Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Extension, 46615-46617 [E7-16386]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 21, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46615-46617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-16386]


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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 https://
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