Federal Register: September 20, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 181)
DOCID: fr20se10-38 FR Doc 2010-23364
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Docket ID: [Docket No. IC10-547-001]
NOTICE: NOTICES
DOCID: fr20se10-38
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-547); Comment Request; Submitted for OMB Review
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by October 20, 2010.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
In compliance with the requirements of section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) has submitted the information collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. The Commission issued a Notice in the Federal Register (75 FR 34107, 6/ 16/2010) requesting public comments. FERC received no comments on the FERC547 and has made this notation in its submission to OMB.
SUMMARY:
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals
DOCUMENT BODY 2:
September 13, 2010.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
The information collected under the requirements of FERC547, ``Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements'' (OMB Control No. 19020084), is used by the Commission to implement the statutory refund provisions governed by sections 4, 5, and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA).\1\ Sections 4 and 5 authorize the Commission to order a refund, with interest, for any portion of a natural gas company's increased rate or charge found to be unjust or unreasonable. Refunds may also be instituted by a natural gas company as a stipulation to a Commissionapproved settlement agreement or a provision under the company's tariff. Section 16 of the NGA authorizes the Commission to prescribe rules and regulations necessary to administer its refund mandates. The Commission's refund reporting requirements are found in 18 CFR 154.501 and 154.502.
\1\ 15 U.S.C. 717717w.
The Commission uses the data to monitor refunds owed by natural gas companies to ensure that the flowthrough of refunds owed by these companies are made as expeditiously as possible and to assure that refunds are made in compliance with the Commission's regulations.
Action: The Commission is requesting a threeyear extension of the FERC547 reporting requirements, with no changes.
Burden Statement: The estimated annual public reporting burden for
FERC547 is reduced from the estimate made three years ago due to a
reduction in the average number of filings received annually, from 60 in 2007, to 30 presently.
Average number
Number of of reponses Average burden Total annual
FERC data collection respondents per respondents hours per burden hours
(1) (2) response (3) (1)x(2)x(3)
FERC547.................................... 30 1 75 2,250
The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $149,143 (2250 hours/2080 hours \2\ per year, times $137,874 \3\).
\2\ Estimated number of hours an employee works each year. \3\ Estimated average annual cost 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. 201023364 Filed 91710; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 671701P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Ellen Brown may be reached by e-mail at DataClearance@FERC.gov, by telephone at (202) 5028663, and by fax at (202) 2730873.