[Federal Register: January 30, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 20)]
[Notices]
[Page 4498-4499]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30ja04-35]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC04-580-000, FERC Form 580]
Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed
Collection; Comment Request Extension
January 22, 2004.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice.
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[[Page 4499]]
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), the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public
comment on the specifics of the information collection described below.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by March 26,
2004.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be
obtained from Michael Miller, Office of the Executive Director, ED-30,
888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. Comments 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 refer to Docket IC04-580-
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
acknowledgement 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 home page 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:
Description
The information collected under FERC Form No. 580, ``Interrogatory
on Fuel and Energy Purchase Practices, Docket No. IN79-6'' (OMB Control
No. 1902-0137) is used by the Commission to carry out its
responsibilities in implementing the statutory provisions of the
Federal Power Act (FPA). The FPA was amended by the Public Utility
Regulatory Policies Act (49 Stat. 851; 16 U.S.C. 824d) to require the
Commission to review ``not less frequently than every two (2) years * *
* of practices * * * to ensure efficient use of resources (including
economical purchase and use of fuel and electric energy) * * *.'' The
information is used to: (1) Review as mandated by statute, fuel
purchase and cost recovery practices to insure efficient use of
resources, including economical purchase and use of fuel and electric
energy, under fuel adjustment clauses on file with the Commission; (2)
evaluate fuel costs in individual rate filings; (3) to supplement
periodic utility audits; and (4) to monitor changes and trends in the
electric wholesale market. The information has also been used by the
Energy Information Administration under a Congressional mandate to
study various aspects of coal, oil, and gas transportation rates.
Electric market participants and the public are using the information
to assess the marketplace during its transition to a fully competitive
regime.
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:
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Number of responses Average burden Total annual burden
Number of respondents annually per respondent hours per response hours
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(1) (2) (3) (1)x(2)x(3)
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114.............................................. *59.5 64 3,648
(114 responses every two years)
Estimated cost burden to Respondents: 3,648 hours / 2,080 hours per year x $107,185 = $196,231.
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 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
of information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs
incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs
apply to the 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.
Pubic Utility Regulatory Policies Act.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E4-147 Filed 1-29-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P