[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 79 (Tuesday, April 23, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 30351-30352]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08626]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC24-7-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-512) Comment 
Request; Extension

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). The 60-day 
notice comment period ends on April 8, 2024, no comments were received.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due May 23, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-512 to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory

[[Page 30352]]

Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number (1902-
0073) in the subject line of your comments. Comments should be sent 
within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
    Please submit copies of your comments to the Commission. You may 
submit copies of 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, but 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 methods: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, 
Rockville, MD 20852.
    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/ferc-online/overview. 
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/ferc-online/overview.

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 FERC-512 is an application for a preliminary permit or 
to extend a preliminary permit term. The purpose of 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.
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 802 and 16 U.S.C. 798(b)(1).
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    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.
    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).

                                         FERC-512: (Preliminary Permit)
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                                                                                           Total
                                              Annual                         Average       annual      Average
                               Number of    number of    Total number of      burden       burden    annual cost
                              respondents   responses       responses        hours &      hours &        per
                                               per                           cost per      total      respondent
                                            respondent                       response   annual cost
                                      (1)          (2)    (1) * (2) = (3)          (4)  (3) * (4) =    (5) / (1)
                                                                                                (5)
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Annual Reporting and                   65            1                 65     24 hrs.;  1,560 hrs.;       $2,400
 Recordkeeping..............                                                    $2,400     $156,000
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    TOTAL FERC-512..........           65            1                 65     24 hrs.;  1,560 hrs.;        2,400
                                                                                $2,400     $156,000
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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 17, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-08626 Filed 4-22-24; 8:45 am]
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