FERC-500, (Final Rule in RM20-21-000) Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects with More than 5 Megawatt (MW) Capacity

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
RM20-21 final rule supporting statement.docx Supporting Statement A	2021-08-05
18 CFR Part 7.pdf Supplementary Document	2021-08-05
16 U.S.C. 2705.pdf Supplementary Document	2021-07-15
18 CFR Part 5.pdf Supplementary Document	2021-07-15
18 CFR Part 4.pdf Supplementary Document	2021-07-15
Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013.pdf Supplementary Document	2021-07-15
Federal Power Act Part I.docx Supplementary Document	2021-07-15

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
43997	FERC-500, Application (or Modification) for License/Relicense for Water Projects with Greater than 5 MW Capacity	Modified
236194	FERC-500, Request for Authorization to Use Expedited Licensing Process	Modified
231465	FERC-500, Recreation Posting	Modified
220658	FERC-500, Comprehensive Plans	Unchanged
220657	FERC-500, Annual Conveyance Reports	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0058	ICR Reference No: 202107-1902-007
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201905-1902-016
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-500
Title: FERC-500, (Final Rule in RM20-21-000) Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects with More than 5 Megawatt (MW) Capacity
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 08/06/2021

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	02/28/2022	02/28/2022
Responses	520	520
Time Burden (Hours)	320,962	321,922
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

---

Abstract: The final rule at Docket No. RM20-21-000 amends several regulations in 18 CFR Part 4, and one regulation in 18 CFR Part 5. These amendments reduce the paperwork burdens associated with each license application for a major water power project of 10 megawatts (MW) or less. Previously, 18 CFR 4.32(a)(5)(ii) provided that each license application for a minor water power project or for a major water power project of 5 MW or less must be in accordance with 18 CFR 4.61, which requires submission of Exhibits A, E, F, and G. However, such applications are not subject to 18 CFR 4.41 or 18 CFR 4.51, which require submission of Exhibits B, C, and D, in addition to the exhibits required by 18 CFR 4.61. The amendment of 18 CFR 4.32(a)(5)(ii) extends the lighter paperwork burden to major water power projects of 10 MW or less, in accordance with the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013 (2013 HREA). This amendment reduces the paperwork burdens for FERC-500.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 791a et seq. Name of Law: Federal Power Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1902-AF77	Final or interim final rulemaking	86 FR 42710	08/05/2021

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 5

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
FERC-500, Annual Conveyance Reports
FERC-500, Application (or Modification) for License/Relicense for Water Projects with Greater than 5 MW Capacity
FERC-500, Comprehensive Plans
FERC-500, Recreation Posting
FERC-500, Request for Authorization to Use Expedited Licensing Process

---

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	520	520	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	320,962	321,922	0	-960	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Changing Regulations

Short Statement: The final rule amends 18 CFR 4.32(a)(5)(ii).. Previously, 18 CFR 4.32(a)(5)(ii) provided that each license application for a minor water power project or for a major water power project of 5 MW or less must be in accordance with 18 CFR 4.61, which requires submission of Exhibits A, E, F, and G. However, such applications were not subject to 18 CFR 4.41 or 18 CFR 4.51, which require submission of Exhibits B, C, and D, in addition to the exhibits required by 18 CFR 4.61. The amendment of 18 CFR 4.32(a)(5)(ii) extends the lighter paperwork burden to major water power projects of 10 MW or less, in accordance with the Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013. In summary: Under 18 CFR 4.32(a)(5)(ii) of the final rule, license applications for major water projects of 10 MW or less (instead of 5MW or less) are not required to include Exhibits B, C, or D. This amendment reduces the burden hours for 3 of the 9 responses estimated for the relevant information collection activity by 320 hours for each of the 3 affected applications ― a total reduction of 960 hours in the average burden hours for the activity.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $3,108,397

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? No

---

Common Form ICR:  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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 08/06/2021

---