[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 178 (Thursday, September 13, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56636-56637]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-22514]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC12-18-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-500 & FERC-
505); Comment Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of information collections and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the 
currently approved information collections, Application for License/
Relicense for Water Projects with Greater than 5 Megawatt Capacity 
(FERC-500) and Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects 
with 5 Megawatt or Less Capacity (FERC-505).

DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due November 13, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC12-18-
000, and applicable FERC collection number [FERC-500 or FERC-505]) by 
either of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Web Site: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
     Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20426.
    Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance contact FERC Online Support 
by email at [email protected], or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 
(toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
    Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of 
activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and 
issuances in this docket may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Titles: FERC-500: Application for License/Relicense for Water 
Projects with Greater than 5 Megawatt Capacity; FERC-505: Application 
for License/Relicense for Water Projects with 5 Megawatt or Less 
Capacity.
    OMB Control Nos.: FERC-500 (1902-0058); FERC-505 (1902-0114).
    Type of Request: 16 U.S.C. 797(e) authorizes the Commission to 
issue licenses to citizens of the United States for the purpose of 
constructing, operating, and maintaining dams, waterways over which 
Congress has jurisdiction. The Electric Consumers Protection Act (ECPA) 
amended the Federal Power Act (FPA) to provide the Commission with the 
responsibility of issuing licenses for non-federal hydroelectric 
plants. 16 U.S.C. 797(e) also requires the Commission to give equal 
consideration to preserving energy conservation, the protection, 
mitigation of damage to, and enhancement of, fish

[[Page 56637]]

and wildlife, the protection of recreational opportunities, and the 
preservation of other aspects of environmental quality when approving 
licenses. Finally, 16 U.S.C. 799 stipulates conditions upon which the 
Commission issues hydroelectric licenses.
    The Commission requires all hydroelectric license applications to 
address a variety of environmental concerns. Many of these concerns 
address environmental requirements developed by other agencies. The 
applicants must provide facts in order for the Commission to understand 
and resolve potential environmental problems associated with the 
application in the interests of the United States public.
    Types of Respondents: Non-federal hydroelectric plants greater than 
5 megawatt capacity (FERC-500); non-federal hydroelectric plants less 
than 5 megawatts capacity (FERC-505).
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \1\ The Commission estimates the total 
Public Reporting Burden for each information collection as:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ The Commission defines burden as the total time, effort, or 
financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, 
retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal 
agency. For further explanation of what is included in the 
information collection burden, reference 5 Code of Federal 
Regulations 1320.3.

                   FERC-500 (IC12-18-000): Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects With Greater Than 5 Megawatt Capacity
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Number of                      Average  burden
                                                                        Number of      responses per   Total number of     hours per     Estimated total
                                                                       respondents       respondent       responses         response      annual burden
                                                                                (A)              (B)    (A) * (B) = (C)            (D)                (C) * (D)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                219                1              219               87           19,053
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                      FERC-505 (IC12-18-000): Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects With 5 Megawatt or Less Capacity
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                         Number of                      Average  burden
                                                                        Number of      responses per   Total number of     hours per     Estimated total
                                                                       respondents       respondent       responses         response      annual burden
                                                                                (A)              (B)    (A) * (B) = (C)            (D)                (C) * (D)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 16                1               16              273            4,369
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FERC-500: Total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is 
$1,314,839.32 [19,053 hours / 2080 hours/year \2\ = 9.16009 * $143,540/
year \3\ = $1,314,839.32].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 2080 hours = 52 weeks * 40 hours per week (i.e. 1 year of 
full-time employment).
    \3\ Average salary plus benefits per full-time equivalent 
employee.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    FERC-505: Total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is 
$301,502.90 [4,369 hours / 2080 hours/year = 2.10048 years * $143,540/
year = $301,502.90].
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collections of 
information are 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 and cost of the collections of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility and clarity of the information collections; and 
(4) ways to minimize the burden of the collections of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

    Dated: September 6, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-22514 Filed 9-12-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P