[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 200 (Wednesday, October 16, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55313-55314]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-22530]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC19-35-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-515) Comment
Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved
information collection, FERC-515 (Declaration of Intention).
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due December 16,
2019.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC19-35-
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 [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:
Title: FERC-515 (Declaration of Intention).
OMB Control No.: 1902-0079.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-515 information
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting
requirements.
Abstract: The Commission uses the information collected under the
requirements of FERC-515 to implement the statutory provisions of
Section 23(b) of the Federal Power Act (FPA).\1\ Section 23(b)
authorizes the Commission to make a determination as to whether it has
jurisdiction over a proposed water project \2\ not affecting navigable
waters \3\ but across, along, over, or in waters over which Congress
has jurisdiction under its authority to regulate commerce with foreign
nations
[[Page 55314]]
and among the several States. Section 23(b) requires that any person
intending to construct project works on such waters must file a
declaration of their intention with the Commission. If the Commission
finds the proposed project will have an impact on interstate or foreign
commerce, then the entity intending to construct the project must
obtain a Commission license or exemption before starting
construction.\4\
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\1\ 16 U.S.C. 817.
\2\ Dams or project works (16 U.S.C. 817).
\3\ See 16 U.S.C. 796 (8) for the definition of ``Navigable
Waters.''
\4\ Upon a finding of non-jurisdictional by the Commission, and
if the project does not utilize surplus water or waterpower from a
government dam and no public lands or reservations are affected,
permission is granted upon compliance with State laws.
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The information is collected in the form of a written application,
containing sufficient details to allow the Commission staff to research
the jurisdictional aspects of the project. This research includes
examining maps and land ownership records to establish whether or not
there is Federal jurisdiction over the lands and waters affected by the
project. A finding of non-jurisdictional by the Commission eliminates a
substantial paperwork burden for the applicant who might otherwise have
to file for a license or exemption application. The Commission
implements these filing requirements under 18 CFR part 24.
Type of Respondents: Persons intending to construct project works
on certain waters described above.
Estimate of Annual Burden. \5\ The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden and cost \6\ for the information collection as:
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\5\ Burden is defined 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. See 5
CFR 1320 for additional information on the definition of information
collection burden.
\6\ The estimates for cost per response are derived using the
following formula: Average Burden Hours per Response * $80.00/hour =
Average cost/response. The figure is the 2019 FERC average hourly
cost (for wages and benefits) of $80.00 (and an average annual
salary of $167,091/year). Commission staff is using the estimate for
FERC average wages and benefits because we consider resources
completing the FERC-515 to be compensated at rates similar to FERC
employees.
FERC-515--Declaration of Intention
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Annual number Total annual
of responses Total number Average burden burden hours & Cost per
Number of respondents per of responses hours & cost ($) total annual respondent ($)
respondent per response cost ($)
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)............. (3) * (4) = (5) (5) / (1)
(3)
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6............................ 1 6 80 hrs.;........ 480 hrs.;...... $6,400
$6,400.......... $38,400........
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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 estimates of the burden 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 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: October 9, 2019.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-22530 Filed 10-15-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P