[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 24 (Monday, February 5, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7703-7704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02195]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC24-07-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-512)

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission 
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved 
information collection, FERC-512 (Preliminary Permit).

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due April 5, 2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments (identified by Docket No. IC24-
07-000) by one of the following methods:
    Electronic filing through https://www.ferc.gov, is preferred.
     Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable 
native applications and print-to-PDF, not in scanned or picture format.
     For those unable to file electronically, comments may be 
filed by USPS mail or by other delivery methods:
    [cir] Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    [cir] All other delivery services: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Office of the Secretary, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, 
MD 20852.
    Instructions: All 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: Jean Sonneman may be reached by email 
at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-6362.

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: Sections 4(f) and 5(b) of the Federal Power Act authorize 
the Commission to issue a preliminary permit for a term of up to four 
years, extend a permit term once for not more than four additional 
years, and issue an additional permit after the end of an extension 
period.\1\ The purpose of

[[Page 7704]]

obtaining a preliminary permit is to maintain priority status for an 
application for a license while the applicant conducts site 
examinations and surveys to inform a decision on whether to pursue a 
license for the project, and if so, prepare a license application. A 
preliminary permit neither authorizes construction of any facilities, 
nor provides the use of eminent domain to acquire lands for the 
project. No application for a preliminary permit or license submitted 
by another party can be accepted during the permit term. The FERC-512 
is an application for a preliminary permit or to extend a preliminary 
permit term. Commission staff review preliminary permit applications 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 current permits or licensed projects, and issuance of public 
notice of the permit application to solicit public and agency comments. 
An application for a preliminary permit includes the applicant's name 
and contact information, a description of the proposed project, the 
requested term of the permit, names and addresses of the affected 
political jurisdictions, a verification of the application's facts, and 
three exhibits, per 18 CFR 4.81.
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 802 and 16 U.S.C. 798(b)(1).
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    Type of Respondents: Business or other for-profit and not-for-
profit entities.
    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 CFR 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 2024 average salary 
plus benefits for one FERC full-time equivalent (FTE) is $207,787/
year (or $100/hour).

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                                                     Annual
                                                    number of                                                                                  Average
                                      Number of     responses    Total number of    Average burden hours &    Total annual burden hours &    annual cost
                                     respondents       per          responses          cost per response           total annual cost             per
                                                   respondent                                                                                respondent
                                             (1)           (2)    (1) * (2) = (3)  (4).....................  (3) * (4) = (5)..............     (5) / (1)
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                                                             FERC-512: (Preliminary Permit)
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Annual reporting and recordkeeping            65             1                 65  24 hrs.; $2,400.........  1,560 hrs.; $156,000.........        $2,400
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    Total FERC-512................            65             1                 65  24 hrs.; $2,400.........  1,560 hrs.; $156,000.........         2,400
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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 30, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-02195 Filed 2-2-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P