83 FR 58557 - Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-500); Comment Request; Extension
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 224 (November 20, 2018)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 224 (November 20, 2018)
| Page Range | 58557-58558 | |
| FR Document | 2018-25288 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 20, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 58557-58558] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-25288] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. IC19-5-000] Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-500); Comment Request; Extension AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection, FERC-500 (Application for License/Relicense and Exemption for Water Projects with More than 5 Megawatt Capacity). DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due January 22, 2019. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC19-5- 000) by either of the following methods:eFiling at Commission's website: 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 ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, 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 DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 273-0873. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: FERC-500, Application for License/Relicense and Exemption for Water Projects with More than 5 Megawatt Capacity.\1\ --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ There is a pending Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in Docket No. RM18-14-000 which proposes to make some changes to FERC-500. This notice does not reflect the proposed changes to FERC-500 due to Docket No. RM18-14. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 is an application (for water projects with more than 5 megawatt capacity) for a hydropower license or exemption. FERC-500 includes certain reporting requirements in 18 CFR 4, 5, 8, 16, 141, 154.15, and 292. Depending on the type of application, it may include project description, schedule, resource allocation, project operation, construction schedule, cost, and financing; and an environmental report. After an application is filed, the Federal agencies with responsibilities under the Federal Power Act (FPA) and other statutes,\2\ the States, Indian tribes, and other participants have opportunities to request additional studies and provide comments and recommendations. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. Type of Respondent: Applicants for major hydropower licenses or exemptions greater than 5 MW Estimate of Annual Burden \3\: 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.\4\ 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. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \3\ ``Burden'' is 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 Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3. \4\ Exceptions would be 18 CFR 2.19, 4.201, 4.202, 4.303, 4.35, 8.1, 8.2, 16.19, 141.15, and 292.208, none of which directly relate to preparation of a license or exemption application for a project greater than 5 MW. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- To estimate the burden, we used actual data reported by applicants for proposed projects greater than 5 MW filed in fiscal years (FY) 2016 through 2018, and averaged the reported license application costs. The results are presented in the table below. [[Page 58558]] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Fiscal year FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of applications (Responses).............................. 14 8 6 Average Cost per Response....................................... $3,571,786 $3,735,714 $2,293,413 Total Burden Cost for All Applications (Responses).............. 50,005,004 29,885,712 13,760,478 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The average burden cost per application over the period FY 2016 through FY 2018 was approximately $3,344,686 \5\. We estimate a cost (salary plus benefits) of $79/hour.\6\ Using this hourly cost estimate, the average burden for each application filed from FY 2016 to FY 2018 is 42,338 hours. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \5\ $93,651,194 (Total burden cost from FY 2016-2018) / 28 (total number of applications received from FY 2016-2018) = $3,344,686. \6\ 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 2018 hourly cost (salary plus benefits) of $79/ hour. FERC-500 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annual number Average burden hours Total annual burden Number of respondents of responses Total number & cost ($) per hours & total Cost per per respondent of responses response annual cos ($)t respondent ($) (1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)................. (3) * (4) = (5).... (5) / (1) (3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9.................... 1 9 42,337.79 hrs.; 381,040.11 hrs.; $3,344,685.50 $3,344,685.50. $30,102,169.50. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: November 14, 2018. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018-25288 Filed 11-19-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 20, 2018 / Notices 58557
Dated: November 14, 2018. comments and issuances in this docket statutes,2 the States, Indian tribes, and
Kimberly D. Bose, may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docs- other participants have opportunities to
Secretary. filing/docs-filing.asp. request additional studies and provide
[FR Doc. 2018–25287 Filed 11–19–18; 8:45 am] FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: comments and recommendations.
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P Ellen Brown may be reached by email Submittal of the FERC–500
at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone application is necessary to fulfill the
at (202) 502–8663, and fax at (202) 273– requirements of the FPA in order for the
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY 0873. Commission to make the required
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: finding that the proposal is
Federal Energy Regulatory Title: FERC–500, Application for economically, technically, and
Commission License/Relicense and Exemption for environmentally sound, and is best
[Docket No. IC19–5–000] Water Projects with More than 5 adapted to a comprehensive plan for
Megawatt Capacity.1 improving/developing a waterway or
Commission Information Collection OMB Control No.: 1902–0058 waterways.
Activities (FERC–500); Comment Abstract: Pursuant to the Federal
Power Act, the Commission is Type of Respondent: Applicants for
Request; Extension major hydropower licenses or
authorized to issue licenses and
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory exemptions to citizens of the United exemptions greater than 5 MW
Commission. States, or to any corporation organized Estimate of Annual Burden 3:
ACTION: Notice of information collection under the laws of United States or any Applicants for licenses are required to
and request for comments. State thereof, or to any State or include an estimate of their cost to
municipality for the purpose of prepare the license application, which
SUMMARY: In compliance with the constructing, operating, and would include nearly all of the
requirements of the Paperwork maintaining dams, water conduits, reporting requirements in FERC–500.4
Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal reservoirs, power houses, transmission Because the requirements for an
Energy Regulatory Commission lines, or other project works necessary exemption application are largely the
(Commission or FERC) is soliciting or convenient for the development and same as that of a license application, the
public comment on the currently improvement of navigation and for the license application costs are a good
approved information collection, FERC– development, transmission, and estimate of the exemption application
500 (Application for License/Relicense utilization of power across, along, from, costs and of the overall burden of
and Exemption for Water Projects with or in any of the streams or other bodies preparing license and exemption
More than 5 Megawatt Capacity). of water over which Congress has applications for projects greater than 5
DATES: Comments on the collection of jurisdiction under its authority to MW.
information are due January 22, 2019. regulate commerce with foreign nations To estimate the burden, we used
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments and among the several States, or upon actual data reported by applicants for
(identified by Docket No. IC19–5–000) any part of the public lands and proposed projects greater than 5 MW
by either of the following methods: reservations of the United States. filed in fiscal years (FY) 2016 through
• eFiling at Commission’s website: FERC–500 is an application (for water 2018, and averaged the reported license
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ projects with more than 5 megawatt application costs. The results are
efiling.asp. capacity) for a hydropower license or presented in the table below.
• Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: exemption. FERC–500 includes certain
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, reporting requirements in 18 CFR 4, 5, 2 Statutes include the Electric Consumers
Secretary of the Commission, 888 First 8, 16, 141, 154.15, and 292. Depending Protection Act (ECPA), the National Environmental
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. on the type of application, it may Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act, the
Instructions: All submissions must be include project description, schedule, Federal Water Pollution Control Amendments of
formatted and filed in accordance with resource allocation, project operation, 1972 (the Clean Water Act), and the Coastal Zone
construction schedule, cost, and Management Act.
submission guidelines at: http:// 3 ‘‘Burden’’ is the total time, effort, or financial
www.ferc.gov/help/submission- financing; and an environmental report.
resources expended by persons to generate,
guide.asp. For user assistance, contact After an application is filed, the Federal
maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information
FERC Online Support by email at agencies with responsibilities under the to or for a Federal agency. For further explanation
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone Federal Power Act (FPA) and other of what is included in the information collection
at: (866) 208–3676 (toll-free), or (202) burden, refer to Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations
1 There is a pending Notice of Proposed
502–8659 for TTY. 1320.3.
Rulemaking in Docket No. RM18–14–000 which 4 Exceptions would be 18 CFR 2.19, 4.201, 4.202,
Docket: Users interested in receiving proposes to make some changes to FERC–500. This
automatic notification of activity in this 4.303, 4.35, 8.1, 8.2, 16.19, 141.15, and 292.208,
notice does not reflect the proposed changes to
none of which directly relate to preparation of a
docket or in viewing/downloading FERC–500 due to Docket No. RM18–14.
license or exemption application for a project
greater than 5 MW.
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![58558 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 224 / Tuesday, November 20, 2018 / Notices
Fiscal year FY 2016 FY 2017 FY 2018
Number of applications (Responses) .......................................................................................... 14 8 6
Average Cost per Response ....................................................................................................... $3,571,786 $3,735,714 $2,293,413
Total Burden Cost for All Applications (Responses) ................................................................... 50,005,004 29,885,712 13,760,478
The average burden cost per $3,344,686 5. We estimate a cost (salary for each application filed from FY 2016
application over the period FY 2016 plus benefits) of $79/hour.6 Using this to FY 2018 is 42,338 hours.
through FY 2018 was approximately hourly cost estimate, the average burden
FERC–500
Annual Cost per re-
Number of number of Total number Average burden hours & cost ($) per Total annual burden hours & total spondent
respondents responses per of responses response annual cos ($)t ($)
respondent
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) (3) * (4) = (5) (5) ÷ (1)
9 ................... 1 9 42,337.79 hrs.; $3,344,685.50 .......... 381,040.11 hrs.; $30,102,169.50 ...... $3,344,685.50
Comments: Comments are invited on: Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC with respect to resources potentially
(1) Whether the collection of and Venture Global Gator Express, LLC affected by the proposal and participate
information is necessary for the proper (collectively called Venture Global) in in the NEPA analysis.
performance of the functions of the the above-referenced dockets. Venture The draft EIS addresses the potential
Commission, including whether the Global requests authorization to environmental effects of the
information will have practical utility; construct and operate a new LNG export construction and operation of the
(2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate terminal and associated facilities along following project facilities:
of the burden and cost of the collection the west bank of the Mississippi River • LNG Terminal: Construction and
of information, including the validity of in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana (LNG operation of various liquefaction, LNG
the methodology and assumptions used; Terminal) and to construct and operate distribution, and appurtenant facilities
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility two new 42-inch-diameter natural gas within the boundaries of the site leased
and clarity of the information collection; pipeline laterals that would connect to by Venture Global on the Mississippi
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the LNG Terminal. The new liquefaction River, including:
the collection of information on those facilities would have a design Æ Six pretreatment facilities (three in
who are to respond, including the use production capacity of 20 million metric each phase);
of automated collection techniques or tons of liquefied natural gas (LNG) per Æ a liquefaction plant with 18
other forms of information technology. annum. integrated single-mixed refrigerant
The draft EIS assesses the potential blocks and support facilities (otherwise
Dated: November 14, 2018. referred to as liquefaction blocks or
Kimberly D. Bose, environmental effects of the
construction and operation of the blocks) to be constructed in two phases
Secretary. (nine blocks in each phase);
Plaquemines LNG and Gator Express
[FR Doc. 2018–25288 Filed 11–19–18; 8:45 am] Æ four 200,000-cubic-meter
Pipeline Project in accordance with the
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P aboveground LNG storage tanks;
requirements of the National
Æ three LNG loading docks within a
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The
common LNG berthing area; and
FERC staff concludes that approval of Æ air-cooled electric power generation
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
the proposed project, with the facilities.
Federal Energy Regulatory mitigation measures recommended in • Pipeline System: Construction and
Commission the draft EIS, would have some adverse operation of two parallel 42-inch-
environmental impacts. These impacts diameter natural gas pipelines that share
[Docket Nos. CP17–66–000; CP17–67–000] would be reduced to less-than- one right-of-way corridor for the
significant levels with the majority of their respective routes and
Venture Global Plaquemines LNG, LLC
implementation of Venture Global’s appurtenant aboveground facilities,
and Venture Global Gator Express,
proposed mitigation measures and the including the following:
LLC; Notice of Availability of the Draft
additional measures recommended in Æ 15.1-mile-long Southwest Lateral
Environmental Impact Statement for
the draft EIS. Tennessee Gas Pipeline, LLC (TGP)
the Proposed Plaquemines LNG and
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Pipeline;
Gator Express Pipeline Project
U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Department of Æ 11.7-mile-long Southwest Lateral
The staff of the Federal Energy Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Texas Eastern Transmission, LP
Regulatory Commission (FERC or Agency, and U.S. Department of (TETCO) Pipeline;
Commission) has prepared a draft Transportation participated as Æ TGP metering and regulation
environmental impact statement (EIS) cooperating agencies in the preparation station; and
for the Plaquemines LNG and Gator of the EIS. Cooperating agencies have Æ TETCO metering and regulation
Express Pipeline Project, proposed by jurisdiction by law or special expertise station.
5 $93,651,194 (Total burden cost from FY 2016– 6 FERC staff estimates that industry is similarly benefits. Therefore, we are using the FERC FY 2018
2018) ÷ 28 (total number of applications received situated in terms of the hourly cost for salary plus hourly cost (salary plus benefits) of $79/hour.
from FY 2016–2018) = $3,344,686.
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Document Created: 2018-11-20 07:59:33
Document Modified: 2018-11-20 07:59:33
| 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 | |
| Action | Notice of information collection and request for comments. | |
| Dates | Comments on the collection of information are due January 22, 2019. | |
| Contact | Ellen Brown may be reached by email at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 273-0873. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 58557 |
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