FERC-517, Safety of Water Power Projects and Project Works (Final Rule; RM20-9-000)
New collection (Request for a new OMB Control Number)
No
Regular
01/31/2022
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
590
0
11,350
0
0
0
The Commission has published a final rule in RM20-9-000 (and, in separate dockets, notices of new Chapters 15 through 18 of engineering guidelines) governing the safety of hydropower projects licensed by the Commission under the Federal Power Act. These actions are intended to promote the safe operation, effective maintenance, and efficient repair of licensed hydropower projects and project works to ensure the protection of life, health, and property in surrounding communities. Specifically, the Commission's actions will: incorporate two tiers of project safety inspections by independent consultants, codify existing guidance requiring certain licensees to develop an owner’s dam safety program and a public safety plan, update existing regulations related to public safety incident reporting, and make various minor revisions.
US Code:
16 USC 803(c)
Name of Law: Section 10(c) of the Federal Power Act
US Code:
16 USC 823b
Name of Law: Sectio 31 of the Federal Power Act
The PRA activities in the final rule and in the new Chapters of the Engineering Guidelines are program changes. They represent an increase in the total burden of PRA activities pertaining to the safety of water power projects and project works.
The program changes include all of the estimated burdens of this PRA request, as shown in Tables 12-1 through 12-3 of the supporting statement. These new and revised information collection activities are necessary in order to promote the safe operation, effective maintenance, and efficient repair of licensed hydropower projects and project works to ensure the protection of life, health, and property in surrounding communities.
Specifically, the new and revised information collection activities will assist the Commission in addressing shortcomings documented by the FERC After Action Panel Report after the dam safety incident at the Oroville Dam spillway. The final rule’s two-tier independent consultant safety inspection process, the codification of Owner’s Dam Safety Program, and the increased scope of public safety incident-reporting to include rescues are expected to: increase the likelihood that design and operational deficiencies are detected in advance of preventable dam safety incidents, encourage licensees to foster a strong dam safety culture within their organizations, and improve public safety at or near hydropower projects.
$140,758
No
No
No
No
No
No
No
Jean Sonneman 202 785-6577 jean_sonneman@blm.gov
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:
(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;
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.
FERC-517 Final Rule Supporting Statement.docx
RM20-9 Errata published 1 19 2022 (FERC-517).pdf
ODSP Request for Extension of Timer