In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
11/30/2014
36 Months From Approved
12/31/2011
16
0
8
160
0
80
0
0
0
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is responsible for licensing of
Nonfederal hydropower projects if they are on lands or waters subject to Congressional
authority. Part I of the Federal Power Act (FPA) gives the Commission the authority to issue licenses for hydroelectric projects on these waters. The Commission issues licenses for terms up to 50 years for projects "best adapted to a comprehensive plan" for improving a waterway for beneficial public purposes. Benefits include power generation, irrigation, flood control, navigation, fish and wildlife, municipal water supply, and recreation. To adequately protect, mitigate for damage to, and enhance fish and wildlife, along with their habitats, each license includes a set of terms and conditions. These fish and wildlife conditions, along with conditions relating to other environmental resources and engineering issues, are determined through the Commission's independent analysis on the basis of federal and state fish and wildlife agency recommendations and input from the applicant, affected Indian tribes and the public. After a license is issued, the Commission monitors the licensee's compliance with the license conditions throughout the term of the license.
Licenses may be surrendered, but only after the licensee fulfills all obligations of the license, as well as any conditions imposed by FERC relating to disposition of constructed facilities if any. The surrender of a license may be desired by a licensee when a licensed project is retired or not constructed or natural catastrophes have damaged or destroyed the project facilities. Implied surrender may be occasioned by a licensee's abandonment of a licensed project. To protect the environment and the public, a license may be surrendered only upon agreement between the licensee and the Commission. The authority for the application to surrender a licensee is made pursuant the Commission's defined role as mandated by Part 1 of the Federal Power Act.
The Commission has adjusted the estimate on the number of filers per year from 8 to 16. This increase is due to a program the Commission has initiated in which it contacts licensees of inoperative projects or projects that are in noncompliance and either encourages or facilitates the licensee to apply for a license surrender or if the Commission considers the project to be abandoned, then initiates an implied surrender proceeding.
The Commission does not consider this to be program change due to agency discretion because it is not modifying the requirements of the application for a surrender of license. The initiative described above is meant to encourage those who should be submitting these applications to actually do so.
$277,777
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Sheila Lampitoc 202 502-6193
No
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.
FERC510 ombjust 2011 v2.doc
FERC 510 Sample Filing (2011).pdf
Application for Surrender of Hydropower License