Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

Abstract: The information collected under the requirements of FERC- 519 (OMB No. 1902-0082) ``Application for Sale, Lease or Other Docket No. IC99-519-000 Disposition, Merger or Consolidation of Facilities, or for Purchase or Acquisition of Securities of a Public Utility'' is used by the Commission to implement the statutory provisions of Sections 203 and 318 of Part II of the Federal Power Act. Section 203 provides that the Commission's approval is required for transactions in which a public utility disposes of

jurisdictional facilities, merges such facilities with jurisdictional facilities owned by another person, or acquires the securities of another public utility. Under the statute, the Commission must find that a proposed transaction will be consistent with the public interest before it may approve such transaction. Section 318 exempts certain persons from the requirements of Section 203 that would otherwise concurrently apply under the Public Utility Holding Act of 1935. The Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR Part 33. Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the current expiration date, with no changes to the existing collection of data. Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated as:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of Number of respondents annually (1) responses per Average burden hours per Total annual burden hours respondent (2) response (3) (1) x (2) x (3) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 125.................................... 1 80 hours.................. 10,000 hours. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Commission anticipates a minor increase in the burden hours to be reported for FERC-519. This is a result of an increase in the Docket No. IC99-519-000 number of mergers and the disposition of electric utility generation and transmission facilities as a result of restructuring of the electric industry. Estimated total cost burden to respondents: 10,000 hours/2,080 hours per year x $109,889 per year = $528,313. The cost per respondent is equal to $4,227. 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 respondent 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, such as administrative costs and the cost for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are cost incurred by an organization in support of Docket No. IC99-519-000 its mission. These costs 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. 99-7635 Filed 3-26-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M