[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53877-53878]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-17063]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC23-12-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-521); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

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[[Page 53878]]

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission 
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on FERC-521 (Payments for 
Benefits from Headwater Improvements).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due September 8, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-521 to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number 1902-
0087 (Payments for Benefits from Headwater Improvements) in the subject 
line. Your comments should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice in the Federal Register.
    Please submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket No. 
IC23-12-000 and the form) to the Commission as noted below. Electronic 
filing through https://www.ferc.gov, is preferred.
     Electronic Filing: 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] Mail via any other service (including courier delivery): 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 
12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Please reference the specific collection number(s) and/or title(s) 
in your comments.
    Instructions: OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Using the search function under the ``Currently Under Review 
field,'' select Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; click ``submit'' 
and select ``comment'' to the right of the subject collection. FERC 
submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with submission 
guidelines at: https://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 https://www.ferc.gov.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-521, Payments for Benefits from Headwater Improvements.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0087.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-521 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the reporting requirements.
    Abstract: The purpose of FERC-521 is to implement the information 
collection regarding ``headwater benefits'' pursuant to section 10(f) 
of the Federal Power Act (FPA).\1\ As defined at 18 CFR 11.10(a)(2), 
headwater benefits consist of the additional electric generation of a 
downstream project that results from regulation of the flow of a river 
by a headwater (i.e., upstream) project, usually by increasing or 
decreasing the release of water from a storage reservoir. The 
respondents of this information collection are owners of headwater 
projects constructed by the United States, by licensees, and pre-1920 
permittees. 18 CFR 11.16(b). The Commission requires basic project 
information including owner information, location, and storage capacity 
to be filed by the respondents.
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 803(f).
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    Type of Respondents: There are two types of entities that respond, 
Federal and Non-Federal storage and hydropower project owners. The 
Federal entities that typically respond include the U.S. Army Corps of 
Engineers and the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation. 
The Non-Federal entities may consist of any Municipal or Non-Municipal 
hydropower project owner.
    Estimate of Annual Burden \2\ and cost \3\: The Commission 
estimates the total Public Reporting Burden for this information 
collection as:
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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\ The estimates for cost per response are derived using the 
2022 FERC average salary plus benefits of $188,922/year (or $91.00/
hour). Commission staff finds that the work done for this 
information collection is typically done by wage categories similar 
to those at FERC.

                                               FERC-521: Payments for Benefits From Headwater Improvements
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                                                        Annual number                                              Total annual burden
                                          Number of     of responses    Total number     Average burden & cost     hours & total annual      Cost per
                                         respondents   per respondent   of responses         per response                  cost           respondent ($)
                                                  (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).....................  (3) * (4) = (5)........       (5) / (1)
                                                                                  (3)
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Federal and Non-Federal project                     3               1               3  40 hrs.; $3,640.........  120 hrs.; $10,920......          $3,640
 owners.
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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: August 3, 2023.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-17063 Filed 8-8-23; 8:45 am]
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