In accordance with 5 CFR 1320,the information collection is approved for 3 years. The agency has offered to continue to monitor actual burden hours on respondents and to adjust estimates accordingly upon resubmission.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
01/31/2013
36 Months From Approved
01/31/2010
6
0
13
635,037
0
463,060
38,587,542
0
24,128,000
FERC-500 is a written application for a hydropower license or exemption and is used by the FERC staff to determine the impact of the application.
Under the Authority of Part 1 of the Federal Power Act (FPA),the Commission has the authority to issue licenses for hydroelectric projects on the waters over which Congress has jurisdiction. The FPA, as amended by the Electric Consumers Protection Act (ECPA), provides the Commission with the responsibility of issuing licenses for non-federal hydroelectric plants. The passage of ECPA in 1986 also revised the language of the FPA concerning environmental issues.
Section 3 of ECPA amended Section 4(e) of the FPA to require that when making a licensing decision, the Commission gives equal consideration to preserving environmental quality. ECPA also amended section 10(a) of the FPA which stipulates the conditions on which hydroelectric licenses are issued. It also directs that the project adapts to a comprehensive plan that improves the waterways for interstate/foreign commerce and for the protection and the enhancement of fish and wildlife, flood control, water supply, and other purposes.
FERC's overarching responsibility under the FPA is to strike a balance among many competing power and non-power interests, and various statutory requirements, give other Federal agencies, with mandatory conditioning authority, a powerful role in licensing/relicensing cases.
Per sections 4.41(e)(9), 4.51(e)(7), and 4.61(c)(3) of the Federal Power Act (FPA), applicants are now required to submit their total cost of collection. These figures were used in determining the average burden hours. The information presented here is based on actual Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 and 2008 filings and the filers costs. As a result, these figures are more accurate estimates than the numbers included in the current OMB inventory. [The reporting requirements have not changed.] Attachment C compares the figures in the existing OMB inventory with this request for extension.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
issued 8 24 09_20090824-3027.doc
FERC-500, Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects with Greater than 5 MW Capacity