FERC-500, (Final Rule in
RM20-21-000) Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects
with More than 5 Megawatt (MW) Capacity
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
08/06/2021
Requested
Previously Approved
02/28/2022
02/28/2022
520
520
320,962
321,922
0
0
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.
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.
$3,108,397
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Jean Sonneman 202 785-6577
jean_sonneman@blm.gov
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:
(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.