[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 48266]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-24373]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC Form 556]
Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments
September 9, 1997.
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)(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 within 60 days
of the publication of this notice.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be
obtained from and written comments may be submitted to the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael Miller, Information
Services Division, ED-12.4, 888 First Street N.E., Washington, D.C.
20426.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by
telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at
mmiller@ferc.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the
requirements of FERC Form 556 ``Cogeneration and Small Power
Production'' (OMB No. 1902-0075) is used by the Commission to implement
the statutory provisions of Section 3 of the Federal Act (EPA), 16
U.S.C. 792-828C, and Sections 201 and 210 of the Public Utility
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA). The reporting requirements
associated with FERC Form 556 require owners or operators of small
power production or cogeneration facilities who seek qualifying status
for these facilities to file an application to the Commission for
certification as a qualifying facility (QF).
A primary objective of PURPA is the conservation of energy through
efficient use of energy resources and facilities by energy facilities.
One means of achieving this goal is to encourage production of
production of electric power by cogeneration facilities which make use
of reject heat associated with commercial or industrial processes, and
by small power production facilities which use other wastes and
renewable resources. PURPA, through establishment of various regulatory
benefits, encourages the development of small power production
facilities and cogeneration facilities which meet certain technical and
corporate criteria. Facilities that meet these criteria are called QFs.
The purposes of FERC Form 556 are to: specify the certification
procedures which must be followed by owners or operator of small power
production and cogeneration facilities; specify the criteria which must
be met; specify the information which must be submitted to FERC in
order to obtain qualifying status; specify the PURPA benefits which are
available to QFs to encourage small power production and cogeneration;
and specify the requirements pertaining to PURPA implementation plans
regarding the transaction obligations that electric utilities have with
respect to QFs. Respondents comply with these requirements in order to
obtain or retain a benefit. The Commission implements these filing
requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR part
292.
Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the
current expiration date.
Burden Statement: Public Reporting burden for this collection is
estimated as:
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Number of Number of Average burden Total annual
respondents responses per hours per burden hours (1)
annually (1) respondents (2) response (3) x (2) x (3)
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332............. 1 6 \1\ 2,049
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\1\ approximate, includes application for Commission certification,
PURPA implementation waiver filings, and notices for self-
certification.
Estimated cost burden to respondents: 2,049 hours divided by 2087
hours per year times $110,000 per year equals $107,997. The cost per
respondent is equal to $325.
The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, 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 resources; (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 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 Commission'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.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-24373 Filed 9-12-97; 8:45 am]
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