Federal Register: August 3, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 148)
DOCID: fr03au10-55 FR Doc 2010-18970
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Docket ID: [Docket No. IC10-542-000]
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr03au10-55
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection and request for comments.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-542); Comment Request; Extension
DATES: Comments in consideration of the collection of information are due October 4, 2010.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) (2006) (Pub. L. 10413), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the proposed information collection described below.
SUMMARY:
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The information collected under the requirements of FERC542 ``Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Tracking'' (OMB No. 19020070) is used by the Commission to implement the statutory provisions of Title IV of the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA), 15 U.S.C. 33013432, and Sections 4, 5 and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (Pub. L. 75688) (15 U.S.C. 717717w). These statutes empower the Commission to collect natural gas transmission cost information from interstate natural gas transporters for the purpose of verifying that these costs, which are passed on to pipeline customers, are just and reasonable.
Interstate natural gas pipeline companies are required by the Commission to track their transportationassociated costs to allow for the Commission's review and, where appropriate, approve the pass through of these costs to pipeline customers. These FERC542 tracking filings are accountings of the cost of (1) research, development, and deployment expenditures; (2) annual charge adjustments and (3) periodic rate adjustments.
Tracking filings may be submitted at any time or on a regularly
scheduled basis in accordance with the pipeline company's tariff.
Filings may be either: (1) Accepted; (2) suspended and set for hearing; (3) suspended, but not set for
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hearing; or (4) suspended for further review, such as technical
conference or some other type of Commission action. The Commission
implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations
(CFR) under 18 CFR parts 154, 154.4, 154.7, 154.307, 154.201, 154.207 154.208 and 154.401154.403.
Action: The Commission is requesting a threeyear extension of the current expiration date, with no changes to the existing collection of data.
Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated as:
Number of Average burden
FERC data collection Annual number of responses per hours per Total annual burden
respondents respondent response hours
(1) (2) (3) (1) x (2) x (3)
FERC542........................ 95 3.5 40 13,300
Estimated cost burden to respondents is $881,598 (13,300 hours/ 2,080 hours \1\ times $137,874 \2\). The cost per respondent is $9,280. \1\ Number of hours an employee works each year.
\2\ Average annual salary per employee.
The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing, acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; (4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the information.
The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than any one particular function or activity.
Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed 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 of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality,
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are
to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms
of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 201018970 Filed 8210; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 671701P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Ellen Brown may be reached by e-mail at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at (202) 5028663, and fax at (202) 2730873.