[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 82 (Monday, April 29, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18015-18016]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-08560]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC19-21-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-729); Comment
Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or
FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved
information collection, FERC-729 (Electric Transmission Facilities).
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due June 28, 2019.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC19-21-
000) by either of the following methods:
eFiling at Commission's Website: 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
[[Page 18016]]
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:
Title: FERC-729, Electric Transmission Facilities.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0238.
Abstract: This information collection implements 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 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, 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.\1\ 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. 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 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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\1\ FPA section 216(b)(1)(C).
\2\ 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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Type of Respondent: Electric transmission facilities.
Estimate of Annual Burden: \4\ The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden for the information collection as:
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\4\ ``Burden'' is 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 Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
\5\ FERC staff estimates that industry costs for salary plus
benefits are similar to Commission costs. The cost figure is the
FY2018 FERC average annual salary plus benefits ($164,820/year or
$79/hour).
FERC-729: Electric Transmission Facilities
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Total annual
Number of Annual number Total number Average burden burden hours &
respondents of responses of responses & cost per total annual
per respondent response \5\ cost
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4) (3) * (4) =
(3) (5)
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Electric Transmission Facilities 1 1 1 9,600 9,600
$758,400 $758,400
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Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the 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 and
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Dated: April 23, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-08560 Filed 4-26-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P