In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
02/28/2022
36 Months From Approved
05/31/2019
515
0
83
321,722
0
321,506
0
0
0
Final Rule in Docket RM18-14. 18 CFR 8.1 directs licensees to publicize information about the availability of projects lands and waters for recreational purposes, and any recreation-related license conditions. Section 8.1 requires licensees, at a minimum, to publish notice in a local newspaper once each week for four weeks of any recreation-related license conditions that the Commission may designate in an order issuing or amending a license. In addition to publishing notice in the local newspaper, the Commission is requiring licensees with project websites to also post notice of recreation-related license conditions on its website. This requirement would only apply to a licensee that already has an existing project website, or decides to develop a project website in the future. This change will ensure that the public is informed of recreational opportunities and recreation-related license conditions regardless of whether members of the public rely on a newspaper or the internet as their main source of news and information.
The Final Rule also eliminates the FERC-80, and updates the posting requirements for FERC-505.
FERC-500, in general. Most of the information collected by the FERC-500 is in the format of a written application for a license/relicense 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.
FERC-500 also includes comprehensive plans submitted by governmental and tribal entities, as well as annual conveyance reports.
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.
The parts of 18CFR which include requirements under FERC-500 are detailed in Attachment A to the supporting statement.
Tthe Final Rule revises 18 CFR §§ 8.1 and 8.2 to modernize licensee public notice practices, clarify recreational signage requirements, and provide flexibility to assist licenseesâ compliance with these requirements. It affects licenses with websites.
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.
FERC-505_500_80 SuppStatefinal ruleRM18-14_1-7-2019.docx
16 USC 799.pdf
FERC-500, Application (or Modification) for License/Relicense for Water Projects with Greater than 5 MW Capacity