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.
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
Commissions 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
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