[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 133 (Tuesday, July 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45145-45147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-16397]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC16-12-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-511, FERC-515, 
and FERC-574); Consolidated Comment Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of information collections and request for comments.

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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 
requirements and burden of the information collections described below.

[[Page 45146]]


DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due September 12, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC16-12-
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.
    Please reference the specific collection number and/or title in 
your comments.
    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 CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at 
[email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 
273-0873.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the information collection 
requirements for all collections described below with no changes to the 
current reporting requirements. Please note that each collection is 
distinct from the next.
    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 estimates of the 
burden and cost \1\ 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.
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    \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, refer to 5 Code of Federal 
Regulations 1320.3.
    For the FERC-511, FERC-515, and FERC-574, the Commission staff 
believes that industry is similarly situated to FERC in terms of 
average wages and benefits. For the hourly burden cost, we are using 
the FERC 2016 average cost (wages plus benefits) of $74.50/hour.
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FERC-511, Transfer of Electric 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 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.
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    \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.
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    Type of Respondents: Hydropower Project Licensees.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden for the information collection as:

                                                         FERC-511--Transfer of Electric License
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                                                                                                                          Total annual
                                                       Number of      Annual number   Total number of   Average burden   burden hours &      Cost per
                                                      respondents      of responses      responses       hours & cost     total annual      respondent
                                                                      per respondent                    per  response         cost
                                                               (1)              (2)      (1)*(2)=(3)              (4)      (3)*(4)=(5)          (5)/(1)
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Hydropower Project Licensees......................              46                1               46         40 hrs.;      1,840 hrs.;           $2,980
                                                                                                               $2,980         $137,080
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FERC-515, 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 Federal Power Act (FPA).\4\ Section 23(b) 
authorizes the Commission to make a determination as to whether it has 
jurisdiction over a proposed water project \5\ not affecting navigable 
waters \6\ 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

[[Page 45147]]

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.\7\ 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.
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    \4\ 16 U.S.C. 817.
    \5\ Dams or other project works. (See 16 U.S.C. 817.)
    \6\ See 16 U.S.C. 796(8) for the definition of ``Navigable 
Waters.''
    \7\ Upon a finding of non-jurisdictional by the Commission, and 
if the project does not utilize surplus water or waterpower from a 
government dam and no public lands or reservations are affected, 
permission is granted upon compliance with State laws.
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    Type of Respondents: Persons intending to construct project works 
on certain waters described above.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden for the information collection as:

                       FERC-515--Rules of Practice and Procedure: Declaration of Intention
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                    Annual number of                       Average burden      Total annual
    Number of        responses per     Total number of   hours  & cost per    burden hours &        Cost per
   respondents         respondent         responses           response      total annual cost   respondent  ($)
(1)                            (2)        (1)*(2)=(3)                (4)        (3)*(4)=(5)            (5)/(1)
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              6                  1                  6           80 hrs.;          480 hrs.;             $5,960
                                                                  $5,960            $35,760
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FERC-574, Gas Pipeline Certificates: Hinshaw Exemption

    OMB Control No.: 1902-0116.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-574 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission uses the information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-574 to implement the statutory provisions of 
sections 1(c), 4 and 7 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA).\8\ Natural gas 
pipeline companies file applications with the Commission furnishing 
information in order to facilitate a determination of an applicant's 
qualification for an exemption under the provisions of the section 
1(c). If the Commission grants exemption, the natural gas pipeline 
company is not required to file certificate applications, rate 
schedules, or any other applications or forms prescribed by the 
Commission.
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    \8\ 15 U.S.C. 717-717w.
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    The exemption applies to companies engaged in the transportation, 
sale, or resale of natural gas in interstate commerce if: (a) They 
receive gas at or within the boundaries of the state from another 
person at or within the boundaries of that state; (b) such gas is 
ultimately consumed in such state; (c) the rates, service and 
facilities of such company are subject to regulation by a State 
Commission; and (d) that such State Commission is exercising that 
jurisdiction. 18 CFR part 152 specifies the data required to be filed 
by pipeline companies for an exemption.
    Type of Respondents: Pipeline companies.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden for the information collection as:

                                                 FERC-574--Gas Pipeline Certificates: Hinshaw Exemption
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                                                                                                                          Total annual
                                                       Number of      Annual  number  Total number of  Average  burden   burden hours &      Cost per
                                                      respondents      of responses      responses       & cost  per      total annual   respondent  ($)
                                                                      per respondent                       response           cost
                                                               (1)              (2)      (1)*(2)=(3)              (4)      (3)*(4)=(5)          (5)/(1)
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Pipeline Companies................................               1                1                1         60 hrs.;         60 hrs.;           $4,470
                                                                                                               $4,470           $4,470
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    Dated: July 5, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-16397 Filed 7-11-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P