Notice2025-18733
Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-500 and Ferc-505); 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
September 26, 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 185 (Friday, September 26, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 185 (Friday, September 26, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46401-46403]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18733]
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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); Comment Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of information collection 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,
[[Page 46402]]
Exemption, and Qualifying Conduit Facility Determinations). There are
no program changes.
DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due October 27,
2025.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-500 to OMB through <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRA/icrPublicCommentRequest?ref_nbr=202508-1902-001">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRA/icrPublicCommentRequest?ref_nbr=202508-1902-001</a> or FERC 505 through <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRA/icrPublicCommentRequest?ref_nbr=202508-1902-002">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRA/icrPublicCommentRequest?ref_nbr=202508-1902-002</a>. You can also visit
<a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a> and use the drop-down under
``Currently under Review'' to select the ``Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission'' where you can see the open opportunities to provide
comments. Comments should be sent within 30 days of publication of this
notice.
Please submit a copy of your comments to the Commission via email
to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#74301500153718111506151a171134323126375a131b02"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="d490b5a0b597b8b1b5a6b5bab7b19492918697fab3bba2">[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: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street
NE, Washington, DC 20426.
<bullet> All other delivery methods: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the 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, (202) 502-6468.
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a2e6c3d6c3e1cec7c3d0c3ccc1c7e2e4e7f0e18cc5cdd4"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="e9ad889d88aa858c889b88878a8ca9afacbbaac78e869f">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 comprise 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.
As required by OMB regulations at 5 CFR 1320.8(d), the Commission
provided a 60-day notice of its renewal request in the Federal Register
on July 23, 2025 (90 FR 34648). The public-comment period expired on
September 22, 2025. No comments were received.
The following table lists information collection activities
pertaining to applications and notices of intent. The table is
organized as pairs of regulations that address, respectively,
applicability and required contents of each activity.
Table 1--Regulations and Information Collection Activities: Applications and Notices of Intent
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Title 18 CFR Cites FERC-500 FERC-505
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Application for License for Major 4.40 and 4.41.............. Yes.................... Yes.
\2\ 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 4.60 and 4.61.............. No..................... Yes.
\3\ Water Power Projects and
Major Water Power Projects 10
Megawatts or Less.
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 4.200 and 4.201............ Yes.................... Yes.
License.
Notice of Intent to Construct 4.400 and 4.401............ No..................... Yes.
Qualifying Conduit Hydropower
Facilities.
Application Under the Integrated 5.1 and 5.18............... Yes.................... 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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\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.
\4\ The following regulations require Exhibits A through G: 18
CFR 4.41, 4.51, 4.61, 4.71, 4.201(b)(1) and 4.201(b)(5).
\5\ The following regulations do not require Exhibits B, C, or
D: 18 CFR 4.92 and 4.107. The regulations at 18 CFR 4.201(b)(2)
through (b)(4) do not require Exhibits A, B, C, or D. The
regulations at 18 CFR 5.18 do not require Exhibit E.
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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
[[Page 46403]]
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: The burdens are itemized in detail in
the following table:
Table 3--Estimated Annual Burdens
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Average
annual Average annual Total number of Cost per
Type of response number of number of responses (1) * Average burden hours & cost per response Total annual burden hours & total annual respondent
respondents responses per (2) = (3) (4) \6\ cost (rounded) (3) * (4) = (5) (rounded)
(1) respondent (2) (5) / (1)
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FERC-500, Application for License/ 12 1 12 35,602.55 hrs.; $3,667,063................. 427,230.6 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
Subtotals for FERC-500............... 486 .............. ................ ........................................... 427,609.6 hrs. $44,043,789................. ...........
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
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 collections of information
are 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 estimates of the burden and
cost of the collections of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information collections; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of the collections of information on those who are
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or
other forms of information technology.
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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 FY
2025 average hourly cost for wages and benefits.
Dated: September 23, 2025.
Carlos D. Clay,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2025-18733 Filed 9-25-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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</html>Indexed from Federal Register on September 26, 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.