[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 197 (Wednesday, October 14, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52796-52797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-24575]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC10-729-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-729); Comment 
Request; Extension

October 6, 2009.
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. 104-13), the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public 
comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described 
below.

DATES: Comments in consideration of the collection of information are 
due December 15, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed either electronically or in paper 
format, and should refer to Docket No. IC10-729-000. Documents must be 
prepared in an acceptable filing format and in compliance with the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission submission guidelines at http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp.
    Comments may be filed electronically via the eFiling link on the 
Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov. First time users will 
have to establish a user name and password (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/eregistration.asp) before eFiling. The Commission will send an 
automatic acknowledgement to the sender's e-mail address upon receipt 
of comments through eFiling.
    Commenters filing electronically should not make a paper filing. 
Commenters that are not able to file electronically must send an 
original and two (2) copies of their comments to: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street, 
NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in 
this docket may do so through eSubscription (at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp). In addition, all comments and FERC 
issuances may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely through FERC's 
Web site using the ``eLibrary'' link and searching on Docket Number 
IC10-729. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support (e-mail at 
[email protected], or call toll-free at (866) 208-3676, or for 
TTY, contact (202) 502-8659).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by 
telephone at (202) 502-8663, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FERC-729 (``Electric Transmission 
Facilities,'' OMB Control No. 1902-0238) covers the reporting 
requirements \1\ of 18 CFR part 50, and, as relates to transmission 
facilities, 18 CFR 380.3(c)(3), 380.5(b)(14), 380.6(a)(5), 380.15(d), 
and 380.16.
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    \1\ These requirements were promulgated by Order 689, issued 
November 16, 2006, in Docket No. RM06-12, in accordance with section 
1221 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005: (a) To establish filing 
requirements and procedures for entities seeking to construct or to 
modify electric transmission facilities, and (b) to coordinate the 
processing of Federal authorizations and the environmental review of 
electric transmission facilities in designated national interest 
electric transmission corridors. (Order 689 is available in FERC's 
eLibrary at http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/intermediate.asp?link_file=yes&doclist=4455911.)
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    The purpose of these regulations is to implement the Commission's 
mandates under EPAct 2005 section 1221 which authorizes the Commission 
to issue permits under FPA section 216(b) for electric transmission 
facilities and the Commission's delegated responsibility to coordinate 
all other Federal authorizations under FPA section 216(h). The related 
FERC regulations

[[Page 52797]]

seek to develop a timely review process for siting of proposed electric 
transmission facilities. The regulations provide for, among other 
things, an extensive pre-application process that will facilitate 
maximum participation from all interested entities and individuals to 
provide them with a reasonable opportunity to present their views and 
recommendations, with respect to the need for and impact of the 
facilities, early in the planning stages of the proposed facilities as 
required under FPA section 216(d).
    Additionally, under FPA section 216(b)(1)(C), FERC has the 
authority to issue a permit to construct electric transmission 
facilities if a state has withheld approval for more than a year or has 
conditioned its approval in such a manner that it will not 
significantly reduce transmission congestion or is not economically 
feasible. FERC envisions that, under certain circumstances, the 
Commission's review of the proposed facilities may take place after one 
year of the state's review. Accordingly, under section 50.6(e)(3) the 
Commission will not accept applications until one year after the 
state's review and then from applicants who can demonstrate that a 
state may withhold or condition approval of proposed facilities to such 
an extent that the facilities will not be constructed.\2\ In cases 
where FERC's jurisdiction rests on FPA section 216(b)(1)(C),\3\ the 
pre-filing process should not commence until one year after the 
relevant State applications have been filed. This will give the States 
one full year to process an application without any intervening Federal 
proceedings, including both the pre-filing and application processes. 
Once that year is complete, an applicant may seek to commence FERC's 
pre-filing process. Thereafter, once the pre-filing process is 
complete, the applicant may submit its application for a construction 
permit.
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    \2\ However, the Commission will not issue a permit authorizing 
construction of the proposed facilities until, among other things, 
it finds that the state has, in fact, withheld approval for more 
than a year or had so conditioned its approval.
    \3\ In all other instances (i.e., where the state does not have 
jurisdiction to act or otherwise to consider interstate benefits, or 
the applicant does not qualify to apply for a permit with the State 
because it does not serve end use customers in the State), the pre-
filing process may be commenced at any time.
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    The environmental report includes information on areas such as: 
aquatic life, wildlife, and vegetation and the expected impacts on 
them; cultural resources; socioeconomics; geological resources; soils, 
land use, recreation, and aesthetics; alternatives; buildings; and 
reliability and safety.
    Without the information collection, FERC would not be able to 
fulfill its statutory mandates to review requests for permits for 
transmission facilities, and to coordinate related Federal 
authorizations.
    Action: FERC is requesting a three-year extension of the current 
FERC-729 reporting requirements, with no change.
    Burden Statement: The estimated, annual public reporting burden for 
FERC-729 follows.

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                                                                Average No. of  Average  burden
         FERC information collection           Annual No. of    responses per      hours  per      Total annual
                                                respondents       respondent        response       burden hours
                                                         (1)              (2)              (3)   (1) x (2) x (3)
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FERC-729....................................              10                1            9,600           96,000
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    The total estimated annual cost burden \4\ to respondents is 
$7,680,000 (96,000 hours x $80 per hour \4\).
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    \4\ Based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics ``Occupational 
Outlook Handbook (OOH), 2008-09 Edition,'' Occupational Employment 
Statistics (Occupational Employment and Wages, for May 2008, for 
Lawyers (23-1011), posted at http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes231011.htm), FERC is using $80 per hour. Other professions (such 
as engineers and administrators) are involved in preparing the 
filing. We are using $80 per hour as a high-end figure to include 
all of the professions involved with preparation of the filing.
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    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 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.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-24575 Filed 10-13-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P