[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 16, 1999)] [Notices] [Pages 62184-62185] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 99-29801] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. IC00-500-000] Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments November 9, 1999.
Agency
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Action
Notice of proposed information collection and request for comments.
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Summary
In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.
Dates
Consideration will be given to comments submitted on or before January 18, 2000.
Addresses
Written comments on the proposed collection of information may be submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael Miller, Office of the Chief Information Officer, CIN-1, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
For Further Information Contact
Michael Miller may be reached by telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax at (202) 208-2425 and by E-mail at mike. miller@ferc.fed.us.
Supplementary Information
Abstract: The FERC-500, ``Application for License for Water Projects with More than 5 MW Capacity'' (OMB) No. 1902-0058 consists of the filing requirements as defined in 18 CFR Sections 4.32, 4.38, 4.40-41, 4.50-51, 4.61, 4.71, 4.93, 4.107-108, 4.201-.202, 16.1, 16.10, 16.20, 292.203 and 292.208. The information collected under the requirements of FERC-500 is used by the Commission to determine the broad impact of a hydropower license application. In deciding whether to issue a license, the Commission gives equal consideration to full range of licensing purposes related to the potential value of a stream of river. Among these purposes are: hydroelectric development; energy conservation; fish and wildlife resources; including their spawning grounds and habitat; visual resources; cultural resources; recreational opportunities; other aspects of environmental quality; irrigation; flood control and water supply. Submission of the information is necessary to fulfill the requirements of the Federal Power Act in order for the Commission to make the required finding that the proposal is economically sound, is best adopted to a comprehensive plan for improving/developing a waterway or waterways. Under Part I of the Federal Power Act (FPA), (16 U.S.C. Sections 791a (et seq,), the Commission has the authority to issue licenses for hydroelectric projects on the waters over which Congress has jurisdiction. The Electric Consumers Protection Act (P.L. 99-495, 100 Stat. 1243) provides the Commission with the responsibility of issuing licenses for nonfederal hydroelectric plants. ECPA also amended the language of the FPA concerning environmental issues to ensure environmental quality. Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the current expiration date, with no charge to the existing collection of data. Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated as:
------------------------------------------------------------------------ Average burden Number of Anual responses hours per Total annual respondents per respondent response burden hours (1) (2) (3) (1) x (2) x (3) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9 1 899 8,091 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
Estimated cost burden to respondents is $427,458 (i.e., 8,091 hours divided by 2,080 hours per full time employee per year multipiled by $109,889 per year equals $427,458). The cost per respondent is $47,495. The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing, acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; (4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the information. The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These cost apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than any one particular function or activity. Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed 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 of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. Linwood A. Watson, Jr., Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. 99-29801 Filed 11-15-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M