2019-24768. Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-511); Comment Request; Extension

AGENCY:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

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-511 (Transfer of Hydropower License) and submitting the information collection to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. On August 29, 2019, the Commission published a Notice in the Federal Register (84 FR 45489) in Docket No. IC19-39-000 requesting public comments. The Commission received no public comments.

DATES:

Comments on the collection of information are due December 16, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Comments filed with OMB, identified by OMB Control No. 1902-0069, should be sent via email to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs: [e-mail]. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer.

A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in Docket No. IC19-39-000, by either of the following methods:

• eFiling at Commission's Website: http://www.ferc.gov/​docs-filing/​efiling.asp.
• Mail: 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 [e-mail], or by phone at: [phone] (toll-free), or [phone] 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 [e-mail], telephone at [phone], and fax at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: FERC-511, Transfer of Hydropower License.^[1]

OMB Control No.: 1902-0069.

Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-511 information collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Abstract: The Commission uses the information collected under the requirements of FERC-511 to implement the statutory provisions of Sections 4(e) and 8 of the Federal Power Act (FPA).^[2] Section 4(e) authorizes the Commission to issue licenses for the construction, operation and maintenance of reservoirs, powerhouses, and transmission lines or other facilities necessary for the development and improvement of navigation and for the development, transmission, and utilization of power.^[3] Section 8 of the FPA provides that the voluntary transfer of any license is made only with the written approval of the Commission. Any successor to the licensee may assign the rights of the original licensee but is subject to all of the conditions of the license. The information filed with the Commission is a mandatory requirement contained in the format of a written application for transfer of license, executed jointly by the parties of the proposed transfer. The sale or merger of a licensed hydroelectric project may occasion the transfer of a license. The Commission's staff uses the information collection to determine the qualifications of the proposed transferee to hold the license and to prepare the transfer of the license order. Approval by the Commission of transfer of a license is contingent upon the transfer of title to the properties under license, delivery of all license instruments, and evidence that such transfer is in the public interest. The Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR part 9.

Type of Respondent: Hydropower Project Licensees.

Estimate of Annual Burden: ^[4] The Commission estimates the annual burden and cost ^[5] for the information collection as follows.

FERC-511: Transfer of Hydropower License

	Number of respondents	Annual number of responses per respondent	Total number of responses	Average burden hrs. & cost per response	Total annual burden hours & total annual cost	Cost per respondent ($)
	(1)	(2)	(1) * (2) = (3)	(4)	(3) * (4) = (5)	(5) ÷ (1)
Hydropower Project Licensees	46	1	46	40 hrs.; $3,200	1,840 hrs.; $147,000	$3,200

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 7, 2019.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.

Footnotes

1.  The title is being updated to Transfer of Hydropower License (rather than Transfer of Electric License).

2.  16 U.S.C. 797(e) and 801.

3.  Refers to facilities 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 public lands and reservations of the United States, or for the purpose of utilizing the surplus water or water power from any Government dam.

4.  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.

5.  The FERC 2019 average salary plus benefits for one FERC full-time equivalent (FTE) is $167,091/year (or $80.00/hour). Commission staff estimates that the industry's skill set (wages and benefits) for completing and filing FERC-511 is comparable to the Commission's skill set.