[Federal Register: March 1, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 39)]
[Notices]
[Page 9937-9938]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01mr05-54]
[[Page 9937]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC05-549-000, FERC-549]
Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed
Collection; Comment Request; Extension
February 23, 2005.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
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 April 25,
2005.
ADDRESSES: Copies of sample filings of the proposed collection of
information can be obtained from Michael Miller, Office of the
Executive Director, ED-33, 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. IC05-549-000.
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:
Abstract: The information collected under the requirements of FERC-
549, ``Gas Pipeline Rates: NGPA Title III and NGA Blanket Certificate
Transactions'' (OMB No. 1902-0086) is used by the Commission to
implement the statutory provisions of sections 311 and 312 of the
Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA) and section 7 of the Natural Gas Act
(NGA). Under part 284 of the Commission's regulations non-interstate
pipelines that perform transportation service under NGPA section 311
(intrastate pipelines) or blanket certificates issued under section 7
of the NGA are required to file an annual report of transportation
transactions with the Commission. The report must provide the name of
the shipper, the type of transaction, the quantity shipped and the
revenues received.
In Order No. 636, the Commission required all pipelines that
provide open-access transportation to offer their sales service on an
unbundled basis. In administering the order, the Commission issued to
pipelines holding a blanket transportation certificate under subpart G
of part 284, or performing transportation under subpart B, a blanket
certificate authorizing firm and interruptible sales for resale. In
Order No. 547, as part of the industry restructuring begun by Order No.
636, the Commission issued blanket certificates to all persons who are
not interstate pipelines, authorizing them to make jurisdictional gas
sales for resale at negotiated rates with pre-granted abandonment. The
Commission required that all firm and interruptible sales services be
provided as unbundled services. In Order No. 664, the Commission
amended its regulations regarding blanket certificates for unbundled
gas sales services held by interstate natural gas pipelines and the
blanket marketing certificates held by persons making sales for resale
of gas at negotiated rates in interstate commerce to require that
pipelines and all sellers for resale adhere to a code of conduct with
respect to gas sales. The information collected in these reports is
used by the Commission to monitor the jurisdictional transportation
activities of intrastate and Hinshaw pipelines and the unbundled sales
activities of interstate natural gas pipelines and to ensure the
integrity of the gas sales market that remains within the Commission's
jurisdiction. The Commission implements these mandatory filing
requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR
284.126, 284.281-288, 284.401-403.
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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Annual responses Average burden hours Total annual burden hours
Number of respondents (1) per respondent (2) per response (3) (1)x(2)x(3)
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77.............................. 1 8.1 624 (Annual Report)
222............................. 1 1 222 (Code of Conduct)
222............................. 1 *2 444 (Code of Conduct)
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Totals 222.................. 1 11.2 1,290
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* Recordkeeping.
Estimated cost burden to respondents is $544,628; (i.e., 1,290
hours divided by 2,080 hours per full time employee per year multiplied
by $108,558 per year equals $67,328 rounded off + $477,300 for
recording keeping).
The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, 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.
[[Page 9938]]
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
anyone 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,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-804 Filed 2-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P