FERC-505 30-day Notice

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices
TABLE 1—CRITERIA FOR QUALIFYING CONDUIT HYDROPOWER FACILITY—Continued
Description

Satisfies
(Y/N)

On or before August 9, 2013, the facility is not licensed, or exempted from the licensing requirements of Part I of the FPA.

Y

Statutory provision

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FPA 30(a)(3)(C)(iii),
HREA.

as

amended

by

Preliminary Determination: The
proposed hydroelectric project will
utilize an existing irrigation pipeline,
the primary purpose of which is to
irrigate Triple Creek Ranch’s farm. The
addition of the Triple Creek Ranch
Hydro Station Project will not alter the
conduit’s primary purpose. Therefore,
based upon the above criteria,
Commission staff preliminarily
determines that the proposal satisfies
the requirements for a qualifying
conduit hydropower facility, which is
not required to be licensed or exempted
from licensing.
Comments and Motions To Intervene:
Deadline for filing comments contesting
whether the facility meets the qualifying
criteria is 45 days from the issuance
date of this notice.
Deadline for filing motions to
intervene is 30 days from the issuance
date of this notice.
Anyone may submit comments or a
motion to intervene in accordance with
the requirements of Rules of Practice
and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210 and
385.214. Any motions to intervene must
be received on or before the specified
deadline date for the particular
proceeding.
Filing and Service of Responsive
Documents: All filings must (1) bear in
all capital letters the COMMENTS
CONTESTING QUALIFICATION FOR A
CONDUIT HYDROPOWER FACILITY or
MOTION TO INTERVENE, as
applicable; (2) state in the heading the
name of the applicant and the project
number of the application to which the
filing responds; (3) state the name,
address, and telephone number of the
person filing; and (4) otherwise comply
with the requirements of sections
385.2001 through 385.2005 of the
Commission’s regulations.1 All
comments contesting Commission staff’s
preliminary determination that the
facility meets the qualifying criteria
must set forth their evidentiary basis.
The Commission strongly encourages
electronic filing. Please file motions to
intervene and comments using the
Commission’s eFiling system at http://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
Commenters can submit brief comments
up to 6,000 characters, without prior
registration, using the eComment system
1 18

CFR 385.2001–2005 (2017).

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at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
ecomment.asp. You must include your
name and contact information at the end
of your comments. For assistance,
please contact FERC Online Support at
[email protected], (866)
208–3676 (toll free), or (202) 502–8659
(TTY). In lieu of electronic filing, please
send a paper copy to: Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
A copy of all other filings in reference
to this application must be accompanied
by proof of service on all persons listed
in the service list prepared by the
Commission in this proceeding, in
accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and
385.2010.
Locations of Notice of Intent: Copies
of the notice of intent can be obtained
directly from the applicant or such
copies can be viewed and reproduced at
the Commission in its Public Reference
Room, Room 2A, 888 First Street NE,
Washington, DC 20426. The filing may
also be viewed on the web at http://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp
using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the
docket number (i.e., CD18–4) in the
docket number field to access the
document. For assistance, call toll-free
1–866–208–3676 or email
[email protected]. For TTY,
call (202) 502–8659.
Dated: December 19, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–27728 Filed 12–22–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. IC17–15–000]

Commission Information Collection
Activities (FERC–505 and FERC–512);
Consolidated Comment Request;
Extension
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Comment request.
AGENCY:

In compliance with the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission

SUMMARY:

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(Commission or FERC) is soliciting
public comment on the requirements
and burden of information collections,
FERC–505 (Small Hydropower Projects
and Conduit Facilities including
License/Relicense, Exemption and
Qualifying Conduit Facility
Determination) and FERC–512
(Preliminary Permit) which will be
submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for a review of the
information collection requirements.
Any interested person may file
comments directly with OMB and
should address a copy of those
comments to the Commission as
explained below. The Commission
published a 60-day Notice in the
Federal Register in Docket No. IC17–
15–000, (82 FR 46231, 10/04/2017)
requesting public comments. FERC
received no comments in response to
the Notice and is indicating that in its
submittals to the OMB.
DATES: Comments on the collections of
information are due January 25, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB,
identified by OMB Control Nos. 1902–
0115 and 1902–0073, should be sent via
email to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs: oira_submission@
omb.gov. Attention: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission Desk Officer.
The Desk Officer may also be reached
via telephone at 202–395–0710. A copy
of the comments should also be sent to
the Commission, in Docket No. IC17–
15–000 by either of the following
methods:
• eFiling at Commission’s website:
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
efiling.asp.
• Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
Secretary of the Commission, 888 First
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
Instructions: All submissions must be
formatted and filed in accordance with
submission guidelines at: http://
www.ferc.gov/help/submissionguide.asp. For user assistance contact
FERC Online Support by email at
[email protected], or by phone
at: (866) 208–3676 (toll-free), or (202)
502–8659 for TTY.
Docket: Users interested in receiving
automatic notification of activity in this
docket or in viewing/downloading
comments and issuances in this docket

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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices
may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/docs-filing.asp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen Brown may be reached by email
at [email protected], telephone
at (202) 502–8663, and fax at (202) 273–
0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Type of Request: Three-year approval
of the FERC–505 and FERC–512
information collection requirements
with no changes to the current reporting
requirements. Please note that each
collection is distinct from the next.
Comments: Comments are invited on:
(1) Whether the collections of
information are necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the
Commission, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of the burden and cost of the collections
of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility

and clarity of the information
collections; and (4) ways to minimize
the burden of the collections of
information on those who are to
respond, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
Title: FERC–505, Small Hydropower
Projects and Conduit Facilities
including License/Relicense,
Exemption, and Qualifying Conduit
Facility Determination.
OMB Control No.: 1902–0115.
Abstract: The Hydropower Efficiency
Act amended statutory provisions
pertaining to preliminary permits and to
projects that are exempt from certain
licensing requirements under the
Federal Power Act (FPA) in order to
reduce cost and regulatory burden, and
in turn, promote hydropower
development. Specifically, the
Hydropower Efficiency Act gave the
Commission authority to extend a
preliminary permit once for not more

60979

than two additional years without
requiring the permittee to apply for a
successive preliminary permit. The
Hydropower Efficiency Act also
expanded the number of projects that
may qualify for exemptions from certain
licensing requirements under the FPA
(i.e., small conduit hydroelectric
facilities or small hydroelectric power
projects), and allowed other projects to
qualify to operate without Commission
oversight (i.e., qualifying conduit
hydropower facilities). While the
Commission-approved revised
regulations formally implement the
Hydropower Efficiency Act, the
Commission has complied with the Act
since its enactment.
Type of Respondents: Businesses or
other for-profit and not-for-profit
institutions.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The
Commission estimates the annual public
reporting burden for the information
collection as:

FERC–505 (SMALL HYDROPOWER PROJECTS AND CONDUIT FACILITIES INCLUDING LICENSE/RELICENSE, EXEMPTION, AND
QUALIFYING CONDUIT FACILITY DETERMINATION)
Number of
respondents

Annual
number of
responses per
respondent

Total
number of
responses

Average burden and
cost per response

Total annual burden
and total annual cost

Cost per
respondent
($)

(1)

(2)

(1) * (2) = (3)

(4)

(3) * (4) = (5)

(5) ÷ (1)

273 hrs.; $20,884.50 ...

4,368 hrs.; $334,152 ...

FERC–505 ....................

16

1

Title: FERC–512, Preliminary Permit.
OMB Control No.: 1902–0073.
Abstract: The information collected
under the requirements of FERC–512, is
used by the Commission to implement
the statutory provisions of the Federal
Power Act (FPA) 16 U.S.C. The purpose
of obtaining a preliminary permit is to
maintain priority of the application for

16

a license for a hydropower facility while
the applicant conducts surveys to
prepare maps, plans, specifications and
estimates; conducts engineering,
economic and environmental feasibility
studies; and made financial
arrangements. The conditions under
which the priority will be maintained
are set forth in each permit.

20,884.50

Type of Respondent: Businesses or
other for-profit and not-for-profit
institutions.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 1 The
Commission estimates the annual public
reporting burden for the information
collection as:

FERC–512 (PRELIMINARY PERMIT)
Number of
respondents

Annual
number of
responses per
respondent

Total
number of
responses

Average burden & cost
per response

Total annual burden &
total annual cost

Cost per
respondent
($)

(1)

(2)

(1) * (2) = (3)

(4)

(3) * (4) = (5)

(5) ÷ (1)

24 hrs.; $1,836 ............

1,200 hrs.; $91,800 .....

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FERC–512 ....................

50

1

50

1,836

Comments: Comments are invited on:
(1) Whether the collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of the functions of the

Commission, including whether the
information will have practical utility;
(2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate
of the burden and cost of the collection

of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility
and clarity of the information collection;

1 Burden is the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended by persons to generate,
maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information
to or for a Federal agency. For further explanation
of what is included in the information collection

burden, refer to 5 Code of Federal Regulations
1320.3.
2 Subject matter experts found that industry
employment costs closely resemble FERC’s wage

average wage figure. FERC’s 2017 average annual
salary plus benefits per FTE (full-time equivalent)
is $158,754 (or $76.50 per hour).

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60980

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 246 / Tuesday, December 26, 2017 / Notices

and (4) ways to minimize the burden of
the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including the use
of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
Dated: December 18, 2017.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2017–27736 Filed 12–22–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. IC18–3–000]

Commission Information Collection
Activities (FERC–725F); Comment
Request; Extension
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of information collection
and request for comments.
AGENCY:

In compliance with the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission or FERC) is soliciting
public comment on the currently
approved information collection, FERC
725F (Mandatory Reliability Standard
for Nuclear Plant Interface
Coordination).

SUMMARY:

Comments on the collection of
information are due February 26, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
(identified by Docket No. IC18–3–000)
by either of the following methods:
• eFiling at Commission’s website:
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
efiling.asp.
• Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier:
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
Secretary of the Commission, 888 First
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
Instructions: All submissions must be
formatted and filed in accordance with
submission guidelines at: http://
www.ferc.gov/help/submissionguide.asp. For user assistance, contact
FERC Online Support by email at
[email protected], or by phone
at: (866) 208–3676 (toll-free), or (202)
502–8659 for TTY.
Docket: Users interested in receiving
automatic notification of activity in this
docket or in viewing/downloading
comments and issuances in this docket
may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/docs-filing.asp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen Brown may be reached by email
at [email protected], telephone

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DATES:

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at (202) 502–8663, and fax at (202) 273–
0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC 725F, Mandatory
Reliability Standard for Nuclear Plant
Interface Coordination.
OMB Control No.: 1902–0249.
Type of Request: Three-year extension
of the FERC–725F information
collection requirements with no changes
to the current reporting requirements.
Abstract: The Commission requires
the information collected by the FERC–
725F to implement the statutory
provisions of section 215 of the Federal
Power Act (FPA) (16 U.S.C. 824o). On
August 8, 2005, the Electricity
Modernization Act of 2005, which is
Title XII, Subtitle A, of the Energy
Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005), was
enacted into law.1 EPAct 2005 added a
new section 215 to the FPA, which
required a Commission-certified Electric
Reliability Organization (ERO) to
develop mandatory and enforceable
Reliability Standards, which are subject
to Commission review and approval.
Once approved, the Reliability
Standards may be enforced by the ERO
subject to Commission oversight, or the
Commission can independently enforce
Reliability Standards.2
On February 3, 2006, the Commission
issued Order No. 672, implementing
section 215 of the FPA.3 Pursuant to
Order No. 672, the Commission certified
one organization, North American
Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC),
as the ERO. The Reliability Standards
developed by the ERO and approved by
the Commission apply to users, owners
and operators of the Bulk-Power System
as set forth in each Reliability Standard.
On November 19, 2007, NERC filed its
petition for Commission approval of the
Nuclear Plant Interface Coordination
Reliability Standard, designated NUC–
001–1. In Order No. 716, issued October
16, 2008, the Commission approved the
standard while also directing certain
revisions.4 Revised Reliability Standard,
NUC–001–2, was filed with the
Commission by NERC in August 2009
and subsequently approved by the
Commission January 21, 2010.5 On
1 Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109–58,
Title XII, Subtitle A, 119 Stat. 594, 941 (2005), 16
U.S.C. 824o.
2 16 U.S.C. 824o(e)(3).
3 Rules Concerning Certification of the Electric
Reliability Organization; and Procedures for the
Establishment, Approval, and Enforcement of
Electric Reliability Standards, Order No. 672, FERC
Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,204, order on reh’g, Order No.
672–A, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,212 (2006).
4 Mandatory Reliability Standard for Nuclear
Plant Interface Coordination, Order No. 716, 125
FERC ¶ 61,065, at P 189 & n.90 (2008), order on
reh’g, Order No. 716–A, 126 FERC ¶ 61,122 (2009).
5 North American Electric Reliability Corporation,
130 FERC ¶ 61,051 (2010). When the revised

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November 4, 2014, in Docket No. RD14–
13, the Commission approved revised
Reliability Standard NUC–001–3.6
The purpose of Reliability Standard
NUC–001–3 is to require ‘‘coordination
between nuclear plant generator
operators and transmission entities for
the purpose of ensuring nuclear plant
safe operation and shutdown.’’ 7 The
Nuclear Reliability Standard applies to
nuclear plant generator operators
(generally nuclear power plant owners
and operators, including licensees) and
‘‘transmission entities,’’ defined in the
Reliability Standard as including a
nuclear plant’s suppliers of off-site
power and related transmission and
distribution services. To account for the
variations in nuclear plant design and
grid interconnection characteristics, the
Reliability Standard defines
transmission entities as ‘‘all entities that
are responsible for providing services
related to Nuclear Plant Interface
Requirements (NPIRs),’’ and lists eleven
types of functional entities (heretofore
described as ‘‘transmission entities’’)
that could provide services related to
NPIRs.8
FERC–725F information collection
requirements include establishing and
maintaining interface agreements,
including record retention
requirements. These agreements are not
filed with FERC, but with the
appropriate entities as established by
the Reliability Standard.
Type of Respondent: Nuclear
operators, nuclear plants, transmission
entities.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 9 The
Commission estimates the average
annual burden and cost 10 for this
information collection as follows.
Reliability Standard was approved, the Commission
did not go to OMB for approval. It is assumed that
the changes made did not substantively affect the
information collection and therefore a formal
submission to OMB was not needed. The most
recent OMB approval for FERC–725F was issued on
6/15/2015.
6 The Letter Order is posted at https://
elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/OpenNat.asp?
fileID=13675845.
7 See Reliability Standard NUC–001–2 at http://
www.nerc.com/files/NUC-001-3.pdf.
8 The list of functional entities consists of
transmission operators, transmission owners,
transmission planners, transmission service
providers, balancing authorities, reliability
coordinators, planning authorities, distribution
providers, load-serving entities, generator owners
and generator operators.
9 Burden is defined as the total time, effort, or
financial resources expended by persons to
generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide
information to or for a Federal agency. Refer to 5
CFR 1320.3 for additional information.
10 The wage and benefit figures are based on the
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data (at https://
www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm) for May
2016 for Sector 22, Utilities. (The benefits figure is
based on BLS data as of September 8, 2017, which

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