2022-25562. Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-515); Comment Request; Extension

AGENCY:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

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-515 (Declaration of Intention), which will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. No comments were received on the 60-day notice published on September 6, 2022.

DATES:

Comments on the collection of information are due December 23, 2022.

ADDRESSES:

Send written comments on FERC-515 to OMB through www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number (1902-0079) in the subject line of your comments. Comments should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain.

Please submit copies of your comments to the Commission. You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket No. IC22-29-000) by one of the following methods:

• Electronic Filing (preferred method): via https://www.ferc.gov.

○ Documents must be filed in acceptable native applications and print-to-PDF, but not in scanned or picture format.

• For those unable to file electronically, comments may be filed by USPS mail or by hand (including courier) delivery.

○ Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Addressed to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.

○ Hand (including courier) delivery: Deliver to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.

Instructions: OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with submission guidelines at www.reginfo.gov/​public/​do/​PRAMain. Using the search function under the “Currently Under Review” field, select Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; click “submit,” and select “comment” to the right of the subject collection. FERC submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with submission guidelines at: https://www.ferc.gov. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at [e-mail], or by phone at: [phone] (toll-free).

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 https://www.ferc.gov/​ferc-online/​overview.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ellen Brown may be reached by email at [e-mail], telephone at [phone].

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 purpose of FERC-515 is to implement the information collections pursuant to Section 24 of the Federal Power Act (FPA). This statute authorizes the Commission to make a determination as to whether it has jurisdiction over a proposed water project pursuant to section 23(b) of the FPA. Entities intending to construct project works on certain waters must file a declaration of their intention with the Commission. The information provided in the Declaration of Intention includes a written application, containing sufficient details to allow the Commission staff to research the jurisdictional aspects of the project. Commission staff will review maps land ownership records, and other related information 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.

Type of Respondents: Persons intending to construct project works on certain waters.

Estimate of Annual Burden.^[1] The Commission estimates the annual public reporting burden and cost ^[2] for the information collection as:

FERC-515—Declaration of Intention

Number of respondents	Annual number of responses per respondent	Total number of responses	Average burden hours & cost ($) per response	Total annual burden hours & total annual cost ($)	Cost per respondent ($)
(1)	(2)	(1) * (2) = (3)	(4)	(3) * (4) = (5)	(5) ÷ (1)
6	1	6	80 hrs.; $7,280	480 hrs.; $43,680	$7,280

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 15, 2022.

Debbie-Anne A. Reese,

Deputy Secretary.

Footnotes

1. 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 part 1320 for additional information on the definition of information collection burden.

2. Commission staff considers resources completing the FERC-515 to be compensated at rates similar to FERC employees. Therefore, we are using the 2022 FERC average hourly cost (for wages and benefits for one full-time employee) of $91.00/hour (or $188,922/year).