Notice2025-13797
Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-500 and Ferc-505); Consolidated Comment Request; Extension
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
July 23, 2025
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Abstract
In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved information collections, FERC-500 (Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects with More than 10 Megawatt (MW) Capacity); and FERC- 505 (Application for Small Hydropower Projects and Conduit Facilities including License/Relicense, Exemption, and Qualifying Conduit Facility Determinations). There are no program changes.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 139 (Wednesday, July 23, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 139 (Wednesday, July 23, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34648-34650]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-13797]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC25-14-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-500 and Ferc-
505); Consolidated Comment Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of information collections and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or
FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved
information collections, FERC-500 (Application for License/Relicense
for Water Projects with More than 10 Megawatt (MW) Capacity); and FERC-
505 (Application for Small Hydropower Projects and Conduit Facilities
including License/Relicense, Exemption, and Qualifying Conduit Facility
Determinations). There are no program changes.
DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due September 22,
2025.
ADDRESSES: Please submit comments via email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a3e7c2d7c2e0cfc6c2d1c2cdc0c6e3e5e6f1e08dc4ccd5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="f6b2978297b59a93978497989593b6b0b3a4b5d8919980">[email protected]</span></a>.
You must specify the Docket No. (IC25-14-000) and the FERC Information
Collection number (FERC-500 and 505) in your email. If you are unable
to file electronically, comments may be filed by USPS mail or by hand
(including courier) delivery:
<bullet> Mail via U.S. Postal Service only, addressed to: Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
<bullet> Hand (including courier) delivery to: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
Docket: To view comments and issuances in this docket, please visit
<a href="https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search">https://elibrary.ferc.gov/eLibrary/search</a>. Once there, you can also
sign-up for automatic notification of activity in this docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kayla Williams may be reached by email
at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#7034110411331c151102111e131530363522335e171f06"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7e3a1f0a1f3d121b1f0c1f101d1b3e383b2c3d50191108">[email protected]</span></a>, or by telephone at (202) 502-6468.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Titles: FERC-500 (Application for License/Relicense for Water
Projects with More than 10-Megawatt (MW) Capacity) and FERC-505
(Application for Small Hydropower Projects and Conduit Facilities
including License/Relicense, Exemption, and Qualifying Conduit Facility
Determination).
OMB Control Nos.: 1902-0058 (FERC-500) and 1902-0115 (FERC-505).
Type of Request: Extension of currently approved information
collections.
Abstract: Part I of the Federal Power Act (FPA) \1\ authorizes the
Commission to grant hydropower licenses and exemptions to citizens of
the United States, or to any corporation organized under the laws of
United States or any State thereof, or to any State or municipality.
Holders of such licenses and exemptions construct, operate, and
maintain dams, water conduits, reservoirs, power houses, transmission
lines, or other project works necessary or convenient for the
development and improvement of navigation and for the development,
transmission, and utilization of power across, along, from, or in any
of the streams or other bodies of water over which Congress has
jurisdiction. This jurisdiction stems from Congressional authority to
regulate commerce with foreign nations and among the several States, or
upon any part of the public lands and reservations of the United
States.
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\1\ 16 U.S.C. 791a-823g.
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FERC-500 and FERC-505 include applications and other information
collection activities implemented under numerous regulations. Some of
the regulations are relevant to both FERC-500 and FERC-505, and others
are relevant only to FERC-500 or FERC-505. Effective October 4, 2021,
information collection activities within FERC-500 are for projects with
an installed capacity of more than 10 MW. Information collection
activities within FERC-505 are for other smaller projects. The
applicability and required contents of each activity are listed at the
pairs of regulations listed in the following table:
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\2\ As defined at 18 CFR 4.30(b)(14) through 4.30(b)(16), a
``major'' project has a total installed generating capacity of more
than 1.5 MW.
\3\ As defined at 18 CFR 4.30(b)(17), a ``minor'' project has a
total installed generating capacity of 1.5 MW or less.
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Title 18 CFR cites FERC-500 FERC-505
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Application for License for Major \2\ 4.40 and 4.41.......... Yes.................... Yes.
Unconstructed Project and Major
Modified Project.
Application for License for Major 4.50 and 4.51.......... Yes.................... Yes.
Project--Existing Dam.
Application for License for Minor \3\ 4.60 and 4.61.......... No..................... Yes.
Waterpower Projects and Major
Waterpower Projects More Than 10
Megawatts.
Application for License for 4.70 and 4.71.......... Yes.................... Yes.
Transmission Line Only.
Exemption of Small Conduit 4.90 and 4.92.......... No..................... Yes.
Hydroelectric Facilities.
Exemption of Small Hydroelectric 4.101 and 4.107........ No..................... Yes.
Power Projects of 10-Megawatts or
Less.
Application for Amendment of License. 4.200 and 4.201........ Yes.................... Yes.
Notice of Intent to Construct 4.400 and 4.401........ No..................... Yes.
Qualifying Conduit Hydropower
Facilities.
[[Page 34649]]
Application Under the Integrated 5.1 and 5.18........... No..................... Yes.
Licensing Process.
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Each of the ``contents'' regulations listed above requires
information that assists the Commission in identifying the respondent
and the type of proposed project. In addition, certain types of
applications must include all \4\ or some \5\ of the following
exhibits:
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\4\ The following regulations require Exhibits A through G: 18
CFR 4.41, 4.51, 4.61, and 4.71.
\5\ The following regulations do not require Exhibits B, C, and
D: 18 CFR 4.92 and 4.107. The regulations at 18 CFR 4.201 and 5.18
pertain to several types of applications and projects. The exhibits
required by those regulations vary, depending on the type of
application.
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<bullet> Exhibit A is a description of the project.
<bullet> Exhibit B is a statement of project operation and resource
utilization.
<bullet> Exhibit C is a proposed construction schedule for the
project.
<bullet> Exhibit D is a statement of project costs and financing.
<bullet> Exhibit E is an environmental report.
<bullet> Exhibit F consists of general design drawings of the
principal project works described under Exhibit A and supporting
information used as the basis of design.
<bullet> Exhibit G is a map of the project.
No exhibits are required in a Notice of Intent to Construct
Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facilities under 18 CFR 4.401. However,
the Notice of Intent must include:
<bullet> Statements that the proposed project will use the
hydroelectric potential of a non-federally owned conduit and that the
proposed facility has not been licensed or exempted from the licensing
requirements and Part I of the FPA;
<bullet> A description of the proposed facility;
<bullet> Project drawings;
<bullet> If applicable, the preliminary permit number for the
proposed facility; and
<bullet> Verification in accordance with 18 CFR 4.401(g).
In addition to the reporting requirements described above, FERC-500
and FERC-505 also contain requirements for those entities who
ultimately receive a FERC license or exemption. Both information
collections include an activity related to recreation signage (18 CFR
8.1 and 8.2) which is used to inform the public of appropriate uses at
the project. FERC-500 includes an annual conveyance report (18 CFR
141.15) which must be submitted only if a conveyance of easements or
rights-of-way across project lands, or a lease of project lands, has
occurred in the previous year.
Types of Respondents: Entities requesting Licenses, Relicenses,
Exemptions, or Qualifying Conduit Facility Determinations, and certain
entities in receipt of Commission Licenses and Exemptions.
Estimate of Annual Burden: For FERC-500, the Commission estimates
486 responses, 427,609.6 hours, and $44,043,789 annually. For FERC-505,
the Commission estimates 319 responses, 23,637.79 hours, and $2,434,692
annually. These burdens are itemized in detail in the following table:
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\6\ The Commission staff estimates that the industry's hourly
cost for wages plus benefits is similar to the Commission's $103.00
FY 2025 average hourly cost for wages and benefits.
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Average annual
Average annual number of Total number of Average burden hours & cost per response Total annual burden hours & total annual Cost per
Type of response number of responses per responses (rounded) cost (rounded) respondent
respondents respondent
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) \6\................................... (3) * (4) = (5)............................. (5) / (1)
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FERC-500, Application for License/ 12 1 12 35,602.55 hrs.; $3,667,063................ 427,230.60 hrs.; $44,004,752................ $3,667,063
Relicense for Water Projects with
Greater than 10 MW Capacity.
FERC-500, Request for Authorization to 1 1 1 40 hrs.; $4,120........................... 40 hrs.; $4,120............................. 4,120
Use Expedited Licensing Process.
FERC-500, Annual Conveyance Reports..... 41 1 41 3 hrs.; $309.............................. 123 hrs.; $12,669........................... 309
FERC-500, Recreation Posting............ 432 1 432 0.5 hr.; $51.50........................... 216 hrs.; $22,248........................... 51.50
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Subtotals for FERC-500.............. 486 ............... ............... .......................................... 427,609.6 hrs. $44,043,789.................. ..........
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FERC-505, for Small Hydropower Projects 31 1 31 756.59 hrs.; $77,929...................... 23,454.29 hrs.; $2,415,791.87............... 77,929
and Conduit Facilities including
License/Relicense, Exemption, and
Qualifying Conduit Facility
Determinations.
FERC-505, Request for Authorization to 1 1 1 40 hrs.; $4,120........................... 40 hrs.; $4,120............................. 4,120
Use Expedited Licensing Process.
FERC-505, Recreation Posting............ 287 ............... ............... 0.5 hr.; $51.50........................... 143.5 hrs.; $14,780.5....................... 51.50
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Sub-Totals for FERC-505............. 319 ............... ............... N/A....................................... 23,637.79 hrs.; $2,434,692.................. ..........
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Totals.......................... .............. ............... ............... .......................................... 451,247.39 hrs.; $46,478,481................ ..........
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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
[[Page 34650]]
(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.
Dated: July 17, 2025.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-13797 Filed 7-22-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on July 23, 2025.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.