[Federal Register: October 6, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 193)]
[Notices]
[Page 57682-57683]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06oc03-44]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[IC03-577-000 FERC-577]
Commission Collection Activities, Proposed Collection; Comment
Request; Extension
September 29, 2003.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a)
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13), the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public
comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described
below.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by December 1,
2003.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be
obtained from Michael Miller, Office of the Chief Information Officer,
CI-1, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Comments on the
proposed collection of information may be filed either in paper format
or electronically. Those parties filing electronically do not need to
make a paper filing. For paper filings, the original and 14 copies of
such comments should be submitted to the Office of the Secretary,
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington,
DC 20426 and should refer to Docket No. IC03-577-000.
Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared in
WordPerfect, MS Word, Portable Document Format, or ASCII format. To
file the document, access the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov
and click on ``Make an E-filing,'' and then follow the
instructions for each screen. First time users will have to establish a
user name and password. The Commission will send an automatic
acknowledgment to the sender's E-mail address upon receipt of comments.
All comments may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely via the
Internet through FERC's homepage using the eLibrary link. For user assistance contact FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at (866)
208-3676, or for TTY, contact 202-502-8659.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by
telephone at (202) 502-8415, by fax at (202) 273-0873 and by E-mail at michael.miller@ferc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the
requirements of FERC-577, ``Gas Pipeline Certificates: Environmental
Impact Statement'' (OMB No. 1902-0128) is a filing requirement of the
environmental assessment of pipeline and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)
facility construction projects. The filing collects information from
all Natural Gas Act (NGA) jurisdictional pipeline companies as well as
companies whose Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA) are reviewed by the
Commission.
The information collected under FERC-577 is used by the Commission
to implement the statutory provisions of section 102 (2) (C) of the
National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) (Pub. L. 91-190) (42
U.S.C. 4332). NEPA requires that all Federal agencies must include in
every recommendation or report on proposals for legislation and other
major Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of human
environment, a detailed statement on: the environmental impact on the
proposed actions; any adverse environmental effects which cannot be
avoided should the proposal be implemented; alternatives to the
proposed action; the relationship between local short-term uses of
man's environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long term
productivity; and any irreversible and irretrievable commitment of
resources which would be involved in the proposed action should it be
implemented. The Commission uses the pipeline's data to evaluate the
environmental aspects of construction proposals and may be used in the
Commission staff's independent preparation of Environmental Assessments
or Environmental Impact Statements. The staff examines and projects
potential effects on soils, geology, water resources, land use,
recreation, aesthetics, air and noise quality, vegetation, wildlife,
cultural resources and pipeline and liquefied natural gas safety. The
Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR parts 2; 157; 284; 375 and 380.
Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year 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:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average burden
Number of Annual responses hours per Total annual
respondents per respondent response burden hours
(1) (2) (3) (1)x(2)x(3)
------------------
76 16.57 185.2 * 233,226
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* Detail may not calculate to totals because of rounding.
Estimated Burden: 233,226 total burden hours, 76 respondents, 1,259
responses annually, and 185.2 hours per response (average).
Estimated cost burden to respondents is $13,123,5620; (i.e.,
233,226 hours divided by 2,080 hours per full time employee per year
multiplied by $117,041 per year equals $13,123,560)(rounded off). The
cost per respondent is equal to $172,678.
The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain,
[[Page 57683]]
or 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.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-25226 Filed 10-3-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P