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You may be interested in this newer document that published on 09/26/2025 with action 'Notice of information collection and request for comments.'
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Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-500 and Ferc-505); Consolidated Comment Request; Extension

A Notice by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on 07/23/2025

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Published Document: 2025-13797 (90 FR 34648)

This document has been published in the Federal Register. Use the PDF linked in the document sidebar for the official electronic format.

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Department of Energy
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
  1. [Docket No. IC25-14-000]

AGENCY:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION:

Notice of information collections and request for comments.

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 . 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:

  • Mail via U.S. Postal Service only, addressed to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
  • 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 https://elibrary.ferc.gov/​eLibrary/​search. 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 , 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.

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:

Title 18 CFR cites FERC-500 FERC-505
Application for License for Major 2 Unconstructed Project and Major Modified Project 4.40 and 4.41 Yes Yes.
Application for License for Major Project—Existing Dam 4.50 and 4.51 Yes Yes.
Application for License for Minor 3 Waterpower Projects and Major Waterpower Projects More Than 10 Megawatts 4.60 and 4.61 No Yes.
Application for License for Transmission Line Only 4.70 and 4.71 Yes Yes.
Exemption of Small Conduit Hydroelectric Facilities 4.90 and 4.92 No Yes.
Exemption of Small Hydroelectric Power Projects of 10-Megawatts or Less 4.101 and 4.107 No Yes.
Application for Amendment of License 4.200 and 4.201 Yes Yes.
Notice of Intent to Construct Qualifying Conduit Hydropower Facilities 4.400 and 4.401 No Yes.
( printed page 34649)
Application Under the Integrated Licensing Process 5.1 and 5.18 No Yes.

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:

  • Exhibit A is a description of the project.
  • Exhibit B is a statement of project operation and resource utilization.
  • Exhibit C is a proposed construction schedule for the project.
  • Exhibit D is a statement of project costs and financing.
  • Exhibit E is an environmental report.
  • 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.
  • 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:

  • 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;
  • A description of the proposed facility;
  • Project drawings;
  • If applicable, the preliminary permit number for the proposed facility; and
  • Verification in accordance with18 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:

Type of response Average annual number of respondents Average annual number of responses per respondent Total number of responses Average burden hours & cost per response (rounded) Total annual burden hours & total annual cost (rounded) Cost per respondent
  (1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) 6 (3) * (4) = (5) (5) ÷ (1)
FERC-500, Application for License/Relicense for Water Projects with Greater than 10 MW Capacity 12 1 12 35,602.55 hrs.; $3,667,063 427,230.60 hrs.; $44,004,752 $3,667,063
FERC-500, Request for Authorization to Use Expedited Licensing Process 1 1 1 40 hrs.; $4,120 40 hrs.; $4,120 4,120
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 and Conduit Facilities including License/Relicense, Exemption, and Qualifying Conduit Facility Determinations 31 1 31 756.59 hrs.; $77,929 23,454.29 hrs.; $2,415,791.87 77,929
FERC-505, Request for Authorization to Use Expedited Licensing Process 1 1 1 40 hrs.; $4,120 40 hrs.; $4,120 4,120
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
Totals 451,247.39 hrs.; $46,478,481

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 ( printed 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.

Footnotes

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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4.  The following regulations require Exhibits A through G: 18 CFR 4.41, 4.51, 4.61, and 4.71.

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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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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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[FR Doc. 2025-13797 Filed 7-22-25; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P

Published Document: 2025-13797 (90 FR 34648)