81_FR_15355 81 FR 15300 - Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-500 and FERC-542); Consolidated Comment Request

81 FR 15300 - Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-500 and FERC-542); Consolidated Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 55 (March 22, 2016)

Page Range15300-15302
FR Document2016-06368

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting two information collections (FERC-500, Application for License/Relicense and Exemption for Water Projects with More than 5 Megawatt Capacity, and FERC-542, Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Tracking) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. The Commission previously issued a Notice in the Federal Register (80 FR 79322, 12/21/2015) and Errata Notice (81 FR 6844, 2/9/2016) requesting public comments. The Commission received no public comments and is making this notation in its submittals to OMB.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15300-15302]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06368]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC16-4-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-500 and FERC-
542); Consolidated Comment Request

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Energy.

ACTION: Comment request.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting two information 
collections (FERC-500, Application for License/Relicense and Exemption 
for Water Projects with More than 5 Megawatt Capacity, and FERC-542, 
Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Tracking) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. Any 
interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should 
address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. 
The Commission previously issued a Notice in the Federal Register (80 
FR 79322, 12/21/2015) and Errata Notice (81 FR 6844, 2/9/2016) 
requesting public comments. The Commission received no public comments 
and is making this notation in its submittals to OMB.

DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due April 21, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by the OMB Control Nos. 
1902-0058 (FERC-500) and 1902-0070 (FERC-542), should be sent via email 
to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs: 
[email protected], Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. The Desk Officer may also be reached via 
telephone at 202-395-0710.
    A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in 
Docket No. IC16-4-000, by either of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Web site: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
     Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20426.
    Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://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 http://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, and fax at (202) 
273-0873.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the information collection 
requirements for the collections described below with no changes to the 
current reporting or recordkeeping requirements. Please note that each 
collection is distinct.
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collections of 
information are 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 estimates of the 
burden \1\ and cost of the collections of information, including the 
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance 
the quality, utility and clarity of the information collections; and 
(4) ways to minimize the burden of the collections of information on 
those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
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    \1\ The Commission defines ``burden'' 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.
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FERC-500, Application for License/Relicense and Exemption for Water 
Projects With More Than 5 Megawatt \2\ Capacity
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    \2\ Megawatt = MW.
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    OMB Control No.: 1902-0058
    Abstract: Pursuant to the Federal Power Act, the Commission is 
authorized to issue 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 for the purpose 
of constructing, operating, and maintaining 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 under its 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.
    FERC-500 includes an application (for water projects with more than 
5 megawatt capacity) for a hydropower license/re-license or exemption, 
annual conveyance report,\3\ and comprehensive plans. FERC-500 includes 
certain reporting requirements in 18 CFR 4,\4\ 5, 8, 16, 141, 154.15, 
and 292. Depending on the type of application or filing, it may include 
project description, schedule, resource allocation, project operation, 
construction schedule, cost, and financing; and an environmental 
report.
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    \3\ Annual conveyance reports are filed for both major and minor 
licenses. 80% of the reports are related to major licenses.
    \4\ FERC staff has not received any application filings 
pertaining to the regulations described under 18 CFR 4.303 in over 
20 years. It remains in 18 CFR and is included in FERC-500.
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    After an application is filed, the Federal agencies with 
responsibilities under the Federal Power Act (FPA) and other 
statutes,\5\ the States, Indian tribes,

[[Page 15301]]

and other participants have opportunities to request additional studies 
and provide comments and recommendations.
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    \5\ Statutes include the Electric Consumers Protection Act 
(ECPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered 
Species Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of 1972 
(the Clean Water Act), and the Coastal Zone Management Act.
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    Submittal of the FERC-500 application is necessary to fulfill the 
requirements of the FPA in order for the Commission to make the 
required finding that the proposal is economically, technically, and 
environmentally sound, and is best adapted to a comprehensive plan for 
improving/developing a waterway or waterways.
    In the 60-day Notice, we inadvertently included under FERC-500 only 
the responses and burden associated with major license/re-license 
applications or modifications for projects over 5 MW. In this Notice, 
we are including the annual conveyance reports (filed by industry) and 
comprehensive plans (filed by federal and state agencies which have 
comprehensive plan status pursuant to 18 CFR 2.19).
    Type of Respondent: Applicants for major hydropower licenses or 
exemptions greater than 5 MW, and Federal and State agencies which have 
comprehensive plan status.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: Applicants for licenses are required to 
include an estimate of their cost to prepare the license application, 
which would include nearly all of the reporting requirements in FERC-
500.\6\ Because the requirements for an exemption application are 
largely the same as that of a license application, the license 
application costs are a good estimate of the exemption application 
costs and of the overall burden of preparing license and exemption 
applications for projects greater than 5 MW. To estimate the total 
annual burden, we averaged the reported license application costs for 
proposed projects greater than 5 MW filed in fiscal years (FY) 2012 
through 2015. The results are presented in the table below:
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    \6\ FERC-500 also includes requirements in 18 CFR 2.19, 4.201, 
4.202, 4.303, 4.35, 8.1, 8.2, 16.19, 141.15, and 292.208, which do 
not directly relate to preparation of a license/re-license or 
exemption application for a project greater than 5 MW.

   FERC-500 (Application for License/Relicense and Exemption for Water Projects With More Than 5 MW Capacity)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Fiscal year                         2012            2013            2014            2015
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Applications (Responses)..............               9               7              15               2
Average Cost per Response.......................      $2,059,828      $1,234,987      $3,776,864        $500,000
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
    Total Burden Cost...........................      18,538,451       8,644,909      56,652,960       1,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The average burden cost per application over the period FY 2012 
through FY 2015 was approximately $2,570,797.\7\ We estimate a cost 
(salary plus benefits) of $72/hour.\8\ Using this hourly cost estimate, 
the average burden for each application filed from FY 2012 to FY 2015 
is 35,706 hours.
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    \7\ $84,836,320 (Total burden cost from FY2012-2015) / 33 (total 
number of applications received from FY2012-2015) = $2,570,797.
    \8\ FERC staff estimates that industry is similarly situated in 
terms of the hourly cost for salary plus benefits. Therefore, we are 
using the FERC FY 2015 hourly cost (salary plus benefits) of $72/
hour.
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    The average annual burden and cost (including estimates for annual 
conveyance reports and comprehensive plans) follow.\9\
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    \9\ The hourly cost (wages plus benefits) for annual conveyance 
reports and comprehensive reports is similarly estimated to be $72/
hour.

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                                                        Annual number                                              Total annual burden
            Type of filing                Number of     of responses    Total number    Average burden hours &    hours & total  annual      Cost per
                                         respondents   per respondent   of  responses    cost ($) per response           cost ($)         respondent ($)
                                                  (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).....................  (3) * (4) = (5)........       (5) / (1)
                                                                                  (3)
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License/Re-license (application or                  9               1               9  35,705.52 hrs.;           321,349.68 hrs.;          $2,570,797.42
 modification).                                                                         $2,570,797.42.            $23,137,176.82.
Annual Conveyance Reports (under 18           \10\ 41               1              41  3 hrs.; $216............  123 hrs.; $8,856.......             216
 CFR 141.15).
Comprehensive Plans (under 18 CFR                  33               1              33  1 hr.; $72..............  33 hrs.; $2,376........              72
 2.19) \11\.
                                      ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total............................              83  ..............              83  ........................  321,505.68 hrs.;         ..............
                                                                                                                  $23,148,408.82.
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FERC-542, Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Tracking

OMB Control No.: 1902-0070
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    \10\ Order 540 changed the reporting requirement to state that 
licensees are only to report if they convey lands/waters under the 
standard land use article. Over the last 4 years, the number of 
filings averaged 26. Based on filings in 2016, the number of filings 
is expected to increase and is estimated at 41 per year. 80% of the 
conveyance reports are for major projects.
    \11\ The comprehensive plans apply to all projects, minor and 
major. These plans are not capacity-specific, so the complete 
estimated number of filings is included here under FERC-500, however 
some plans would also apply to FERC-505.
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    Abstract: The Natural Gas Act (NGA) requires FERC to regulate the 
transmission and sale of natural gas for resale in interstate commerce 
and to ensure the rates jurisdictional natural gas pipelines charge are 
just and reasonable. It provides FERC with authority to implement NGA 
mandates through its rules and regulations. FERC allows jurisdictional 
pipelines to flow through to their customers such costs as fuel or 
electric power costs necessary to operate compressor stations as well 
as the costs of storage services; research,

[[Page 15302]]

development, and demonstration (RD&D) expenditures and FERC annual 
charge adjustment assessments. To ensure these charges result in just 
and reasonable rates, FERC requires jurisdictional pipelines to file 
detailed and summary information on these flowed costs in the FERC-542. 
Analyses of FERC-542 data helps the Commission evaluate the charges to 
ensure compliance with NGA rate requirements.
    The FERC-542 contains the following information collection 
requirements: (1) Research, development, and deployment (RD&D) 
expenditures [18 CFR 154.401]; (2) annual charge adjustments (ACA) [18 
CFR 154.402]; and (3) periodic rate adjustments [18 CFR 154.403]. The 
general requirements for tariff filings that are specified in the 
following regulations apply to all FERC-542 filings: 18 CFR 154.4, 18 
CFR 154.7, 18 CFR 154.107, and 18 CFR 154.201.
    Type of Respondent: Natural Gas Pipelines
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden and cost \12\ for the information collection 
as:
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    \12\ FERC staff estimates that industry is similarly situated in 
terms of the hourly cost for salary plus benefits. Therefore, we are 
using the FERC FY 2015 hourly cost (salary plus benefits) of $72/
hour.

                                                      FERC-542 (Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Tracking)
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                                            Annual number
          Number of  respondents             of responses     Total number    Average  burden & cost ($)    Total annual  burden hours       Cost per
                                            per respondent    of responses           per response              & total  annual cost       respondent ($)
(1)                                                   (2)   (1) * (2) = (3)  (4).........................  (3) * (4) = (5).............       (5) / (1)
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87.......................................            2.13              185   2 hrs.; $144................  370 hrs.; $26,640...........            $306
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    Dated: March 16, 2016.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-06368 Filed 3-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P



                                                    15300                         Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Notices

                                                       Accession Number: 20160314–5293.                     comments and is making this notation                    collections of information, including the
                                                       Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 4/14/16.                     in its submittals to OMB.                               validity of the methodology and
                                                       The filings are accessible in the                    DATES: Comments on the collections of                   assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
                                                    Commission’s eLibrary system by                         information are due April 21, 2016.                     the quality, utility and clarity of the
                                                    clicking on the links or querying the                   ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB,                     information collections; and (4) ways to
                                                    docket number.                                          identified by the OMB Control Nos.                      minimize the burden of the collections
                                                       Any person desiring to intervene or                  1902–0058 (FERC–500) and 1902–0070                      of information on those who are to
                                                    protest in any of the above proceedings                 (FERC–542), should be sent via email to                 respond, including the use of automated
                                                    must file in accordance with Rules 211                  the Office of Information and Regulatory                collection techniques or other forms of
                                                    and 214 of the Commission’s                             Affairs: oira_submission@omb.gov,                       information technology.
                                                    Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and                         Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory                    FERC–500, Application for License/
                                                    385.214) on or before 5:00 p.m. Eastern                 Commission Desk Officer. The Desk                       Relicense and Exemption for Water
                                                    time on the specified comment date.                     Officer may also be reached via                         Projects With More Than 5 Megawatt 2
                                                    Protests may be considered, but                         telephone at 202–395–0710.                              Capacity
                                                    intervention is necessary to become a                      A copy of the comments should also
                                                    party to the proceeding.                                be sent to the Commission, in Docket                       OMB Control No.: 1902–0058
                                                       eFiling is encouraged. More detailed                 No. IC16–4–000, by either of the                           Abstract: Pursuant to the Federal
                                                    information relating to filing                          following methods:                                      Power Act, the Commission is
                                                    requirements, interventions, protests,                     • eFiling at Commission’s Web site:                  authorized to issue licenses and
                                                    service, and qualifying facilities filings              http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/                        exemptions to citizens of the United
                                                    can be found at: http://www.ferc.gov/                   efiling.asp.                                            States, or to any corporation organized
                                                    docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For                    • Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier:                        under the laws of United States or any
                                                    other information, call (866) 208–3676                  Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,                   State thereof, or to any State or
                                                    (toll free). For TTY, call (202) 502–8659.              Secretary of the Commission, 888 First                  municipality for the purpose of
                                                      Dated: March 16, 2016.                                Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.                       constructing, operating, and
                                                    Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,                                   Instructions: All submissions must be                maintaining dams, water conduits,
                                                    Deputy Secretary.                                       formatted and filed in accordance with                  reservoirs, power houses, transmission
                                                                                                            submission guidelines at: http://                       lines, or other project works necessary
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–06367 Filed 3–21–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                            www.ferc.gov/help/submission-                           or convenient for the development and
                                                    BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
                                                                                                            guide.asp. For user assistance contact                  improvement of navigation and for the
                                                                                                            FERC Online Support by email at                         development, transmission, and
                                                                                                            ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone                 utilization of power across, along, from,
                                                    DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
                                                                                                            at: (866) 208–3676 (toll-free), or (202)                or in any of the streams or other bodies
                                                    Federal Energy Regulatory                               502–8659 for TTY.                                       of water over which Congress has
                                                    Commission                                                 Docket: Users interested in receiving                jurisdiction under its authority to
                                                                                                            automatic notification of activity in this              regulate commerce with foreign nations
                                                    [Docket No. IC16–4–000]                                 docket or in viewing/downloading                        and among the several States, or upon
                                                                                                            comments and issuances in this docket                   any part of the public lands and
                                                    Commission Information Collection                                                                               reservations of the United States.
                                                                                                            may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-
                                                    Activities (FERC–500 and FERC–542);
                                                                                                            filing/docs-filing.asp.                                    FERC–500 includes an application
                                                    Consolidated Comment Request
                                                                                                            FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                        (for water projects with more than 5
                                                    AGENCY:  Federal Energy Regulatory                      Ellen Brown may be reached by email                     megawatt capacity) for a hydropower
                                                    Commission, Energy.                                     at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone                    license/re-license or exemption, annual
                                                    ACTION: Comment request.                                at (202) 502–8663, and fax at (202) 273–                conveyance report,3 and comprehensive
                                                                                                            0873.                                                   plans. FERC–500 includes certain
                                                    SUMMARY:   In compliance with the                       SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                                                                                    reporting requirements in 18 CFR 4,4 5,
                                                    requirements of the Paperwork                              Type of Request: Three-year extension                8, 16, 141, 154.15, and 292. Depending
                                                    Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C.                        of the information collection                           on the type of application or filing, it
                                                    3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy                       requirements for the collections                        may include project description,
                                                    Regulatory Commission (Commission or                    described below with no changes to the                  schedule, resource allocation, project
                                                    FERC) is submitting two information                     current reporting or recordkeeping                      operation, construction schedule, cost,
                                                    collections (FERC–500, Application for                  requirements. Please note that each                     and financing; and an environmental
                                                    License/Relicense and Exemption for                     collection is distinct.                                 report.
                                                    Water Projects with More than 5                            Comments: Comments are invited on:                      After an application is filed, the
                                                    Megawatt Capacity, and FERC–542, Gas                    (1) Whether the collections of                          Federal agencies with responsibilities
                                                    Pipeline Rates: Rate Tracking) to the                   information are necessary for the proper                under the Federal Power Act (FPA) and
                                                    Office of Management and Budget                         performance of the functions of the                     other statutes,5 the States, Indian tribes,
                                                    (OMB) for review of the information                     Commission, including whether the
                                                    collection requirements. Any interested                 information will have practical utility;
                                                                                                                                                                      2 Megawatt    = MW.
                                                                                                                                                                      3 Annual   conveyance reports are filed for both
                                                    person may file comments directly with
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                                                                            (2) the accuracy of the agency’s                        major and minor licenses. 80% of the reports are
                                                    OMB and should address a copy of                        estimates of the burden 1 and cost of the               related to major licenses.
                                                    those comments to the Commission as                                                                                4 FERC staff has not received any application
                                                    explained below. The Commission                           1 The Commission defines ‘‘burden’’ as the total      filings pertaining to the regulations described under
                                                    previously issued a Notice in the                       time, effort, or financial resources expended by        18 CFR 4.303 in over 20 years. It remains in 18 CFR
                                                    Federal Register (80 FR 79322, 12/21/                   persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or   and is included in FERC–500.
                                                                                                            provide information to or for a Federal agency. For        5 Statutes include the Electric Consumers
                                                    2015) and Errata Notice (81 FR 6844, 2/                 further explanation of what is included in the          Protection Act (ECPA), the National Environmental
                                                    9/2016) requesting public comments.                     information collection burden, refer to 5 Code of       Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act, the
                                                    The Commission received no public                       Federal Regulations 1320.3.                             Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of



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                                                                                         Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Notices                                                                                    15301

                                                    and other participants have                                          major license/re-license applications or                                would include nearly all of the
                                                    opportunities to request additional                                  modifications for projects over 5 MW. In                                reporting requirements in FERC–500.6
                                                    studies and provide comments and                                     this Notice, we are including the annual                                Because the requirements for an
                                                    recommendations.                                                     conveyance reports (filed by industry)                                  exemption application are largely the
                                                       Submittal of the FERC–500                                         and comprehensive plans (filed by                                       same as that of a license application, the
                                                    application is necessary to fulfill the                              federal and state agencies which have                                   license application costs are a good
                                                    requirements of the FPA in order for the                             comprehensive plan status pursuant to                                   estimate of the exemption application
                                                    Commission to make the required                                      18 CFR 2.19).                                                           costs and of the overall burden of
                                                    finding that the proposal is                                           Type of Respondent: Applicants for
                                                                                                                                                                                                 preparing license and exemption
                                                    economically, technically, and                                       major hydropower licenses or
                                                                                                                                                                                                 applications for projects greater than 5
                                                    environmentally sound, and is best                                   exemptions greater than 5 MW, and
                                                    adapted to a comprehensive plan for                                  Federal and State agencies which have                                   MW. To estimate the total annual
                                                    improving/developing a waterway or                                   comprehensive plan status.                                              burden, we averaged the reported
                                                    waterways.                                                             Estimate of Annual Burden:                                            license application costs for proposed
                                                       In the 60-day Notice, we inadvertently                            Applicants for licenses are required to                                 projects greater than 5 MW filed in
                                                    included under FERC–500 only the                                     include an estimate of their cost to                                    fiscal years (FY) 2012 through 2015. The
                                                    responses and burden associated with                                 prepare the license application, which                                  results are presented in the table below:

                                                       FERC–500 (APPLICATION FOR LICENSE/RELICENSE AND EXEMPTION FOR WATER PROJECTS WITH MORE THAN 5 MW
                                                                                                    CAPACITY)
                                                                                                 Fiscal year                                                            2012                        2013                  2014                  2015

                                                    Number of Applications (Responses) ..............................................................                          9                           7                    15                       2
                                                    Average Cost per Response ...........................................................................             $2,059,828                  $1,234,987            $3,776,864                $500,000

                                                         Total Burden Cost ....................................................................................       18,538,451                    8,644,909           56,652,960               1,000,000



                                                      The average burden cost per                                        plus benefits) of $72/hour.8 Using this                                    The average annual burden and cost
                                                    application over the period FY 2012                                  hourly cost estimate, the average burden                                (including estimates for annual
                                                    through FY 2015 was approximately                                    for each application filed from FY 2012                                 conveyance reports and comprehensive
                                                    $2,570,797.7 We estimate a cost (salary                              to FY 2015 is 35,706 hours.                                             plans) follow.9

                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Total
                                                                                                                     Annual                     Total                  Average burden                          annual burden                Cost per
                                                                                           Number of                number of
                                                           Type of filing                                                                    number of                 hours & cost ($)                         hours & total              respondent
                                                                                          respondents            responses per               responses                  per response                              annual                       ($)
                                                                                                                   respondent                                                                                     cost ($)

                                                                                                 (1)                      (2)               (1) * (2) = (3)                      (4)                            (3) * (4) = (5)               (5) ÷ (1)

                                                    License/Re-license (ap-                                 9                          1                     9    35,705.52 hrs.;                         321,349.68 hrs.;                $2,570,797.42
                                                      plication or modifica-                                                                                        $2,570,797.42.                          $23,137,176.82.
                                                      tion).
                                                    Annual Conveyance                                  10 41                          1                    41     3 hrs.; $216 .................          123 hrs.; $8,856 ..........                      216
                                                      Reports (under 18
                                                      CFR 141.15).
                                                    Comprehensive Plans                                   33                          1                    33     1 hr.; $72 .....................        33 hrs.; $2,376 ............                      72
                                                      (under 18 CFR
                                                      2.19) 11.

                                                         Total ......................                     83     ........................                  83     .....................................   321,505.68 hrs.;               ........................
                                                                                                                                                                                                            $23,148,408.82.



                                                    FERC–542, Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate                                   transmission and sale of natural gas for                                through its rules and regulations. FERC
                                                    Tracking                                                             resale in interstate commerce and to                                    allows jurisdictional pipelines to flow
                                                                                                                         ensure the rates jurisdictional natural                                 through to their customers such costs as
                                                    OMB Control No.: 1902–0070
                                                                                                                         gas pipelines charge are just and                                       fuel or electric power costs necessary to
                                                      Abstract: The Natural Gas Act (NGA)                                reasonable. It provides FERC with                                       operate compressor stations as well as
                                                    requires FERC to regulate the                                        authority to implement NGA mandates                                     the costs of storage services; research,
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    1972 (the Clean Water Act), and the Coastal Zone                        8 FERC staff estimates that industry is similarly                    Over the last 4 years, the number of filings averaged
                                                    Management Act.                                                      situated in terms of the hourly cost for salary plus                    26. Based on filings in 2016, the number of filings
                                                      6 FERC–500 also includes requirements in 18 CFR                    benefits. Therefore, we are using the FERC FY 2015                      is expected to increase and is estimated at 41 per
                                                    2.19, 4.201, 4.202, 4.303, 4.35, 8.1, 8.2, 16.19,                    hourly cost (salary plus benefits) of $72/hour.                         year. 80% of the conveyance reports are for major
                                                    141.15, and 292.208, which do not directly relate                       9 The hourly cost (wages plus benefits) for annual                   projects.
                                                    to preparation of a license/re-license or exemption                  conveyance reports and comprehensive reports is                            11 The comprehensive plans apply to all projects,

                                                    application for a project greater than 5 MW.                         similarly estimated to be $72/hour.                                     minor and major. These plans are not capacity-
                                                      7 $84,836,320 (Total burden cost from FY2012–                         10 Order 540 changed the reporting requirement to                    specific, so the complete estimated number of
                                                    2015) ÷ 33 (total number of applications received                    state that licensees are only to report if they convey                  filings is included here under FERC–500, however
                                                    from FY2012–2015) = $2,570,797.                                      lands/waters under the standard land use article.                       some plans would also apply to FERC–505.



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                                                    15302                                    Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Notices

                                                    development, and demonstration                                     compliance with NGA rate                                       for tariff filings that are specified in the
                                                    (RD&D) expenditures and FERC annual                                requirements.                                                  following regulations apply to all FERC–
                                                    charge adjustment assessments. To                                    The FERC–542 contains the following                          542 filings: 18 CFR 154.4, 18 CFR 154.7,
                                                    ensure these charges result in just and                            information collection requirements: (1)                       18 CFR 154.107, and 18 CFR 154.201.
                                                    reasonable rates, FERC requires                                    Research, development, and                                       Type of Respondent: Natural Gas
                                                    jurisdictional pipelines to file detailed                          deployment (RD&D) expenditures [18                             Pipelines
                                                    and summary information on these                                   CFR 154.401]; (2) annual charge                                  Estimate of Annual Burden: The
                                                    flowed costs in the FERC–542. Analyses                             adjustments (ACA) [18 CFR 154.402];                            Commission estimates the annual public
                                                    of FERC–542 data helps the Commission                              and (3) periodic rate adjustments [18                          reporting burden and cost 12 for the
                                                    evaluate the charges to ensure                                     CFR 154.403]. The general requirements                         information collection as:

                                                                                                                 FERC–542 (GAS PIPELINE RATES: RATE TRACKING)
                                                                                                         Annual                                                                                Total annual
                                                                                                                                                         Average                                                             Cost per
                                                                  Number of                             number of       Total number                                                           burden hours
                                                                                                                                                     burden & cost ($)                                                      respondent
                                                                 respondents                         responses per      of responses                                                              & total
                                                                                                                                                       per response                                                             ($)
                                                                                                       respondent                                                                               annual cost

                                                                        (1)                                (2)          (1) * (2) = (3)                      (4)                               (3) * (4) = (5)               (5) ÷ (1)

                                                    87 ...........................................        2.13                185           2 hrs.; $144 ..........................   370 hrs.; $26,640 .................     $306


                                                      Dated: March 16, 2016.                                              Unless otherwise noted, comments                            acquire Wilshire Bank, both in Los
                                                    Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,                                           regarding each of these applications                           Angeles, California.
                                                    Deputy Secretary.                                                  must be received at the Reserve Bank                             Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
                                                    [FR Doc. 2016–06368 Filed 3–21–16; 8:45 am]                        indicated or the offices of the Board of                       System, March 17, 2016.
                                                    BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
                                                                                                                       Governors not later than April 15, 2016.                       Michael J. Lewandowski,
                                                                                                                          A. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago                          Associate Secretary of the Board.
                                                                                                                       (Colette A. Fried, Assistant Vice                              [FR Doc. 2016–06398 Filed 3–21–16; 8:45 am]
                                                    FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM                                             President) 230 South LaSalle Street,
                                                                                                                                                                                      BILLING CODE 6210–01–P
                                                                                                                       Chicago, Illinois 60690–1414:
                                                    Formations of, Acquisitions by, and                                   1. Boscobel Bancorp, Inc., Boscobel,
                                                    Mergers of Bank Holding Companies                                  Wisconsin; to merge with Rural                                 FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
                                                                                                                       Bancshares of Wisconsin, Inc., and
                                                      The companies listed in this notice                              thereby indirectly acquire Livingston                          Change in Bank Control Notices;
                                                    have applied to the Board for approval,                            State Bank, both in Livingston,                                Acquisitions of Shares of a Bank or
                                                    pursuant to the Bank Holding Company                               Wisconsin.                                                     Bank Holding Company
                                                    Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1841 et seq.)
                                                    (BHC Act), Regulation Y (12 CFR part                                  2. Minier Financial, Inc. Employee
                                                                                                                                                                                        The notificants listed below have
                                                    225), and all other applicable statutes                            Stock Ownership Plan with 401(k)
                                                                                                                                                                                      applied under the Change in Bank
                                                    and regulations to become a bank                                   Provisions, Minier, Illinois; to acquire
                                                                                                                                                                                      Control Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)) and
                                                    holding company and/or to acquire the                              additional voting shares, for a total of 51
                                                                                                                                                                                      § 225.41 of the Board’s Regulation Y (12
                                                    assets or the ownership of, control of, or                         percent of voting shares of Minier
                                                                                                                                                                                      CFR 225.41) to acquire shares of a bank
                                                    the power to vote shares of a bank or                              Financial, Inc., and thereby indirectly
                                                                                                                                                                                      or bank holding company. The factors
                                                    bank holding company and all of the                                acquire additional voting shares of First
                                                                                                                                                                                      that are considered in acting on the
                                                    banks and nonbanking companies                                     Farmers State Bank, both in Minier,
                                                                                                                                                                                      notices are set forth in paragraph 7 of
                                                    owned by the bank holding company,                                 Illinois.
                                                                                                                                                                                      the Act (12 U.S.C. 1817(j)(7)).
                                                    including the companies listed below.                                 B. Federal Reserve Bank of                                    The notices are available for
                                                      The applications listed below, as well                           Minneapolis (Jacquelyn K. Brunmeier,                           immediate inspection at the Federal
                                                    as other related filings required by the                           Assistant Vice President) 90 Hennepin                          Reserve Bank indicated. The notices
                                                    Board, are available for immediate                                 Avenue, Minneapolis, Minnesota                                 also will be available for inspection at
                                                    inspection at the Federal Reserve Bank                             55480–0291:                                                    the offices of the Board of Governors.
                                                    indicated. The applications will also be                              1. Ameri Financial Group, Inc.,                             Interested persons may express their
                                                    available for inspection at the offices of                         Stillwater, Minnesota; to become a bank                        views in writing to the Reserve Bank
                                                    the Board of Governors. Interested                                 holding company by acquiring 100                               indicated for that notice or to the offices
                                                    persons may express their views in                                 percent of the voting shares of Eagle                          of the Board of Governors. Comments
                                                    writing on the standards enumerated in                             Valley Bank, National Association, Saint                       must be received not later than April 6,
                                                    the BHC Act (12 U.S.C. 1842(c)). If the                            Croix Falls, Wisconsin.                                        2016.
                                                    proposal also involves the acquisition of                             C. Federal Reserve Bank of San                                A. Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
                                                    a nonbanking company, the review also                              Francisco (Gerald C. Tsai, Director,                           (Colette A. Fried, Assistant Vice
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                    includes whether the acquisition of the                            Applications and Enforcement) 101                              President) 230 South LaSalle Street,
                                                    nonbanking company complies with the                               Market Street, San Francisco, California                       Chicago, Illinois 60690–1414:
                                                    standards in section 4 of the BHC Act                              94105–1579:                                                      1. Thomas G. Kenney, Fennimore,
                                                    (12 U.S.C. 1843). Unless otherwise                                    1. BBCN Bancorp, Inc., Los Angeles,                         Wisconsin; to acquire voting shares of
                                                    noted, nonbanking activities will be                               California; to merge with Wilshire                             Boscobel Bancorp, Inc., and thereby
                                                    conducted throughout the United States.                            Bancorp, Inc., and thereby indirectly                          indirectly acquire voting shares of
                                                       12 FERC staff estimates that industry is similarly              benefits. Therefore, we are using the FERC FY 2015
                                                    situated in terms of the hourly cost for salary plus               hourly cost (salary plus benefits) of $72/hour.



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Document Created: 2018-02-02 15:15:31
Document Modified: 2018-02-02 15:15:31
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionComment request.
DatesComments on the collections of information are due April 21, 2016.
ContactEllen Brown may be reached by email at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 273-0873.
FR Citation81 FR 15300 

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