[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 81 (Thursday, April 27, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25630-25631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08917]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC23-11-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-510); 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 proposed extension of 
currently approved information collection, FERC-510 (Application for 
Surrender of a Hydropower License).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due June 26, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC23-11-
000) by one of the following methods:
     Electronic Filing (preferred): 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: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    [cir] Mail via any other service: 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: https://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 https://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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-510, Application for Surrender of a Hydropower License.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0068.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-510 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.
    Abstract: The purpose of FERC-510 is to implement information 
collections pursuant to sections 4(e), 6, and 13 of the Federal Power 
Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 797(e), 799 and 806). Section 4(e) gives the 
Commission authority to issue licenses for the purposes of 
constructing, operating and maintaining dams, water conduits, 
reservoirs, powerhouses, transmission lines or other power project 
works necessary or convenient for developing and improving navigation, 
transmission and utilization of power using bodies of water over which 
Congress has jurisdiction. Section 6 gives the Commission the authority 
to prescribe the conditions of licenses including the revocation or 
surrender of the license. Section 13 defines the Commission's authority 
to delegate time periods for when a license must be terminated if 
project construction has not begun. Surrender of a license may be 
desired by a licensee when a licensed project is retired or not 
constructed or natural catastrophes have damaged or destroyed the 
project facilities.
    FERC-510 is the application for the surrender of a hydropower 
license.\1\ The information is used by Commission staff to determine 
the broad impact of such surrender. The Commission will issue a notice 
soliciting comments from the public and other agencies and conduct a 
review of the application before issuing an order for Surrender of a 
License. The order is the result of an analysis of the information 
produced (i.e., dam safety, public safety, and environmental concerns, 
etc.), which is examined to determine whether any conditions must be 
satisfied before granting the surrender. The order implements the 
existing regulations and is inclusive for surrender of all types of 
hydropower licenses issued by FERC and its predecessor, the Federal 
Power Commission.
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    \1\ 18 CFR 6.1-6.4
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    Type of Respondent: Private or Municipal Hydropower Licensees.

[[Page 25631]]

    Estimate of Annual Burden: \2\ The Commission estimates the total 
annual burden and cost \3\ for this information collection as follows:
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    \2\ ``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 additional 
information, refer to Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3. 
The number of respondents is based on the average number of 
respondents over the last three years.
    \3\ The Commission staff thinks that the average respondent for 
this collection is similarly situated to the Commission, in terms of 
salary plus benefits. The FERC 2022 average salary plus benefits for 
one FERC full-time equivalent (FTE) is $188,922/year (or $91.00/
hour).

                                                                        FERC-510
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                                            Annual number
          Number of respondents              of responses   Total number of   Average burden hrs. & cost    Total annual burden hrs. &       Cost per
                                            per respondent     responses           ($) per response              total annual cost          respondent
(1)                                                   (2)      (1)*(2)=(3)   (4).........................  ($)(3)*(4)=(5)..............      ($)(5)/(1)
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7........................................               1                7   80 hrs.; $7,280.............  560 hrs.; $50,960...........          $7,280
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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 21, 2023.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-08917 Filed 4-26-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P