[Federal Register: August 21, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 161)]
[Notices]
[Page 46615-46617]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21au07-52]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[IC07-80-001, FERC Form 80]
Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed
Collection; Comment Request; Extension
August 14, 2007.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3507 of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507, the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (Commission) has submitted the information
collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for review and reinstatement of this information collection
requirement. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB
and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as
explained below. The Commission received comments from two commenters
in response to an earlier Federal Register notice of April 16, 2007 (72
FR 18967-68) and has responded to those comments in the justification
that it is submitting to OMB. Copies of this submission were also sent
to the commenters.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by September
21, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Address comments on the collection of information to the
Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory
Affairs, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer.
Comments to OMB should be filed electronically, c/o
oira_submission@omb.eop.gov and include the OMB Control No. as a point of
reference. The Desk Officer may be reached by telephone at 202-395-
7345. A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Office of the Executive Director, ED-34,
Attention: Michael Miller, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
Comments may be filed either in paper format or electronically. Those
persons filing electronically do not need to make a paper filing. For
paper filings an original and 14 copies of such comments should be
submitted to the Secretary of the Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426 and should
refer to Docket No. IC07-80-001.
Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared in
WordPerfect, MS Word, Portable Document Format, or ASCII format. To
file the document, access the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov
and click on ``Make an E-Filing,'' and then follow the
instructions for each screen. First time users will have to establish a
user name and password. The Commission will send an automatic
acknowledgement to the sender's e-mail address upon receipt of
comments. User assistance for electronic filings is available at 202-
502-8258 or by e-mail to efiling@ferc.gov. Comments should not be
submitted to this e-mail address.
All comments may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely via the
Internet through FERC's homepage using the ``eLibrary'' link. Enter the
docket number excluding the last three digits in
[[Page 46616]]
the docket number field to access the document. For user assistance,
contact FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at (866) 208-3676 or
for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by
telephone at (202) 502-8415, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at
michael.miller@ferc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description
The information collection submitted for OMB review contains the
following:
1. Collection of Information: FERC Form 80 ``Licensed Hydropower
Development Recreation Report''.
2. Sponsor: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
3. Control No. 1902-0106.
The Commission is now requesting that OMB approve and reinstate the
information collection for an additional three years.
The FERC Form 80 has been revised to facilitate greater ease to
respondents in providing the information. As initially proposed, FERC
Form 80 was updated to eliminate data concerning the nearest city and
population, since FERC staff can access the information from other
sources. Second, FERC staff has clarified the definitions so
respondents have a better understanding of the information to be
provided. Third, resource data has been updated to include FERC
approved recreational sites. Fourth, a new field has been added so that
respondents can identify the method used for collecting the data.
In response to the 60-Day Notice of April 16, 2007, commenters
proposed additional changes to the FERC Form 80. Specifically,
commenters requested the following changes to the collection:
(a) To exclude recreational facilities that are not owned by the
licensee even if they are within the project boundary;
(b) To change the report cycle from every six years to seven to 12
years;
(c) To add a trail count as a means to gauge recreation facility
occupancy;
(d) To add attendance records as a means to estimate use and
facility occupancy;
(e) To clarify in the instructions the types of recreation visits
to include both public and private facilities;
(f) To clarify wildlife and hunting areas so that it's clear
whether acres or areas are to be reported;
(g) To define the terms ``commercial'' and ``private'' use
facilities;
(h) To report picnic sites and commercial boat mooring areas as two
separate recreational resources; and
(i) To eliminate recreational resources that occurs infrequently,
such as golf courses and playground facilities.
Additionally, commentors have questioned the need for the following
data elements in the information collection:
(a) Whether FERC approved facilities should include third party
resources within the project boundary that must be approved under the
standard land use article;
(b) Whether total miles/acres of recreation areas are necessary;
(c) Whether informal/dispersed camp sites should be included; and
(d) Whether organizational camping areas within the project
boundary should be included.
Both commentors questioned the Commission's estimate of 3 hours to
complete the information collection.
Commission Proposal
The Commission proposes to adopt the following recommendations: A
trail count as a means to gauge recreation facility occupancy and the
addition of attendance records as a means to estimate use and facility
occupancy.
With regard to the other recommendations, the Commission will not
adopt them for the following reasons:
(a) The exclusion of recreational facilities that are not owned by
the licensee even though they may be within the project boundary.
The goal of the Commission's policy on recreation is to develop the
project area in a comprehensive manner. Therefore the data collection
is designed to include information on all recreational facilities
located within the project boundary, including those provided by other
federal, state, and local agencies. Title 18 CFR Part 2.7 encourages
licensees to cooperate with other entities to provide recreation
opportunities. This cooperation and comprehensive approach to providing
recreational access at licensed projects not only provides a better
recreation experience, but also addresses impacts to environmental
resources in the area by not overlapping an area. The proposed revision
to the Form 80 includes a column that identifies which facilities are
parts of an approved recreation plan for the project as opposed to
those controlled by another entity.
(b) Change the reporting cycle from every six years to seven to
twelve years. The FERC Form 80s are collected every 6 years to ensure
that recreation facilities are meeting the needs of the public. The
Form 80's are used on a regular basis as a tool to evaluate recreation
at the projects and the Commission believes 6 years is an appropriate
period of time to monitor use.
(c) To clarify in the instructions the types of recreation visits
to include both public and private facilities.
The recreation visits should include all recreation days at
projects at approved facilities, facilities provided by other entities,
and general access areas. It does not include visits to private or
residential docks or to facilities outside the project boundary.
(d) To clarify wildlife and hunting areas so that it's clear
whether acres or areas are to be reported.
These are areas within the FERC project boundary that can be used
for wildlife viewing and hunting.
(e) To define the terms ``commercial'' and ``private'' use
facilities. The Commission does not distinguish between private and
commercial recreation facilities.
(f) To report picnic sites and commercial boat mooring areas as two
separate recreational resources.
We do not believe these types of resources need to be reported
separately. If necessary during a project specific review, we will
request these types of details from the licensee.
(g) To eliminate recreational resources that occurs infrequently,
such as golf courses and playground facilities.
We have eliminated or combined some facilities over previous Form
80s. We believe the facilities currently reported on the Form 80 are
representative of all recreational opportunities currently available at
hydropower projects. For example, golf courses are an important
recreational feature at projects throughout the southeast.
In response to commenters' concerns of whether the following
information was necessary on the FERC Form 80, we provide the
following:
(a) Whether FERC approved facilities should include third party
resources within the project boundary that must be approved under the
standard land use article.
FERC Approved Resources means those facilities that are required in
an approved recreation plan or subsequent amendments or those
identified in an Exhibit E filed with the license and approved. It does
not include facilities approved as non-project uses of project lands
and water.
(b) Whether total miles/acres of recreation areas are necessary.
We use total miles/acres to determine the need for additional
facilities.
(c) Whether informal/dispersed camp sites should be included.
[[Page 46617]]
Informal/dispersed camping can be included in access areas.
(d) Whether organizational camping areas within the project
boundary should be included.
All recreation areas should be reported, not just public
recreation.
(e) Underestimation of the reporting burden. Both commenters
believe the Commission has underestimated the amount of time it takes
to complete the Form 80 (3 hours).
The Commission's estimate of the time to complete the Form 80s is
an average of its licensees ranging from large complicated projects
with extensive recreation to smaller less developed projects. In an
effort to minimize the burden to licensees, we have eliminated some
data fields where the information may be readily available from other
sources. Data collection can take place in conjunction with other
required monitoring or with other activities at the project such as
water quality or dissolved oxygen sampling or general maintenance of
the facilities.
4. Necessity of the Collection of Information: Submission of the
information is necessary for the Commission to carry out its
responsibilities in implementing the statutory provisions of the
sections 4(a), 10(a), 301(a), 304 and 309 of the Federal Power Act
(FPA). The authority for the Commission to collect this information
comes from Section 10(a) of the FPA which requires the Commission to be
responsible for ensuring those hydro projects subjects to its
jurisdiction are consistent with the comprehensive development of the
nation's waterway for recreation and other beneficial public uses.
In the interest of fulfilling these objectives, the Commission
expects licensees subject to its jurisdiction, to recognize the
resources that are affected by their activities and to play a role in
protecting such resources. The information filed with the Commission is
mandatory.
5. Respondent Description: The respondent universe currently
comprises 400 entities (on average) subject to the Commission's
jurisdiction.
6. Estimated Burden: 1,200 total hours, 400 respondents (average),
1 response per respondent, and 3 hours per response (rounded off and
average time).
7. Estimated Cost Burden to respondents: 1,200 hours/2080 hours per
years x $122,137 per year = $70,464. The cost per respondent is equal
to $176 (rounded off).
Statutory Authority: Statutory provisions of sections 4(a),
10(a), 301(a), 304 and 309 of the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 797,
803, 825c and 825h.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7-16386 Filed 8-20-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P