76 FR 56 pgs. 16393-16394 - Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension
Type: NOTICEVolume: 76Number: 56Pages: 16393 - 16394
Docket number: [Docket No. IC11-521-000; FERC-521]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2011-6741 Filed 3-22-11; 8:45 am]
Agency: Energy Department
Sub Agency: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC11-521-000; FERC-521]
Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension
AGENCY:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.
ACTION:
Notice of proposed information collection and request for comments.
SUMMARY:
In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.
DATES:
Comments in consideration of the collection of information are due May 23, 2011.
ADDRESSES:
Comments may be filed either electronically (eFiled) or in paper format, and should refer to Docket No. IC11-521-000. Documents must be prepared in an acceptable filing format and in compliance with Commission submission guidelines at: http:// www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp . eFiling instructions are available at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp . First time users must follow eRegister instructions at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/eregistration.asp , to establish a username and password before eFiling. The Commission will send an automatic acknowledgement to the sender's e-mail address upon receipt of eFiled comments. Commenters making an eFiling should not make a paper filing. Commenters that are not able to file electronically must send an original of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in this docket may do so through eSubscription at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp . In addition, all comments and FERC issuances may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely through FERC's eLibrary at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp , by searching on Docket No. IC11-521. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support by e-mail at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 (toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen Brown may be reached by e-mail at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 273-0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
The information collected under the requirements of FERC-521 "Payments for Benefits from Headwater Benefits" (OMB No. 1902-0087) is used by the Commission to implement the statutory provisions of section 10(f) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) (16 USC 803). The FPA authorizes the Commission to determine headwater benefits received by downstream hydropower project owners. Headwater benefits is the additional energy production possible at a downstream hydropower project resulting from the regulation of river flows by an upstream storage reservoir.
When the Commission completes a study of a river basin, it determines headwater benefits charges that will be apportioned among the various downstream beneficiaries. A headwater benefits charge and the cost incurred by the Commission to complete an evaluation are paid by downstream hydropower project owners. In essence, the owners of non-Federal hydropower projects that directly benefit from a headwater improvement must pay an equitable portion of the annual charges for interest, maintenance, and depreciation of the headwater project to the U.S. Treasury. The regulations provide for apportionment of these costs between the headwater project and downstream projects based on downstream energy gains and propose equitable apportionment methodology that can be applied to allrivers basins in which headwater improvements are built. The Commission requires owners of non-Federal hydropower projects to file data for determining annual charges as outlined in 18 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 11.
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:
| Data collection | Number of respondents annually | Number of responses per respondent | Average burden hours per response | Total annual burden hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (1) | (2) | (3) | (1) × (2) × (3) | |
| FERC-521 | 3 | 1 | 40 | 120 |
Estimated cost burden to respondents is $8,213.77 (120 hours/2,080 hours1per year, times $142,3722= $8,213.77). The cost per respondent is $2,738.
Footnotes:
1 Estimated number of hours and employee works each year.
2 Estimated average annual cost per employee.
The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial resources expendedto generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide the information including: (1) Reviewinginstructions; (2) developing, acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems forthe purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, disclosing andproviding information; (3) adjusting the existing ways to comply with any previouslyapplicable instructions and requirements; (4) training personnel to respond to a collection ofinformation; (5) searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection ofinformation; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the information.
The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for professional andclerical support, as well as direct and indirect overhead costs. Direct costs include all costsdirectly attributable to providing this information, such as administrative costs and the costfor information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs incurred by an organizationin support of its mission. These costs apply to activities which benefit the wholeorganization rather than any one particular function or activity.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information isnecessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Commission, including whetherthe information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimateof the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of themethodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of theinformation to be collected; and (4) ways to minimize the burden of the collection ofinformation on those who are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated,electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms ofinformation technology e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
Dated: March 16, 2011.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-6741 Filed 3-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P