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
05/31/2016
36 Months From Approved
05/31/2013
6
0
6
635,037
0
635,037
0
0
38,587,542
The information collected by the
FERC-500 is in the format of a written application for a license or
exemption and is used by the Commission staff to determine the
broad impact of the license application. Commission staff conducts
systematic reviews of the prepared application with supplemental
documentation provided by the solicitation of comments from other
agencies and the public. These comments are received through the
issuance of public notice and open meetings. These reviews ensure
that the Federal Power Act, as amended by other statutory
provisions, is formally administered to ensure compliance by the
licensees. Greater environmental scrutiny, as well as a decision
making process characterized by shared authorities, has assisted
the development and utilization of hydropower as an essential
renewable resource within the nation's energy mix. Projects coming
up for relicense in the next several decades were originally
licensed before the enactment of ECPA, the National Environmental
Policy Act (NEPA), the Endangered Species Act, the Federal Water
Pollution Control Amendments of 1972 (the Clean Water Act), and the
Coastal Zone Management Act. After an application is filed, the
Federal agencies with responsibilities under the FPA and other
statutes, the states, Indian tribes, and other participants have
opportunities to request additional studies and provide comments
and recommendations. Federal agencies with mandatory conditioning
authority also provide their conditions. The Commission staff may
ask for additional information that it needs for its environmental
analysis. All of this information is considered in the Commission
staff's environmental review under NEPA. After a license is issued,
the Commission monitors the licensee's compliance with the license
conditions throughout the term of the license. Submission of the
data is necessary to fulfill the requirements of the FPA in order
for the Commission to make the required finding that the proposal
is economically, technically, and environmentally sound, and is
best adapted to a comprehensive plan for improving/developing a
waterway or waterways.
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.