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FERC Issues Notice of Information Collection and Request for Comments re Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-521); Comment Request;...(Targeted News Service Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) FERC Issues Notice of Information Collection and Request for Comments re Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-521); Comment Request; Extension Under IC14-8 WASHINGTON, Feb. 7 -- The U.S. Department of Energy's Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued the following notice: [Docket No. IC14-8-000] COMMISSION INFORMATION COLLECTION ACTIVITIES (FERC-521); COMMENT REQUEST; EXTENSION (February 7, 2014) AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments. SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 USC 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collection, FERC-521 (Payments for Benefits from Headwater Benefits). DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due [insert date that is 60 days after publication in the Federal Register]. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC14-8-000) by either of the following methods: - eFiling at Commission's Web Site: 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/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance contact FERC Online Support by e-mail 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/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Ellen Brown may be reached by e-mail at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 273-0873. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Payments for Benefits from Headwater Benefits OMB Control No.: 1902-0087 Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-521 information collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting requirements. Abstract: The information collected under the requirements of FERC-521 is used by the Commission to implement the statutory provisions of Section 10(f) of the Federal Power Act (FPA) . The FPA authorizes the Commission to determine headwater benefits received by downstream hydropower project owners. Headwater benefits are the additional energy production possible at a downstream hydropower project resulting from the regulation of river flows by an upstream storage reservoir. When the Commission completes a study of a river basin, it determines headwater benefits charges that will be apportioned among the various downstream beneficiaries. A headwater benefits charge and the cost incurred by the Commission to complete an evaluation are paid by downstream hydropower project owners. In essence, the owners of non-federal hydropower projects that directly benefit from a headwater improvement must pay an equitable portion of the annual charges for interest, maintenance, and depreciation of the headwater project to the U.S. Treasury. The regulations provide for apportionment of these costs between the headwater project and downstream projects based on downstream energy gains and propose equitable apportionment methodology that can be applied to all rivers basins in which headwater improvements are built. The Commission requires owners of non-federal hydropower projects to file data for determining annual charges as outlined in 18 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 11. Type of Respondents: There are two types of entities that respond, Federal and Non-Federal hydropower project owners. The Federal entities that typically respond are the US Army Corps of Engineers and the US Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation. The Non-Federal entities may consist of any Municipal or Non-Municipal hydropower project owner. Estimate of Annual Burden : The Commission estimates the total Public Reporting Burden for this information collection as: Click here to view table: http://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/common/opennat.asp?fileID=13457985 The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $8,460 [120 hours * $70.50/hour = $8,460] 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; 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. Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr., Deputy Secretary. TNS 18EstebanLiz-140208-30FurigayJane-4630660 30FurigayJane (c) 2014 Targeted News Service |