/or 
distribute Federal power. Section 2 identifies the amount of Federal 
power which the applicant requests. Section 3 identifies the 
applicant's loads. Section 4 identifies the applicant's resources. 
Section 5 identifies the applicant's transmission delivery arrangements 
necessary to receive Federal power. Section 6 is voluntary and provides 
the applicant with the ability to provide any additional information. 
Section 7 is an attestation that the information provided is true and 
accurate to the best of the applicant's knowledge.

C. Does the proposed collection reduce the burden on the respondent, 
including small entities, to the extent practicable and appropriate?

    The proposed information requested is the minimum amount of 
information to determine whether the applicant qualifies as a 
preference entity and is ready, willing and able to receive an 
allocation of Federal power.

D. Does the proposed collection use plain, coherent, and unambiguous 
language that is understandable to the respondent?

    The proposed collection uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous 
language that is understandable to the target audience. The terms are 
those used in the power industry. Western does not market power to 
individual members of the public such as homeowners or shopkeepers. 
Preference entities are statutorily designated potential customers who 
generally are involved in the power business. As a result, the language 
used in the application is understandable to the target audience.

[[Page 5561]]

E. Is the proposed collection consistent with and compatible with the 
respondent's current reporting and recordkeeping practices to the 
maximum extent practicable?

    The proposed information collection is voluntary. Western proposes 
to use the information to determine whether an applicant qualifies as a 
preference entity to receive an allocation of Federal power. As 
discussed above, there is no mandatory recordkeeping requirement on the 
applicant if it does not receive an allocation of Federal power. For 
those entities that receive a Federal power allocation, Western 
proposes a requirement that they keep the information for 3 years after 
Western grants the power allocation and the applicant signs a Federal 
power contract. The proposed 3-year record retention policy for such 
applicants would allow Western sufficient time to administer the 
contract and to ensure the applicant provided factual information in 
its application. Western anticipates that a 3-year record retention 
policy will have little impact on most businesses in the power industry 
who will keep the APD as part of their normal business records. The 
procedure and process for the allocation of power shall be the subject 
matter of a separate notice and is outside the scope of this process.

F. Does the proposed collection indicate the retention period for any 
recordkeeping requirements for the respondent?

    The APD identifies that there is no recordkeeping requirement for 
the respondent if it does not receive an allocation of Federal power. 
It also identifies that applicants who receive an allocation of Federal 
power must retain the records for 3 years.

G. Does the proposed collection inform the public of the information 
they need to exercise scrutiny of the agency collecting information 
(the reasons the proposed information is collected, the way it is used, 
an estimate of the burden, whether the response is voluntary, required 
to obtain a benefit, or mandatory and a statement that no person is 
required to respond unless a valid OMB control number is displayed)?

    If an entity desires a Federal power allocation from Western, 
Western needs certain information to determine whether the entity is 
eligible to receive power. Western has a limited amount of power 
available. Western uses its discretion in allocating power. In order to 
use its discretion in allocating power, Western will use the 
information collected on the application. Western will not accept 
incomplete applications. Western will work with Native American Tribes 
and other entities who may need assistance in filling out the 
application. No person is required to submit any information unless a 
valid OMB control number is displayed. No person is required to submit 
any information unless they desire a Federal power allocation.

H. Is the proposed collection developed by an office that has planned 
and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and 
use of the information collected?

    Western's power marketing offices will administer and evaluate the 
applications. Use and management of the collected information has been 
factored into these offices functions and resource requirements. 
Historically, Western has requested the same relative information from 
applicants in past marketing plan initiatives and effectively utilized 
Western resources to utilize and manage the information in its 
determinations. The power marketing offices will make a recommendation 
to Western's Administrator on which applicant(s) should be awarded a 
Federal power allocation based on the information contained in the APD. 
Western's Administrator shall use his discretion in the final power 
allocations. The procedure and process for the allocation of power 
shall be the subject matter of a separate notice and is outside the 
scope of this process.

I. Does the proposed collection use effective and efficient statistical 
survey methods?

    Since the proposed information collected is used to determine 
whether an applicant receives an allocation of Federal power, this 
section is inapplicable.

J. Does the proposed collection use information technology to the 
maximum extent practicable to reduce the burden and to improve data 
quality, agency efficiency, and responsiveness to the public?

    The APD will be accessible for downloading via Western's Web site. 
Western will accept electronic-mail submission of the APD, as well as 
submission via fax or regular mail. Applicants cannot enter the 
information on Western's Web site.

VI. Invitation for Comments

    Western invites public comment on a proposed collection of 
information that Western is developing for submission to OMB pursuant 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments are invited on: (1) 
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information shall 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 respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

    Dated: January 3, 2008.
Timothy J. Meeks,
Administrator.
 [FR Doc. E8-1504 Filed 1-29-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P