[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 206 (Thursday, October 28, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59704-59706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-23481]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. Ic21-34-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-500 and Ferc-
505); Consolidated Comment Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

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, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or 
FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved 
information collections, FERC-500 (Application for License/Relicense 
for Water Projects with More than 10 Megawatt (MW) Capacity); and FERC-
505 (Application for Small Hydropower Projects and Conduit Facilities 
including License/Relicense, Exemption, and Qualifying Conduit Facility 
Determinations).

DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due December 27, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: You may provide your comments (identified by Docket No. 
IC21-34-000) on FERC-500 and/or FERC-505 by one of the following 
methods:
     Electronic Filing: http://www.ferc.gov (preferred method) 
Documents must be filed in acceptable native applications and print-to-
PDF, but not in scanned or picture format.
     For those unable to file electronically, comments may be 
filed by USPS mail or by hand (including courier) delivery:
    [cir] Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Addressed to: Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
    [cir] Hand (including courier) Delivery: Deliver to: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 12225 Wilkins 
Avenue, Rockville, MD 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], or by telephone at (202) 502-8663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Titles: FERC-500 (Application for License/
Relicense for Water Projects with More than 10 Megawatt (MW) Capacity) 
and FERC-505 (Application for Small Hydropower Projects and Conduit 
Facilities including License/Relicense, Exemption, and Qualifying 
Conduit Facility Determination).
    OMB Control Nos.: 1902-0058 (FERC-500) and 1902-0115 (FERC-505).
    Type of Request: Extension of currently approved information 
collections.
    Abstract: Part I of the Federal Power Act (FPA) \1\ authorizes the 
Commission to grant hydropower licenses and exemptions to citizens of 
the United States, or to any corporation organized under the laws of 
United States or any State thereof, or to any State or municipality. 
Holders of such licenses and exemptions construct, operate, and 
maintain dams, water conduits, reservoirs, power houses, transmission 
lines, or other project works necessary or convenient for the 
development and improvement of navigation and for the development, 
transmission, and utilization of power across, along, from, or in any 
of the streams or other bodies of water over which Congress has 
jurisdiction. This jurisdiction stems from Congressional authority to 
regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States, or 
upon any part of the public lands and reservations of the United 
States.
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 791a-823g.
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    FERC-500 and FERC-505 comprise applications and other information 
collection activities implemented under numerous regulations. Some of 
the regulations are relevant to both FERC-500 and FERC-505, and others 
are relevant only to FERC-500 or FERC-505. Effective October 4, 
2021,\2\

[[Page 59705]]

information collection activities within FERC-500 are for projects with 
an installed capacity of more than 10 MW. Information collection 
activities within FERC-505 are for other smaller projects. The 
applicability and required contents of each activity are listed at the 
pairs of regulations listed in the following table:
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    \2\ Before October 4, 2021, FERC-500 applied only to projects 
with an installed capacity of more than 5 MW. On August 5, 2021, the 
Commission published a final rule that affected the paperwork 
burdens of FERC-500 by changing the regulatory threshold for certain 
licensing requirements from 5 MW to 10 MW. As a result, the 
regulatory threshold for FERC-500 is now projects with an installed 
capacity of more than 10 MW. See Final Rule, Docket RM20-21-000, 86 
FR 42710 (Aug. 5, 2021).

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                   Title                                   18 CFR cites                 FERC-500      FERC-505
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Application for License for Major \3\        4.40 and 4.41..........................          Yes           Yes
 Unconstructed Project and Major Modified
 Project.
Application for License for Major Project--  4.50 and 4.51..........................          Yes           Yes
 Existing Dam.
Application for License for Minor \4\ Water  4.60 and 4.61..........................           No           Yes
 Power Projects and Major Water Power
 Projects More Than 10 Megawatts.
Application for License for Transmission     4.70 and 4.71..........................          Yes           Yes
 Line Only.
Exemption of Small Conduit Hydroelectric     4.90 and 4.92..........................           No           Yes
 Facilities.
Exemption of Small Hydroelectric Power       4.101 and 4.107........................           No           Yes
 Projects of 10 Megawatts or Less.
Application for Amendment of...............  4.200 and 4.201........................          Yes           Yes
License....................................
Notice of Intent to Construct Qualifying     4.400 and 4.401........................           No           Yes
 Conduit Hydropower Facilities.
Application Under the Integrated Licensing   5.1 and 5.18...........................           No           Yes
 Process.
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    \3\ As defined at 18 CFR 4.30(b)(14) through 4.30(b)(16), a 
``major'' project has a total installed generating capacity of more 
than 1.5 MW.
    \4\ As defined at 18 CFR 4.30(b)(17), a ``minor'' project has a 
total installed generating capacity of 1.5 MW or less.
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    Each of the ``contents'' regulations listed above requires 
information that assists the Commission in identifying the respondent 
and the type of proposed project. In addition, certain types of 
applications must include all \5\ or some \6\ of the following 
exhibits:
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    \5\ The following regulations require Exhibits A through G: 18 
CFR 4.41, 4.51, 4.61, and 4.71.
    \6\ The following regulations do not require Exhibits B, C, and 
D: 18 CFR 4.92 and 4.107. The regulations at 18 CFR 4.201 and 5.18 
pertain to several types of applications and projects. The exhibits 
required by those regulations vary, depending on the type of 
application.
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     Exhibit A is a description of the project.
     Exhibit B is a statement of project operation and resource 
utilization.
     Exhibit C is a proposed construction schedule for the 
project.
     Exhibit D is a statement of project costs and financing.
     Exhibit E is an environmental report.
     Exhibit F consists of general design drawings of the 
principal project works described under Exhibit A and supporting 
information used as the basis of design.
     Exhibit G is a map of the project.
    No exhibits are required in a Notice of Intent to Construct 
Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facilities under 18 CFR 4.401. However, 
the Notice of Intent must include:
     Statements that the proposed project will use the 
hydroelectric potential of a non-federally owned conduit and that the 
proposed facility has not been licensed or exempted from the licensing 
requirements and Part I of the FPA;
     A description of the proposed facility;
     Project drawings;
     If applicable, the preliminary permit number for the 
proposed facility; and
     Verification in accordance with 18 CFR 4.401(g).
    In addition to the reporting requirements described above, FERC-500 
and FERC-505 also contain requirements for those entities who 
ultimately receive a FERC license or exemption. Both information 
collections include an activity related to recreation signage (18 CFR 
8.1 and 8.2), which is used to inform the public of appropriate uses at 
the project. FERC-500 includes an annual conveyance report (18 CFR 
141.15), which must be submitted only if a conveyance of easements or 
rights-of-way across project lands, or a lease of project lands, has 
occurred in the previous year.
    Types of Respondents: Entities requesting Licenses, Relicenses, 
Exemptions, or Qualifying Conduit Facility Determinations, and certain 
entities in receipt of Commission Licenses and Exemptions.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: For FERC-500, the Commission estimates 
487 responses, 320,962 hours, and $27,923,694 annually. For FERC-505, 
the Commission estimates 324 responses, 24,555 hours, and $2,136,285 
annually. These burdens are itemized in detail in the following table:

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                                           Number of
                                          respondents                                                   Average annual burden hours & total annual cost
           Type of response              and responses     Average burden & cost \8\  per response                   (Column B x Column C)
                                              \7\
A.                                                   B.  C..........................................  D.
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FERC-500, Application for License/                    9  35,602.55 hrs.; $3,097,421.85..............  320,422.95 hrs.; $27,876,796.65.
 Relicense for Water Projects with
 Greater than 10 MW Capacity \9\.
FERC-500, Request for Authorization to                5  40 hrs.; $3,480............................  200 hrs.; $17,400.
 Use Expedited Licensing Process.
FERC-500, Annual Conveyance Reports...               41  3 hrs.; $261...............................  123 hrs.; $10,701
FERC-500, Recreation Posting..........              432  0.5 hr.; $43.50............................  216 hrs.; $18,792.
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    Subtotals for FERC-500............              487  N/A........................................  320,961.95 hrs.; $27,923,689.65.
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FERC-505, for Small Hydropower                       32  756.59 hrs.; $65,823.33....................  24,210.88 hrs.; $2,106,346.56.
 Projects and Conduit Facilities
 including License/Relicense,
 Exemption, and Qualifying Conduit
 Facility Determinations.
FERC-505, Request for Authorization to                5  40 hrs.; $3,480............................  200 hrs.; $17,400.
 Use Expedited Licensing Process.
FERC-505, Recreation Posting..........              287  0.5 hr.; $43.50............................  143.5 hrs.; $12,484.50.
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    Sub-Totals for FERC-505...........              324  N/A........................................  24,554.38 hrs.; $2,136,231.06.
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[[Page 59706]]

 
    Totals............................              811  N/A........................................  345,516.33 hrs.; $30,068,620.71.
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    \7\ There is one response per respondent for each activity in 
this information collection.
    \8\ Commission staff estimates that the average industry hour4ly 
cost for this information collection is approximated by the current 
FERC 2021 average hourly costs for wages and benefits, i.e., $87.00/
hour.
    \9\ The previously reported 33 responses associated with 
Comprehensive Plans were incorrect and not consistent in how we have 
approached the number of respondents for this Information 
Collection. As a result, the total number of hours associated with 
the Comprehensive Plans requirement was moved to the total number of 
hours associated with the application process. The Commission does 
not break down pieces of this process (as it is all considered one 
application) and so this edit was made for consistency across the 
information collection.
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    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: October 22, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-23481 Filed 10-27-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P