Overview
Title
Annual Update to Fee Schedule for the Use of Government Lands by Hydropower Licensees
Agencies
ELI5 AI
The government has made new rules for how much money people who make electricity from water have to pay to use certain lands. These rules tell how much they have to pay for each piece of land for a year, but they don't explain exactly how they figure out the cost.
Summary AI
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has issued a final rule updating the fee schedule for the use of government lands by hydropower licensees. This update, effective February 10, 2021, amends the per-acre rental fees as listed in Appendix A to Part 11 of the Commission’s regulations. These fees apply from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021, for fiscal year 2021. The update is procedural and doesn’t significantly impact the rights of non-agency parties.
Abstract
In accordance with the Commission's regulations, the Commission, by its designee, the Executive Director, issues this notice of the annual update to the fee schedule, which lists per-acre rental fees by county (or other geographic area) for use of government lands by hydropower licensees.
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Sources
AnalysisAI
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has released a final rule that updates the fee schedule for using government lands by hydropower licensees. The update takes effect on February 10, 2021, and applies to the fiscal year from October 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021. This modification involves changes to the per-acre rental fees listed in Appendix A to Part 11 of the Commission's regulations.
General Summary
The document details the procedural adjustment in the annual fee schedule for hydropower licensees using government lands. The updated fees, which licensees pay in advance, are intended to fairly compensate the U.S. government for the use of its lands. Notably, this update is procedural and, according to the FERC, does not substantially alter the rights or obligations of non-agency individuals or organizations.
Significant Issues or Concerns
A few areas of concern emerge from reading the document. Firstly, the specific per-acre rental fees are not disclosed, which may lead to confusion or a perceived lack of transparency about how these charges are determined for various geographic areas. Additionally, while the document references Appendix A to Part 11 for detailed fee information, it does not specify how the public can easily access this appendix. This could thwart the ability of stakeholders to fully understand the fee schedule.
Secondly, the document presumes a level of familiarity with U.S. Code and regulatory references, which may not be accessible to the layperson. The use of technical regulatory language without explanations complicates comprehension for those not well-versed in legal or regulatory jargon.
Finally, the document states that the rule does not affect non-agency parties' rights or obligations, yet it may indirectly influence them by impacting the costs incurred by hydropower operators, which could be transferred to consumers or influence stakeholders indirectly engaged in this sector.
Public and Stakeholder Impact
On a broad level, the updated fee schedule may not appear to have direct implications for the general public. However, it plays an important role in the broader economic landscape that affects energy costs and environmental stewardship. By adjusting the fees for using government lands, the federal government ensures that natural resources are utilized responsibly and benefits are fairly allocated.
For hydropower licensees and stakeholders directly involved, such as local governments and environmental groups, these fee updates likely carry more significant implications. While aligning costs more closely with actual land use, these updates can impact operational budgets and longer-term infrastructure planning. This potentially affects investment in renewable energy and ecological conservation initiatives.
The document lacks an explicit breakdown of how fees are calculated or how they vary geographically. Greater transparency in these areas would be welcome, enabling both public and industrial entities to evaluate the fairness and impact of the fee structure more comprehensively. Access to detailed information could empower stakeholders to plan and budget more effectively, and possibly engage more effectively in public discourse and feedback loops with regulatory bodies like the FERC.
Issues
• The document does not provide specific per-acre rental fees or specify how these fees are determined for different geographic areas, which may lead to ambiguity or lack of transparency in understanding the fee schedule.
• There is a lack of detailed information on how the public can access Appendix A to Part 11, which contains crucial details about the fee schedule.
• The rule mentions that it does not affect the rights or obligations of non-agency parties, but it may still have indirect impacts on these parties by influencing the costs for hydropower licensees.
• The document uses regulatory references (e.g., 18 CFR part 11, § 11.2) without providing explanations or summaries, which could make it difficult for lay readers to understand their significance.
• The document assumes that readers have prior knowledge of the legal background and previous regulations (e.g., Order No. 774) without offering a brief context or summary.