[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 6 (Monday, January 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1957-1958]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-00262]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC21-8-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-512); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

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 a renewal of currently approved 
information collection, FERC-512 (Preliminary Permit).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due March 12, 
2021.

[[Page 1958]]


ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC21-8-
000) by one of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Website: http://www.ferc.gov.
     U.S. Postal Service Mail: Persons unable to file 
electronically may mail similar pleadings to the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Office of the Secretary, 888 First Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20426.
     Delivery of filings other than by eFiling or the U.S. 
Postal Service should be delivered to Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Office of the Secretary, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, 
Maryland 20852.
    Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov. For user 
assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at 
[email protected], or by phone at (866) 208-3676 (toll-free).
    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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-512, Preliminary Permit.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0073.
    Type of Request: Three-year approval of the FERC-512 information 
collection requirements, with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission regulates nonfederal hydropower projects 
on navigable waters and federal lands pursuant to the Federal Power Act 
(FPA).\1\ The FERC-512 is an application for a preliminary permit or to 
extend a preliminary permit term. Preliminary permits, issued for up to 
four years, preserve the right of permit holders to have first priority 
in applying for a license for a project being studied, but do not 
authorize construction of any facilities. Nor does a preliminary permit 
allow the use of eminent domain to acquire lands for the project. The 
preliminary permits are issued pursuant to sections 4(f), 5, and 7 of 
the FPA. Preliminary permits may be extended one time for up to four 
additional years, pursuant to section 5 of the FPA. The purpose of 
obtaining a preliminary permit is to maintain priority status for an 
application for a license while the applicant conducts site 
examinations and surveys to prepare maps, plans, specifications, and 
estimates. This period of time also provides the applicant with the 
opportunity to conduct engineering, economic, and environmental 
feasibility studies in addition to making the financial arrangements 
for funding the construction of the project. No other application for a 
preliminary permit or application for license submitted by another 
party can be accepted during the permit term. The application for a 
preliminary permit is used by Commission staff to assess the scope of 
the proposed project, the technology to be used, and jurisdictional 
aspects of the project. The staff assessment includes a review of the 
proposed hydro development for conflicts with other permits or existing 
projects and public notice of the application to solicit public and 
agency comments. The application for a one-time extension, up to four 
years, of a preliminary permit is used by Commission staff to determine 
if a permittee has met the 2018 Water Infrastructure Act's good faith 
and reasonable diligence standard. An application for a preliminary 
permit includes an initial statement and three numbered exhibits, per 
18 CFR 4.81. The initial statement includes information on the 
applicant, the project, the requested term of the permit, affected 
political jurisdictions, and a verification of the facts.
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 791a-825r (2012).
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    Type of Respondents: Business or other for-profit and not for-
profit institutions.
    Estimate of Annual Burden \2\and Cost: \3\ The Commission estimates 
as shown below in the table:
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    \2\ Burden is defined 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.
    \3\ Commission staff estimates that the industry's skill set and 
cost (for wages and benefits) for FERC-512 are approximately the 
same as the Commission's average cost. The FERC 2020 average salary 
plus benefits for one FERC full-time equivalent (FTE) is $172,329/
year (or $83.00/hour).

                                                             FERC-512--(Preliminary Permit)
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                                                                                                                                              Average
                                       Number of    Annual  number   Total number     Average burden hours &   Total annual burden hours    annual cost
                                      respondents    of  responses   of responses       cost per response         & total annual cost           per
                                                    per respondent                                                                          respondent
                                               (1)             (2)     (1)*(2)=(3)  (4)......................  (3)*(4)=(5)..............         (5)/(1)
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Annual Reporting and Recordkeeping              50               1              50  24 hrs.; $1,992..........  1,200 hrs.; $99,600......          $1,992
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    TOTAL FERC-512................              50               1              50  24 hrs.; $1,992..........  1,200 hrs.; $99,600......          $1,992
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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: January 5, 2021.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-00262 Filed 1-8-21; 8:45 am]
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