[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 46 (Thursday, March 11, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13893-13894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05065]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. AD21-9-000]


The Office of Public Participation; Notice of Virtual Listening 
Sessions and a Public Comment Period

    Take notice that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 
(Commission) staff will convene, in the above-referenced proceeding, 
virtual listening sessions from March 17, 2021 to March 25, 2021, to 
solicit public input on how the Commission should establish and operate 
the Office of Public Participation (OPP) pursuant to section 319 of the 
Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 825q-1). The public may also submit 
written comments by April 23, 2021. The listening sessions will be led 
by Commission staff, and may be attended by one or more Commissioners.
    In December 2020, Congress directed the Commission to provide a 
report, by June 25, 2021, detailing its progress towards establishing 
the OPP. Section 319 of the FPA directs the Commission to establish the 
OPP to ``coordinate assistance to the public with respect to 
authorities exercised by the Commission,'' including assistance to 
those seeking to intervene in Commission proceedings. (16 U.S.C. 825q-
1). A February 22, 2021 notice announced a Commissioner-led workshop to 
be held on April 16, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern time, 
and requested speaker nominations by March 10, 2021. The February 22, 
2021 notice can be found on the Commission's website and eLibrary.
    Commission staff plan to hold listening sessions to hear from 
several

[[Page 13894]]

stakeholder groups. The sessions will give members of the public an 
opportunity to provide their thoughts and ideas on how the Commission 
should create the OPP to encourage and facilitate public participation. 
Following a brief introduction from Commission staff, each session will 
be open to the public for 3-5 minutes of comment per participant. The 
Commission plans to hold the following sessions:
     Landowners and Communities Affected by Infrastructure 
Development, Wednesday, March 17, 2021, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
     Environmental Justice Communities and Tribal Interests, 
Monday, March 22, 2021, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
     Tribal Governments, Wednesday, March 24, 2021, at 10:00 to 
11:30 a.m. (session 1); 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. (session 2).
     Energy Consumers and Consumer Advocates, Thursday, March 
25, 2021, 1:00 to 2:30 p.m.
    In advance of the listening sessions, participants may wish to 
consider the issues listed below:
    1. Section 319 of the FPA states that the OPP will be administered 
by a Director. (16 U.S.C. 825q-1(a)(2)(A)). In addition to the 
Director, how should the office be structured?
    2. Should the Commission consider creating an advisory board for 
OPP? If so, what role would the board serve and who should be on the 
board?
    3. How should the OPP coordinate assistance to persons intervening 
or participating, or seeking to intervene or participate, in a 
Commission proceeding?
    4. To what extent do you, or the organization you represent, 
currently interact with the Commission? What has hindered or helped 
your ability to participate in Commission proceedings?
    5. Have you engaged with other governmental entities--such as 
local, state, and other federal agencies--on matters involving your 
interests? If so, how did those agencies engage in outreach, and what 
practices improved your ability to participate in their processes?
    6. How should the OPP engage with Tribal Governments, environmental 
justice communities, energy consumers, landowners, and other members of 
the public affected by Commission proceedings?
    7. Section 319 of the FPA allows the Commission to promulgate rules 
to offer compensation for attorney fees and other expenses to 
intervenors and participants who substantially contribute to a 
significant Commission proceeding if participation otherwise would 
result in significant financial hardship. (16 U.S.C. 825q-1(b)(2)). How 
should the Commission approach the issue of intervenor compensation? 
What should the OPP's role be with respect to intervenor compensation? 
How should the Commission establish a budget for and fund intervenor 
compensation? What lessons can the Commission learn from the 
administration of similar state intervenor compensation programs?
    The sessions will be open for the public to attend, and there is no 
fee for attendance. Listening sessions will be audio-only. Call-in 
information details, including preregistration, can be found on the OPP 
website. Information will also be posted on the Calendar of Events on 
the Commission's website, www.ferc.gov, prior to the event. The 
listening sessions will be transcribed and placed into the record 
approximately one week after the session date.
    The listening sessions will be accessible under section 508 of the 
Rehabilitation Act of 1973. For accessibility accommodations, please 
send an email to [email protected] or call toll free 1-866-208-
3372 (voice) or 202-502-8659 (TTY), or send a FAX to 202-208-2106 with 
the required accommodations.
    The public may also submit written comments on these topics to the 
record in Docket No. AD21-9-000 by Friday, April 23, 2021. Please file 
comments using the Commission's eFiling system at https://ferconline.ferc.gov/FERCOnline.aspx. For assistance, please contact 
FERC Online Support at [email protected], (866) 208-3676 (toll 
free), or (202) 502-8659 (TTY).
    For questions about the listening sessions, please contact Stacey 
Steep of the Office of General Counsel at (202) 502-8148, or send an 
email to [email protected], and Sarah McKinley, (202) 502-8368, 
[email protected], for logistical issues.

    Dated: March 5, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-05065 Filed 3-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P