Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Final rule.
The Commission is issuing this Final Rule to make minor changes to its regulations. This Final Rule amends requirements pertaining to the format and dimensions of maps and drawings submitted to the Commission by applicants and licensees in the Commission's hydropower program. Specifically, the amendments: remove the requirement that applicants and licensees submit copies of certain project maps and drawings in microfilm format on aperture cards; and change the minimum and maximum dimensions applicable to submitted maps and drawings. These amendments modernize the regulations to reflect technological advances and relieve burdens placed on applicants and licensees.
This rule will become effective September 8, 2014.
Charles K. Cover, Office of Energy Projects, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, 202–502–8832.
In the matter of: RM14–20–000 Format and Dimensions of Maps and Drawings Required by the Commission's Hydropower Program.
1. The Commission is issuing this Final Rule to remove from its regulations the requirement in 18 CFR 4.39(a) that hydropower applicants and licensees submit copies of project maps and drawings in microfilm format on aperture cards.
2. This change modernizes the Commission's regulations and relieves applicants, licensees, and exemptees from burdens associated with producing microfilm on aperture cards. Aperture cards continue to grow more expensive and difficult to obtain as the industry and entities move to more modern formats. The Commission originally chose to utilize aperture cards because of their durability and uniformity. However, technological advances have made electronic versions of documents more timeless, secure, and convenient. Consequently, the Commission has decided to discontinue its use of aperture cards and instead rely on print and digital formats.
3. This final rule also amends 18 CFR 4.39(a) to change the minimum and maximum dimensions applicable to submitted maps and drawings. The rule changes the minimum dimensions from 24 by 36 inches to 22 by 34 inches. It changes the maximum dimensions from 28 by 40 inches to 24 by 36 inches. The Commission makes this change in order to reflect the dimensions commonly used by architects and engineers. The new limits also will allow maps and drawings to be more easily reduced to half size without loss of quality (e.g. a 22 by 34 inch drawing can be reduced to a convenient 11 by 17 inch half size).
4. The changes are subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA).
5. The revisions reflect and adapt to the medium and technology already in use by filers and industry. Therefore, this Final Rule is being submitted to OMB for review as a non-substantive change to the FERC–500, FERC–505, and FERC–512. Please send any comments on the changes to the Commission in this docket, and to the Office of Management and Budget by email to:
6. The Commission is required to prepare an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement for any action that may have a significant adverse effect on the human environment.
7. The Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980
8. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the
9. From the Commission's homepage on the Internet, this information is available in the Commission's document management system, eLibrary. The full text of this document is available on eLibrary in PDF and Microsoft Word format for viewing, printing, and/or downloading. To access this document in eLibrary, type the docket number excluding the last three digits of this document in the docket number field.
10. User assistance is available for eLibrary and the Commission's Web site during normal business hours from FERC Online Support at 1–866–208–3676 (toll free) or (202) 502–6652 (email at
11. This Final Rule is effective September 8, 2014. The Commission has determined, with the concurrence of the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs of OMB, that this rule is not a “major rule” as defined in section 351 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.
Administrative practice and procedure, Dams, Electric power, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
By the Commission.
In consideration of the foregoing, the Commission is amending Part 4, Chapter I, Title 18,
16 U.S.C. 791a–825v, 2601–2645; 42 U.S.C. 7101–7352.