[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 29, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64484-64486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25438]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket Nos. IC13-19-000 and IC13-20-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-511 and FERC-
515); Comment Request

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D), the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting the information 
collections, FERC-511 (Transfer of Hydropower License \1\) and FERC-515 
(Rules of Practice and Procedure: Declaration of Intention), to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information 
collection requirements. Any interested person may file comments 
directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the 
Commission as explained below. The Commission issued Notices in the 
Federal Register (for FERC-511 at 78 FR 49490, 8/14/2013, and for FERC-
515 at 78 FR 49489, 8/14/2013) requesting public comments. FERC 
received no comments.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ This collection was formerly called the ``Application for 
Transfer of License''; the reporting requirements are not being 
revised.

DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due November 29, 
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
2013.

ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by the OMB Control Nos. 
1902-0069 (FERC-511) and 1902-0079 (FERC-515) should be sent via email 
to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at [email protected], Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
Desk Officer. The OMB Desk Officer may also be reached via telephone at 
202-395-4718.
    A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, identified by the Docket Nos. IC13-19-000 and 
IC13-20-000, 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 these dockets or in viewing/downloading comments and 
issuances in these dockets 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: This notice is combined for administrative 
purposes only. The FERC-511 and FERC-515 will remain separate 
information collections with separate OMB Control Numbers.

FERC-511

    Title: Transfer of Hydropower License.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0069.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-511 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission uses the information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-511 to implement the statutory provisions of 
Sections 4(e) and 8 of the Federal Power Act (FPA).\2\ Section 4(e) 
authorizes the Commission to issue licenses for the construction, 
operation and maintenance of reservoirs, powerhouses, and transmission 
lines or other facilities necessary for the development and improvement 
of

[[Page 64485]]

navigation and for the development, transmission, and utilization of 
power.\3\ Section 8 of the FPA provides that the voluntary transfer of 
any license is made only with the written approval of the Commission. 
Any successor to the licensee may assign the rights of the original 
licensee but is subject to all of the conditions of the license. The 
information filed with the Commission is a mandatory requirement 
contained in the format of a written application for transfer of 
license, executed jointly by the parties of the proposed transfer. The 
sale or merger of a licensed hydroelectric project may occasion the 
transfer of a license. The Commission's staff uses the information 
collection to determine the qualifications of the proposed transferee 
to hold the license and to prepare the transfer of the license order. 
Approval by the Commission of transfer of a license is contingent upon 
the transfer of title to the properties under license, delivery of all 
license instruments, and evidence that such transfer is in the public 
interest. The Commission implements these filing requirements in the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR Part 9.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ 16 U.S.C. 797(e) and 801.
    \3\ Refers to facilities across, along, from, or in any of the 
streams or other bodies of water over which Congress has 
jurisdiction under its authority to regulate commerce with foreign 
nations and among the several States, or upon any part of public 
lands and reservations of the United States, or for the purpose of 
utilizing the surplus water or water power from any Government dam.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Type of Respondents: Hydropower Project Licensees.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \4\ The Commission estimates the total 
annual Public Reporting Burden for this information collection as:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \4\ The Commission defines burden as the total time, effort, or 
financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, 
retain, disclose, or provide information to or for a Federal agency. 
For further explanation of what is included in the information 
collection burden, refer to 5 CFR 1320.3.

                                    FERC-511--Transfer of Hydropower License
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Number of                      Average  burden
            Number of respondents              responses per   Total number of     hours  per    Estimated total
                                                 respondent       responses         response      annual burden
(A)                                                      (B)    (A) x (B) = (C)            (D)                (C) x (D)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
23..........................................               1               23               40              920
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $64,496 
[(920 hours/2080 hours per year) * $145,818/year \5\ = $64,496].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \5\ FY (Fiscal Year) 2013 Estimated Average Annual Cost per FTE, 
including salary plus benefits, is $145,818. There are 2,080 hours 
per workyear.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

FERC-515

    Title: Rules of Practice and Procedure: Declaration of Intention.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0079.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-515 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission uses the information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-515 to implement the statutory provisions of 
Section 23(b) of the FPA.\6\ Section 23(b) authorized the Commission to 
make a determination as to whether it has jurisdiction over a proposed 
water project \7\ not affecting navigable waters \8\ but across, along, 
over, or in waters over which Congress has jurisdiction under its 
authority to regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the 
several States. Section 23(b) requires that any person intending to 
construct project works on such waters must file a declaration of their 
intention with the Commission. If the Commission finds the proposed 
project will have an impact on interstate or foreign commerce, then the 
entity intending to construct the project must obtain a Commission 
license or exemption before starting construction.\9\ The information 
is collected in the form of a written application, containing 
sufficient details to allow the 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 under 18 CFR Part 24.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \6\ 16 U.S.C. 817.
    \7\ Dams or other project works. (See 16 U.S.C. 817.)
    \8\ See 16 U.S.C. 796(8) for the definition of ``Navigable 
Waters.''
    \9\ Upon a finding of non-jurisdictional by the Commission, and 
if no public lands or reservations are affected, permission is 
granted upon compliance with State laws.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Type of Respondents: Persons intending to construct project works 
on certain waters described above.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the total 
annual Public Reporting Burden for this information collection as:

                       FERC-515--Rules of Practice and Procedure: Declaration of Intention
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Number of                      Average  burden
            Number of respondents              responses per   Total number of     hours  per    Estimated total
                                                 respondent       responses         response      annual burden
(A)                                                      (B)    (A) x (B) = (C)            (D)                (C) x (D)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10..........................................               1               10               80              800
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $56,084 
[(800 hours/2080 hours per year) * $145,818/year \10\ = $56,084].
    Comments on FERC-511 and FERC-515: Comments are invited on: (1) 
Whether the collections of information are necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the

[[Page 64486]]

Commission, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimates 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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \10\ FY (Fiscal Year) 2013 Estimated Average Annual Cost per 
FTE, including salary plus benefits, is $145,818. There are 2,080 
hours per workyear.

    Dated: October 21, 2013.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2013-25438 Filed 10-28-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P