View Information Collection Request (ICR) Package
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Please note that the OMB number and expiration date may not have been determined when this Information Collection Request and associated Information Collection forms were submitted to OMB. The approved OMB number and expiration date may be found by clicking on the Notice of Action link below.
View ICR - OIRA Conclusion
OMB Control No:
1902-0075
ICR Reference No:
201003-1902-001
Status:
Historical Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
200907-1902-008
Agency/Subagency:
FERC
Agency Tracking No:
FERC-556
Title:
FERC-556, [final rule in RM09-23], Certification of Qualifying Facility (QF) Status for a Small Power Production or Cogeneration Facility
Type of Information Collection:
Revision of a currently approved collection
Common Form ICR:
No
Type of Review Request:
Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action:
Approved without change
Conclusion Date:
05/21/2010
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
04/02/2010
Terms of Clearance:
In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for 3 years. Upon resubmission, it is suggested the agency provide clear comparisons of how burden hours per respondent change for both cogeneration and small power production facilities.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
05/31/2013
36 Months From Approved
12/31/2012
Responses
504
0
824
Time Burden (Hours)
2,156
0
2,540
Cost Burden (Dollars)
251,541
0
156,670
Abstract:
The Commission is requesting approval for 3 yrs., for FERC-556, as revised in the final rule in Docket RM09-23 (issued 3/19/10 and published in FR on 3/30/10). Through the final rule, FERC is:(1)exempting generating facilities with net power production capacities of 1 MW or less from the requirement that a generating facility, to be a QF, must file either a notice of self-certification or an application for Commission certification; (2)making Form No. 556 easier and less time consuming to complete and submit; (3) decreasing opportunities for confusion and error in completing the form; (4) improving consistency and quality of the data collected by the form; (5) decreasing Commission resources dedicated to managing errors and omissions in submitted forms; and (6) clarifying and correcting the regulations governing the requirements for obtaining and maintaining QF status. To encourage small power and cogeneration production, the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) confers benefits on small power and cogeneration facilities that meet certain ownership and technical criteria. The Commission uses the FERC-556 (Cogeneration and Small Power Production, OMB Control Number 1902-0075) to implement the statutory provisions in Federal Power Act (FPA) section 3 (16 USC 792-828c) and sections 201 and 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978 (16 USC 2601). These statutes authorize the Commission to encourage cogeneration and small power production and to prescribe such rules as necessary in order to carry out these statutory directives. Commission regulations pertaining to FERC-556 can be found in 18 CFR 131.80 and 18 CFR Part 292.
Authorizing Statute(s):
US Code:
16 USC 792-828c
Name of Law: Federal Power Act (FPA)
US Code:
16 USC 2601
Name of Law: Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978
Citations for New Statutory Requirements:
None
Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:
Stage of Rulemaking:
Federal Register Citation:
Date:
1902-AD92
Final or interim final rulemaking
75 FR 15950
03/30/2010
Federal Register Notices & Comments
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
FERC-556, Certification of Qualifying Facility (QF) Status for a Small Power Production or Cogeneration Facility
ICR Summary of Burden
Total Approved
Previously Approved
Change Due to New Statute
Change Due to Agency Discretion
Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses
504
824
0
-320
0
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
2,156
2,540
0
-384
0
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
251,541
156,670
0
0
94,871
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:
Yes
Burden Reduction Due to:
Changing Regulations
Short Statement:
FERC is revising its regulations and the FERC Form No. 556: 1)to exempt generating facilities with net power production capacities of 1 MW or less from the requirement that a generating facility, to be a QF, must file either a notice of self-certification or an application for Commission certification; 2)to provide that an applicant seeking to certify qualifying facility (QF) status of a small power production or cogeneration facility must complete, and electronically file, the Form No. 556 that is in effect at the time of filing; 3)to clarify the content of the form and to take advantage of newer technologies that will reduce both the filing burden for applicants and the processing burden for the Commission; 4)to codify the Commissions authority to waive the QF certification requirement for good cause; 5)to extend to all applicants for QF certification the requirement (currently applicable only to applicants for self-certification of QF status) to serve a copy of a filed Form No. 556 on the affected utilities and state regulatory authorities; 6)to eliminate the requirement for applicants to provide a draft notice suitable for publication in the Federal Register; 7)to clarify, simplify or correct certain sections of the regulations. The revisions described above will: (1) make the Form No. 556 easier and less time consuming to complete and submit; (2) decrease opportunities for confusion and error in completing the form; (3) improve consistency and quality of the data collected by the form; (4) decrease FERC resources dedicated to managing errors and omissions in submitted forms; and (5) clarify and correct the regulations governing the requirements for obtaining and maintaining QF status. The Commission estimates these program changes, plus adjustments, will decrease industry burden by a net of 324 hours annually, as detailed above.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$222,126
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)?
No
Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response?
Uncollected
Agency Contact:
Patricia Morris 202 208-6990
Common Form ICR:
No
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Certification Date:
04/02/2010
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