83 FR 34568 - Billing Procedures for Annual Charges for the Costs of Other Federal Agencies for Administering Part I of the Federal Power Act; Notice Reporting Costs for Other Federal Agencies' Administrative Annual Charges for Fiscal Year 2017

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 140 (July 20, 2018)

Page Range		34568-34570
FR Document		2018-15562

Federal Register, Volume 83 Issue 140 (Friday, July 20, 2018)

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 140 (Friday, July 20, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34568-34570]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15562]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. AD18-5-000]


Billing Procedures for Annual Charges for the Costs of Other 
Federal Agencies for Administering Part I of the Federal Power Act; 
Notice Reporting Costs for Other Federal Agencies' Administrative 
Annual Charges for Fiscal Year 2017

    1. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is 
required to determine the reasonableness of costs incurred by other 
Federal agencies (OFAs) \1\ in connection with their participation in 
the Commission's proceedings under the Federal Power Act (FPA) Part I 
\2\ when those agencies seek to include such costs in the 
administrative charges licensees must pay to reimburse the United 
States for the cost of administering Part I.\3\ The Commission's Order 
on Remand and

[[Page 34569]]

Acting on Appeals of Annual Charge Bills \4\ determined which costs are 
eligible to be included in the administrative annual charges. This 
order also established a process whereby the Commission would annually 
request each OFA to submit cost data, using a form \5\ specifically 
designed for this purpose. In addition, the order established 
requirements for detailed cost accounting reports and other documented 
analyses to explain the cost assumptions contained in the OFAs' 
submissions.
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    \1\ The OFAs include: the U.S. Department of the Interior 
(Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of 
Reclamation, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Office of the Solicitor, Office of Environmental Policy & 
Compliance, Office of Hearings and Appeals, and Office of Policy 
Analysis); the U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S. Forest Service); 
the U.S. Department of Commerce (National Marine Fisheries Service); 
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
    \2\ 16 U.S.C. 791a-823d (2012).
    \3\ See id. 803(e)(1) and 42 U.S.C. 7178.
    \4\ 107 FERC ] 61,277, order on reh'g, 109 FERC ] 61,040 (2004).
    \5\ Other Federal Agency Cost Submission Form, available at 
https://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/forms.asp#ofa.
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    2. The Commission has completed its review of the forms and 
supporting documentation submitted by the U.S. Department of the 
Interior (Interior), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (Agriculture), 
and the U.S. Department of Commerce (Commerce) for fiscal year (FY) 
2017. This notice reports the costs the Commission included in its 
administrative annual charges for FY 2018.

Scope of Eligible Costs

    3. The basis for eligible costs that should be included in the 
OFAs' administrative annual charges is prescribed by the Office of 
Management and Budget's (OMB) Circular A-25--User Charges and the 
Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board's Statement of Federal 
Financial Accounting Standards (SFFAS) Number 4--Managerial Cost 
Accounting Concepts and Standards for the Federal Government. Circular 
A-25 establishes Federal policy regarding fees assessed for government 
services and provides specific information on the scope and type of 
activities subject to user charges. SFFAS Number 4 provides a 
conceptual framework for federal agencies to determine the full costs 
of government goods and services.
    4. Circular A-25 provides for user charges to be assessed against 
recipients of special benefits derived from federal activities beyond 
those received by the general public.\6\ With regard to licensees, the 
special benefit derived from federal activities is the license to 
operate a hydropower project. The guidance provides for the assessment 
of sufficient user charges to recover the full costs of services 
associated with these special benefits.\7\ SFFAS Number 4 defines full 
costs as the costs of resources consumed by a specific governmental 
unit that contribute directly or indirectly to a provided service.\8\ 
Thus, pursuant to OMB requirements and authoritative accounting 
guidance, the Commission must base its OFA administrative annual charge 
on all direct and indirect costs incurred by agencies in administering 
Part I of the FPA. The special form the Commission designed for this 
purpose, the ``Other Federal Agency Cost Submission Form,'' captures 
the full range of costs recoverable under the FPA and the referenced 
accounting guidance.\9\
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    \6\ OMB Circular A-25 6.
    \7\ OMB Circular A-25 6.a.2.
    \8\ SFFAS Number 4 ] 7.
    \9\ To avoid the possibility of confusion that has occurred in 
prior years as to whether costs were being entered twice as ``Other 
Direct Costs'' and ``Overhead,'' the form excluded ``Other Direct 
Costs.''
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Commission Review of OFA Cost Submittals

    5. The Commission received cost forms and other supporting 
documentation from the Departments of the Interior, Agriculture, and 
Commerce. The Commission completed a review of each OFA's cost 
submission forms and supporting reports. In its examination of the 
OFAs' cost data, the Commission considered each agency's ability to 
demonstrate a system or process which effectively captured, isolated, 
and reported FPA Part I costs as required by the ``Other Federal Agency 
Cost Submission Form.''
    6. The Commission held a Technical Conference on March 29, 2018 to 
report its initial findings to licensees and OFAs. Representatives for 
several licensees and most of the OFAs attended the conference. 
Following the technical conference, a transcript was posted, and 
licensees had the opportunity to submit comments to the Commission 
regarding its initial review.
    7. Idaho Falls Group (Idaho Falls) filed written comments,\10\ 
stating its general support of the Commission's analysis but raising 
questions regarding certain various individual cost submissions. These 
issues are addressed in the Appendix to this notice.
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    \10\ See Letter from Sharon L. White, Van Ness Feldman, to the 
Honorable Kimberly D. Bose, FERC, Docket No. AD18-5-000 (filed April 
26, 2018).
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    8. After additional review, full consideration of the comments 
presented, and in accordance with the previously cited guidance, the 
Commission accepted as reasonable any costs reported via the cost 
submission forms that were clearly documented in the OFAs' accompanying 
reports and/or analyses. These documented costs will be included in the 
administrative annual charges for FY 2018.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN20JY18.000


[[Page 34570]]


    9. Figure 1 summarizes the total reported costs incurred by 
Interior, Agriculture, and Commerce with respect to their participation 
in administering Part I of the FPA. Additionally, Figure 1 summarizes 
the reported costs that the Commission determined were clearly 
documented and accepted for inclusion in its FY 2018 administrative 
annual charges.

Summary Findings of Commission's Costs Review

    10. As presented in Figure 1, the Commission determined that 
$6,602,429 of the $6,643,007 in total reported costs were reasonable 
and clearly documented in the OFAs' accompanying reports and/or 
analyses. Based on this finding, 1% of the total reported cost was 
determined to be unreasonable. The Commission noted the most 
significant issue with the documentation provided by the OFAs was the 
lack of supporting documentation to substantiate costs reported on the 
``Other Federal Agency Cost Submission Form.''
    11. The cost reports that the Commission determined were clearly 
documented and supported could be traced to detailed cost-accounting 
reports, which reconciled to data provided from agency financial 
systems or other pertinent source documentation. A further breakdown of 
these costs is included in the Appendix to this notice, along with an 
explanation of how the Commission determined their reasonableness.

Points of Contact

    12. If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact 
Norman Richardson at (202) 502-6219 or Raven Rodriguez at (202) 502-
6276.

    Dated: July 16, 2018.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-15562 Filed 7-19-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

34568 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 140 / Friday, July 20, 2018 / Notices

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY authorization pursuant to section 7 of DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
the NGA.
Federal Energy Regulatory Pursuant to section 157.9 of the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission Commission’s rules, 18 CFR 157.9, Commission
within 90 days of this Notice the
[Docket No. CP18–518–000] Notice of Effectiveness of Exempt
Commission staff will either: Complete
Wholesale Generator Status
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC; its environmental assessment (EA) and
Notice of Request Under Blanket place it into the Commission’s public Docket Nos.
Authorization record (eLibrary) for this proceeding; or
issue a Notice of Schedule for Stella Wind Farm, LLC ................ EG18–72–000
Calpine Mid-Merit II, LLC ............ EG18–73–000
Take notice that on July 6, 2018, Environmental Review. If a Notice of GenOn Holdco 10, LLC ............... EG18–74–000
Columbia Gas Transmission, LLC Schedule for Environmental Review is CED Upton County Solar, LLC ... EG18–75–000
(Columbia), 700 Louisiana Street, issued, it will indicate, among other CED Wistaria Solar, LLC ............. EG18–76–000
Houston, Texas 77002–2700, filed in milestones, the anticipated date for the Walnut Ridge Wind, LLC ............. EG18–77–000
Pine River Wind Energy LLC ...... EG18–78–000
Docket No. CP18–518–000 a prior notice Commission staff’s issuance of the final Sholes Wind Energy, LLC ........... EG18–79–000
request pursuant to sections 157.205, environmental impact statement (FEIS)
and 157.216 of the Commission’s or EA for this proposal. The filing of the Take notice that during the month of
regulations under the Natural Gas Act EA in the Commission’s public record June 2018, the status of the above-
for authorization to abandon 12 for this proceeding or the issuance of a captioned entities as Exempt Wholesale
injection/withdrawal wells and Notice of Schedule for Environmental Generators Companies became effective
associated pipelines and appurtenances Review will serve to notify federal and by operation of the Commission’s
at five of Columbia’s Ohio storage fields state agencies of the timing for the regulations. 18 CFR 366.7(a) (2017).
located in Ashland, Medina, and completion of all necessary reviews, and Dated: July 16, 2018.
Richland counties, Ohio. Columbia the subsequent need to complete all
Kimberly D. Bose,
proposes to abandon these facilities federal authorizations within 90 days of
under authorities granted by its blanket the date of issuance of the Commission Secretary.
certificate issued in Docket No. CP83– staff’s FEIS or EA. [FR Doc. 2018–15558 Filed 7–19–18; 8:45 am]
76–000, all as more fully set forth in the Persons who wish to comment only BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
application which is on file with the on the environmental review of this
Commission and open to public project should submit an original and
inspection. The filing may also be DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
two copies of their comments to the
viewed on the web at http:// Secretary of the Commission. Federal Energy Regulatory
www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Environmental commenters will be Commission
Enter the docket number excluding the placed on the Commission’s
last three digits in the docket number environmental mailing list, will receive [Docket No. AD18–5–000]
field to access the document. For copies of the environmental documents,
assistance, please contact FERC Online Billing Procedures for Annual Charges
and will be notified of meetings
Support at FERCOnlineSupport@ for the Costs of Other Federal
associated with the Commission’s
ferc.gov or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or Agencies for Administering Part I of
environmental review process.
TTY, contact (202) 502–8659. the Federal Power Act; Notice
Environmental commenters will not be
Any questions concerning this Reporting Costs for Other Federal
required to serve copies of filed
application may be directed to Linda Agencies’ Administrative Annual
documents on all other parties.
Farquhar, Manager, Project Charges for Fiscal Year 2017
However, the non-party commenter will
Determinations & Regulatory not receive copies of all documents filed 1. The Federal Energy Regulatory
Administration, Columbia Gas by other parties or issued by the Commission (Commission) is required
Transmission, LLC, 700 Louisiana Commission (except for the mailing of to determine the reasonableness of costs
Street, Houston, Texas 77002–2700 at environmental documents issued by the incurred by other Federal agencies
(832) 320–5685 or at linda_farquhar@ Commission) and will not have the right (OFAs) 1 in connection with their
transcanada.com. to seek court review of the participation in the Commission’s
Any person may, within 60 days after Commission’s final order. proceedings under the Federal Power
the issuance of the instant notice by the The Commission strongly encourages Act (FPA) Part I 2 when those agencies
Commission, file pursuant to Rule 214 electronic filings of comments, protests, seek to include such costs in the
of the Commission’s Procedural Rules and interventions via the internet in lieu administrative charges licensees must
(18 CFR 385.214) a motion to intervene of paper. See 18 CFR 385.2001(a)(1)(iii) pay to reimburse the United States for
or notice of intervention. Any person and the instructions on the the cost of administering Part I.3 The
filing to intervene or the Commission’s Commission’s website (www.ferc.gov) Commission’s Order on Remand and
staff may, pursuant to section 157.205 of under the ‘‘e-Filing’’ link. Persons
the Commission’s Regulations under the unable to file electronically should 1 The OFAs include: the U.S. Department of the

NGA (18 CFR 157.205) file a protest to submit an original and 5 copies of the Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Land
the request. If no protest is filed within Management, Bureau of Reclamation, National Park
protest or intervention to the Federal Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office of
the time allowed therefore, the proposed Energy regulatory Commission, 888
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

the Solicitor, Office of Environmental Policy &
activity shall be deemed to be First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. Compliance, Office of Hearings and Appeals, and
authorized effective the day after the Office of Policy Analysis); the U.S. Department of
time allowed for protest. If a protest is Dated: July 16, 2018. Agriculture (U.S. Forest Service); the U.S.
Kimberly D. Bose, Department of Commerce (National Marine
filed and not withdrawn within 30 days Fisheries Service); and the U.S. Army Corps of
after the time allowed for filing a Secretary. Engineers.
protest, the instant request shall be [FR Doc. 2018–15559 Filed 7–19–18; 8:45 am] 2 16 U.S.C. 791a–823d (2012).

treated as an application for BILLING CODE 6717–01–P 3 See id. 803(e)(1) and 42 U.S.C. 7178.

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34570 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 140 / Friday, July 20, 2018 / Notices

9. Figure 1 summarizes the total filed with the Commission and are that document on each person on the
reported costs incurred by Interior, available for public inspection. official service list for the project.
Agriculture, and Commerce with respect a. Type of Application: Subsequent Further, if an intervenor files comments
to their participation in administering Licenses. or documents with the Commission
Part I of the FPA. Additionally, Figure b. Project Nos.: 2386–004, 2387–003, relating to the merits of an issue that
1 summarizes the reported costs that the and 2388–004. may affect the responsibilities of a
Commission determined were clearly c. Date filed: August 31, 2016. particular resource agency, they must
documented and accepted for inclusion d. Applicant: City of Holyoke Gas and also serve a copy of the document on
in its FY 2018 administrative annual Electric Department. that resource agency.
charges. e. Names of Projects: Holyoke Number k. These applications have been
1 Hydroelectric Project, P–2386–004; accepted and are now ready for
Summary Findings of Commission’s Holyoke Number 2 Hydroelectric environmental analysis.
Costs Review Project, P–2387–003; and Holyoke l. The existing Holyoke Number 1
10. As presented in Figure 1, the Number 3 Hydroelectric Project, P– Project consists of: (1) An intake at the
Commission determined that $6,602,429 2388–004. wall of the first level canal fed by the
of the $6,643,007 in total reported costs f. Locations: Holyoke Number 1 (P– Holyoke Canal System (licensed under
were reasonable and clearly 2386–004) and Holyoke Number 2 (P– FERC Project No. 2004) with two 14.7-
documented in the OFAs’ 2387–003) are located between the first foot-tall by 24.6-foot-wide trash rack
accompanying reports and/or analyses. and second level canals, and Holyoke screens with 3.5-inch clear spacing; (2)
Based on this finding, 1% of the total Number 3 (P–2388–004) is located two parallel 10-foot-diameter, 36.5-foot-
reported cost was determined to be between the second and third level long penstocks; (3) a 50-foot-long by 38-
unreasonable. The Commission noted canals on the Holyoke Canal System, foot-wide brick powerhouse with two
the most significant issue with the adjacent to the Connecticut River, in the 240-kilowatt and two 288-kilowatt
documentation provided by the OFAs city of Holyoke in Hampden County, turbine generator units; (4) two parallel
was the lack of supporting Massachusetts. The projects do not 20-foot-wide, 328.5-foot-long brick
documentation to substantiate costs occupy federal land. arched tailrace conduits discharging
reported on the ‘‘Other Federal Agency g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power into the second level canal; and, (5)
Cost Submission Form.’’ Act 16 U.S.C. 791(a)–825(r). appurtenant facilities. There is no
11. The cost reports that the h. Applicant Contact: Paul Ducheney, transmission line associated with the
Commission determined were clearly Superintendent, City of Holyoke Gas project as it is located adjacent to the
documented and supported could be and Electric Department, 99 Suffolk substation of interconnection. The
traced to detailed cost-accounting Street, Holyoke, MA 01040, (413) 536– project is estimated to generate
reports, which reconciled to data 9340 or ducheney@hged.com. 2,710,000 kilowatt-hours annually.
provided from agency financial systems i. FERC Contact: Kyle Olcott at (202) The existing Holyoke Number 2
or other pertinent source 502–8963; or email at kyle.olcott@ Project consists of: (1) An intake at the
documentation. A further breakdown of ferc.gov. wall of the first level canal fed by the
these costs is included in the Appendix j. Deadline for filing comments, Holyoke Canal System (licensed under
to this notice, along with an explanation recommendations, terms and FERC Project No. 2004) with three trash
of how the Commission determined conditions, and prescriptions: 60 days rack screens (one 16.2-foot-tall by 26.2-
their reasonableness. from the issuance date of this notice; foot-wide and two 14.8-foot-tall by 21.8-
reply comments are due 105 days from foot-long) with 3-inch clear spacing; (2)
Points of Contact the issuance date of this notice. two 9-foot diameter, 240-foot-long
12. If you have any questions The Commission strongly encourages penstocks; (3) a 17-foot-high by 10-foot-
regarding this notice, please contact electronic filing. Please file comments, diameter surge tank; (4) a 60-foot-long
Norman Richardson at (202) 502–6219 recommendations, terms and by 40-foot-wide by 50-foot high
or Raven Rodriguez at (202) 502–6276. conditions, and prescriptions using the powerhouse with one 800-kilowatt
Dated: July 16, 2018. Commission’s eFiling system at http:// vertical turbine generator unit; (5) two
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. parallel 9-foot-wide, 10-foot-high, 120-
Kimberly D. Bose,
Commenters can submit brief comments foot-long brick arched tailrace conduits
Secretary.
up to 6,000 characters, without prior discharging into the second level canal;
[FR Doc. 2018–15562 Filed 7–19–18; 8:45 am] registration, using the eComment system (6) an 800-foot-long, 4.8-kilovolt
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ transmission line; and (7) appurtenant
ecomment.asp. You must include your facilities. The project is estimated to
name and contact information at the end generate 4,710,000 kilowatt-hours
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
of your comments. For assistance, annually.
Federal Energy Regulatory please contact FERC Online Support at The existing Holyoke Number 3
Commission FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov, (866) Project consists of: (1) A 52.3-foot-long
208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659 by 14-foot-high intake trash rack
[Project Nos. 2386–004, 2387–003, 2388– (TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please covering an opening in the second level
004] send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal canal fed by the Holyoke Canal System
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 (licensed under FERC Project No. 2004);
City of Holyoke Gas and Electric
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. (2) two 11-foot-high by 11-foot-wide
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES

Department; Notice of Application
The first page of any filing should headgates; (3) two 85-foot-long, 93-
Ready for Environmental Analysis and
include the relevant docket number(s): square-foot in cross section low pressure
Soliciting Comments,
P–2386–004, P–2387–003, and/or P– brick penstocks; (4) a 42-foot-long by 34-
Recommendations, Terms and
2388–004. foot-wide by 28-foot-high reinforced
Conditions, and Prescriptions
The Commission’s Rules of Practice concrete powerhouse with one 450-
Take notice that the following require all intervenors filing documents kilowatt turbine generator unit; (5) a
hydroelectric applications have been with the Commission to serve a copy of 29.7-foot-wide, 10-foot-deep, 118-foot-

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Document Created: 2018-07-20 01:19:23
Document Modified: 2018-07-20 01:19:23

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
FR Citation		83 FR 34568

83 FR 34568 - Billing Procedures for Annual Charges for the Costs of Other Federal Agencies for Administering Part I of the Federal Power Act; Notice Reporting Costs for Other Federal Agencies' Administrative Annual Charges for Fiscal Year 2017

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFederal Energy Regulatory Commission

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 140 (July 20, 2018)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission