[Federal Register: August 26, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 165)]
[Notices]
[Page 52493-52494]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26au04-26]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC04-542-000; FERC-542]
Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed
Collection; Comment Request; Extension
August 20, 2004.
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. 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 October 18,
2004.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be
[[Page 52494]]
obtained from and written comments may be submitted to the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: 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 No. IC04-542-000.
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 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-542 ``Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Tracking (OMB No.
1902-0042) is used by the Commission to implement the statutory
provisions of Title IV of the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA), 15 U.S.C.
3301-3432, and Sections 4, 5 and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (P.L.
75-688)(15 U.S.C. 717-717w). 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 pipelines are required by the Commission to
track their transportation associated costs to allow for the
Commission's review and where appropriate, approval of the pass through
of these cost to pipeline customers. Most of these FERC-542 tracking
filings are monthly accountings of the cost of fuel or electric power
necessary to operate compressor stations. Others track the costs of (1)
Gas Research Institute fees; (2) annual charges of various types, and
(3) other types of 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 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 Part 154, Sec. Sec. 154.4,
154.7, 154.101, 154.107, 154.201, 154.207-154.209 and 154.401-154.403.
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 respondents Number of responses per Average burden hours per Total annual burden hours
annually (1) respondent (2) response (3) (1)x(2)x(3)
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57 3 140 23,940
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The estimated total cost to respondents is $1,233,658 (23,940 hours
divided by 2,080 hours per employee per year times $107,185 per year
average salary (including overhead) per employee (rounded off)).
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.
Linda Mitry,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. E4-1935 Filed 8-25-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P