In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for 3 years. Upon resubmission, it is suggested the agency provide clear comparisons of how burden hours per respondent change for both cogeneration and small power production facilities.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
05/31/2013
36 Months From Approved
12/31/2012
504
0
824
2,156
0
2,540
251,541
0
156,670
The Commission is requesting approval for 3 yrs., for FERC-556, as revised in the final rule in Docket RM09-23 (issued 3/19/10 and published in FR on 3/30/10). Through the final rule, FERC is:(1)exempting generating facilities with net power production capacities of 1 MW or less from the requirement that a generating facility, to be a QF, must file either a notice of self-certification or an application for Commission certification; (2)making Form No. 556 easier and less time consuming to complete and submit; (3) decreasing opportunities for confusion and error in completing the form; (4) improving consistency and quality of the data collected by the form; (5) decreasing Commission resources dedicated to managing errors and omissions in submitted forms; and (6) clarifying and correcting the regulations governing the requirements for obtaining and maintaining QF status.
To encourage small power and cogeneration production, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) confers benefits on small power and cogeneration facilities that meet certain ownership and technical criteria.
The Commission uses the FERC-556 (Cogeneration and Small Power Production, OMB Control Number 1902-0075) to implement the statutory provisions in Federal Power Act (FPA) section 3 (16 USC 792-828c) and sections 201 and 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978 (16 USC 2601). These statutes authorize the Commission to encourage cogeneration and small power production and to prescribe such rules as necessary in order to carry out these statutory directives. Commission regulations pertaining to FERC-556 can be found in 18 CFR 131.80 and 18 CFR Part 292.
US Code:
16 USC 792-828c
Name of Law: Federal Power Act (FPA)
US Code:
16 USC 2601
Name of Law: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978
FERC is revising its regulations and the FERC Form No. 556: 1)to exempt generating facilities with net power production capacities of 1 MW or less from the requirement that a generating facility, to be a QF, must file either a notice of self-certification or an application for Commission certification; 2)to provide that an applicant seeking to certify qualifying facility (QF) status of a small power production or cogeneration facility must complete, and electronically file, the Form No. 556 that is in effect at the time of filing; 3)to clarify the content of the form and to take advantage of newer technologies that will reduce both the filing burden for applicants and the processing burden for the Commission; 4)to codify the CommissionÂs authority to waive the QF certification requirement for good cause; 5)to extend to all applicants for QF certification the requirement (currently applicable only to applicants for self-certification of QF status) to serve a copy of a filed Form No. 556 on the affected utilities and state regulatory authorities; 6)to eliminate the requirement for applicants to provide a draft notice suitable for publication in the Federal Register; 7)to clarify, simplify or correct certain sections of the regulations.
The revisions described above will: (1) make the Form No. 556 easier and less time consuming to complete and submit; (2) decrease opportunities for confusion and error in completing the form; (3) improve consistency and quality of the data collected by the form; (4) decrease FERC resources dedicated to managing errors and omissions in submitted forms; and (5) clarify and correct the regulations governing the requirements for obtaining and maintaining QF status.
The Commission estimates these program changes, plus adjustments, will decrease industry burden by a net of 324 hours annually, as detailed above.
$222,126
No
No
Uncollected
Uncollected
No
Uncollected
Patricia Morris 202 208-6990
Reginfo record details
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.
556SuppState4 1 2010togo.doc
issued form20100319-4000.pdf
FERC-556, Certification of Qualifying Facility (QF) Status for a Small Power Production or Cogeneration Facility