FERC-517, Safety of Water
Power Projects and Project Works (Final Rule; RM20-9-000)
New
collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
01/31/2022
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
590
0
11,350
0
0
0
The Commission has published a final
rule in RM20-9-000 (and, in separate dockets, notices of new
Chapters 15 through 18 of engineering guidelines) governing the
safety of hydropower projects licensed by the Commission under the
Federal Power Act. These actions are intended to promote the safe
operation, effective maintenance, and efficient repair of licensed
hydropower projects and project works to ensure the protection of
life, health, and property in surrounding communities.
Specifically, the Commission's actions will: incorporate two tiers
of project safety inspections by independent consultants, codify
existing guidance requiring certain licensees to develop an owner’s
dam safety program and a public safety plan, update existing
regulations related to public safety incident reporting, and make
various minor revisions.
US Code:
16
USC 803(c) Name of Law: Section 10(c) of the Federal Power
Act
US Code: 16
USC 823b Name of Law: Sectio 31 of the Federal Power Act
The PRA activities in the final
rule and in the new Chapters of the Engineering Guidelines are
program changes. They represent an increase in the total burden of
PRA activities pertaining to the safety of water power projects and
project works. The program changes include all of the estimated
burdens of this PRA request, as shown in Tables 12-1 through 12-3
of the supporting statement. These new and revised information
collection activities are necessary in order to promote the safe
operation, effective maintenance, and efficient repair of licensed
hydropower projects and project works to ensure the protection of
life, health, and property in surrounding communities.
Specifically, the new and revised information collection activities
will assist the Commission in addressing shortcomings documented by
the FERC After Action Panel Report after the dam safety incident at
the Oroville Dam spillway. The final rule’s two-tier independent
consultant safety inspection process, the codification of Owner’s
Dam Safety Program, and the increased scope of public safety
incident-reporting to include rescues are expected to: increase the
likelihood that design and operational deficiencies are detected in
advance of preventable dam safety incidents, encourage licensees to
foster a strong dam safety culture within their organizations, and
improve public safety at or near hydropower projects.
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-517 Final Rule Supporting Statement.docx
RM20-9 Errata published 1 19 2022 (FERC-517).pdf
ODSP Request for Extension of Timer