[Federal Register: May 15, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 93)]
[Notices]
[Page 22913-22914]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15my09-49]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC09-714-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-714); Comment
Request; Extension
May 7, 2009.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.
ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection and request for
comments.
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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 or FERC) is soliciting
public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection
described below.
DATES: Comments in consideration of the collection of information are
due July 13, 2009.
ADDRESSES: An example of this collection of information may be obtained
from the Commission's Web site (at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
elibrary.asp). Comments may be filed either electronically or in paper
format, and should refer to Docket No. IC09-714-000. Documents must be
prepared in an acceptable filing format and in compliance with the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission submission guidelines at http://
www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp.
Comments may be filed electronically via the eFiling link on the
Commission's Web site at www.ferc.gov. First time users will have to
establish a user name and password (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
eregistration.asp) before eFiling. The Commission will send an
automatic acknowledgement to the sender's e-mail address upon receipt
of comments through eFiling.
Commenters filing electronically should not make a paper filing.
Commenters that are not able to file electronically must send an
original and 14 copies of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in
this docket may do so through eSubscription (at http://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/esubscription.asp). In addition, all comments and FERC
issuances may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely through FERC's
Web site using the ``eLibrary'' link and searching on Docket Number
IC09-714. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support (e-mail at
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or call toll-free at (866) 208-3676, or for
TTY, contact (202) 502-8659).
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by
telephone at (202) 502-8663, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at
ellen.brown@ferc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FERC-714 (Annual Electric Balancing
Authority Area and Planning Area Report (formerly called ``Annual
Electric Control and Planning Area Report''), OMB No. 1902-0140) is
used by the Commission to implement Sections 4, 202, 207, 210, 211-213,
304, 309 and 311 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) as amended (49 Stat.
838: 16 U.S.C. 791 a-825r), Section 3(4) of Public Utility Regulatory
Policies Act of 1978, 26 U.S.C. 2602 and sections 1211, 1221, 1231,
1241 and 1242 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) (119
Stat. 594). The filing requirements are found at 18 CFR 141.51. The
information allows the Commission to analyze power system operations,
to estimate the effect of changes in power system operations that
result from the installation of a new generating unit or plant,
transmission facilities, energy transfers between systems and/or new
points of interconnections. The analyses also serve to correlate rates
and charges, assess reliability and other operating attributes in
regulatory proceedings, monitor market trends and behaviors, and
determine the competitive impacts of proposed mergers, acquisitions and
dispositions.
ACTION: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the
current reporting requirements.
Burden Statement: There has been a change in burden due to: (1) An
informal, limited survey of respondents in order to obtain improved
estimates of both the burden and cost, (2) a change in the number of
filers resulting from the formation of regional transmission
organizations (and other similar entities) encompassing numerous former
Control Areas (Balancing Authority Areas), and (3) the switch to an
all-electronic filing in 2007 (from a paper and diskette filing).
Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated as follows.
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Number of Number of Average burden
FERC data collection respondents responses per hours per Total annual
annually respondent response burden hours
(1) (2) (3) (1)x(2)x(3)
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FERC-714.................................... 215 1 \1\ 87 \1\ 18,705
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Note: These figures may not be exact, due to rounding.
The total estimated annual cost burden\1\ to respondents is
$885,155 (215 respondents x $4,117 per respondent).
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\1\ These figures are based on a limited survey of 8
respondents. The average estimated annual burden per respondent (and
filing) is 87 hours.
Using the number of hours spent by each specific job title or
level, the estimated annual staff cost was calculated based on the
nationwide average annual salary for various levels of engineers,
found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2008-09 Edition) [posted
on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site at http://www.bls.gov/
oco/ocos027.htm]. The estimated average annual staff cost for
preparing the FERC-714 was $3,603.
The respondents surveyed had additional costs of $514, on
average per year. Therefore the total estimated average annual cost
per respondent is $4,117.
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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;
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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.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-11333 Filed 5-14-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P