[Federal Register: December 14, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 240)]
[Notices]
[Page 75238-75239]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14de06-41]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC07-580-000; FERC 580]
Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed
Collection; Comment Request; Extension
December 7, 2006.
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 February 16,
2007.
ADDRESSES: Copies of sample filings of the proposed collection of
information can be obtained from the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filings/elibrary.asp
) or from the Federal
[[Page 75239]]
Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael Miller, Office of the
Executive Director, ED-34, 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 filing, the original and 14 copies of such comments should be
submitted to the Secretary of the Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426 and refer to
Docket No. IC07-580-000.
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 Documents and Filing tab, then choose eFiling
from the drop-down menu. Follow the instructions provided. 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 the Commission's homepage using the eLibrary link. For
user assistance, contact FERCOlineSupport@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 Form No. 580 ``Interrogatory on Fuel and Energy
Purchase Practices, Docket No. IN79-6''--(OMB 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 collection of this information is
specifically required by Federal statute (FPA Section 205(f)) and thus
the Commission lacks authority to allow waivers for the filing of this
information. In addition, the Commission entertains requests for
confidential treatment pursuant to 18 CFR 388.112 for the coal mine
price data and coal rail transportation cost data submitted in response
to questions 3(i) and 3(1.2), respectively, only when disclosure would
violate the terms of a confidentiality clause of a rail transportation
contract. No other requests for confidential treatment are considered.
The information is used to: (1) Review as mandated by statute, fuel
purchase and cost recovery practices to ensure 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) supplement periodic
utility audits. 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.
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
Number of respondents annually responses per Average burden Total annual
respondent hours per response burden hours
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(1) (2) (3) (1) x (2) x (3)
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114*................................................ 57 63.16 3,600
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*(114 responses every two years).
rounded off.
Estimated cost burden to respondents is $211,391. (3,600 hours/2080
hours per year times $122,137 per year average per employee = $
211,391). The cost per respondent is $1,854).
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.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-21245 Filed 12-13-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P