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OMB Control No: 1902-0073	ICR Reference No: 200806-1902-003
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200506-1902-008
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-512
Title: Application for Preliminary Permits,
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 10/08/2008
	Date Received in OIRA: 06/20/2008
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	10/31/2011	36 Months From Approved	10/31/2008
Responses	200	0	50
Time Burden (Hours)	7,400	0	3,102
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Abstract: FERC is responsible for licensing nonfederal hydropower projects if they are on lands or waters subject to Congressional authority. Part I of the Federal Power Act(FPA) gives FERC the authority to issue licenses for hydroelectric projects on these waters. FERC issues licenses for terms up to 50 years for projects "best adapted to a comprehensive plan" for improving a waterway for beneficial public purposes. Benefits include power generation, irrigation, flood control, navigation, fish and wildlife, municipal water supply, and recreation. Preliminary permits, issued for three years, reserve rights to study the feasibility of hydropower development at a specific site, but do not authorize construction of any hydropower facilities. The application for preliminary permit process is pursuant to FERC's defined role, as mandated under Sections 4(f), 5 and 7 of the Federal Power Act. The purpose of obtaining a preliminary permit as noted above, is to maintain a priority status for an application for a license, while the applicant conducts site examinations and surveys to prepare maps, plans, specifications and estimates. This period of time also provides the applicant with the opportunity to conduct engineering, economic and environmental feasibility studies; plus make the financial arrangements for funding the construction of the site. The conditions under which the priority will be maintained are set forth in each permit. During the term of the permit, no other application for a preliminary permit or application for license submitted by another party can be accepted.

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 16 USC 797 et. al. Name of Law: Federal Power Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	73 FR 13536	03/13/2008
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	73 FR 34280	06/17/2008
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Application for Preliminary Permits,

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Annual Number of Responses	200	50	150
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	7,400	3,102	4,298
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: There is an adjustment in the burden from the Commission's last submission to OMB. Because of the high cost of traditional fossil fuels, many potential participants are looking to renewables to provide alternative energy sources. In addition and as noted in item no. 1 above, the Commission has seen a significant increase in preliminary permit applications because of the interest in hydrokinetic energy. It should also be noted that a DOE study identified more than 30 million kilowatts of untapped hydroelectric capacity that could be constructed with minimal environmental effects at existing dams that presently have no hydroelectric generating facilities, at existing hydroelectric projects with unused potential, and even at a number of sites without dams. Follow-up studies have assessed the economic issues associated with this untapped hydroelectric resource. In addition, studies to estimate the hydroelectric potential of undeveloped, small capacity, dispersed sites that could supply electricity to adjacent areas without connecting to a regional electric transmission distribution system are proceeding and provoked a renewed interest. Preliminary results from these efforts have improved the visibility of hydroelectric power and provided indications that the hydroelectric power industry will be vibrant and important to the country throughout the next century.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,458

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: William Guey-Lee 2025026064 william.guey-lee@ferc.gov

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