[Federal Register: September 30, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 188)]
[Notices]
[Page 50176-50177]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30se09-33]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC09-592-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-592); Comment
Request; Extension
September 23, 2009.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
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. 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 November 30, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed either electronically or in paper
format, and should refer to Docket No. IC09-592-000. 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 http://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
IC09-592. 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-592 (``Marketing Affiliates of
Interstate Pipelines, Standards of Conduct for Transmission
Providers,'' OMB No. 1902-0157) includes the reporting, recordkeeping,
and posting requirements in:
[ssbox] 18 CFR Part 358 (Standards of Conduct),\1\
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\1\ The requirements in 18 CFR Part 358 (that are related to the
natural gas industry) are included in OMB No. 1902-0157 and this
Notice. However, the requirements in Part 358 that are related to
the electric utility industry are covered by FERC-717 (OMB Control
No. 1902-0173) and are not a subject of this Notice.
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[ssbox] 18 CFR 250.16, and
[ssbox] FERC Form No. 592 log/format, that is posted at http://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/eforms.asp#592.
Hereafter, this Notice will refer to this group of collections of
information as ``FERC-592.''
Under Section 4 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), the Commission has
the regulatory responsibility to ensure that pipeline rates are just
and reasonable. In order to ensure just and reasonable rates and
services, the Commission must achieve two objectives: prevent undue
discrimination in natural gas markets, and promote competitive and
efficient markets while mitigating market power. In short, the
Commission's regulatory policy must seek to reconcile the objectives of
fostering an efficient market that provides good alternatives to as
many shippers as possible, while at the same time creating a regulatory
framework that is fair and protects captive customers without good
alternatives.
The ``FERC-592'' information (that is posted on the Web site,
maintained, or provided by the respondents, as required) is used by the
Commission to monitor the pipeline's transportation, sales, and storage
activities for its marketing affiliate, and to deter undue
discrimination by pipeline companies in favor of their affiliates. The
information is also used by non-affiliated shippers, customers, and
others (such as state commissions) to determine whether they have been
harmed by affiliate preference and, in some cases, to prepare evidence
for proceedings following the filing of a complaint or that address NGA
section 4 rate cases.
Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the
current reporting requirements, with no change.
Burden Statement: The estimated annual public reporting burden
follows.
[[Page 50177]]
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Number of Number of Average burden
Information collection (``FERC-592,'' OMB No. respondents responses per hours per Total annual
1902-0157) annually respondent response burden hours
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(1) (2) (3) (1) x (2) x
(3)
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18 CFR Part 358 \1\
18 CFR 250.16
FERC Form No. 592 log/format.................... 85 1 116.62 9,913
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Note: These figures may not be exact, due to rounding.
The total estimated annual cost burden \2\ to respondents is
$611,446.22 [(9,913 hours/2,080 hours per year) x $128,297/year]. The
average annual cost per respondent is $7,193.48.
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\2\ The average number of hours an employee works per year is
2,080. The average employee costs $128,297 per year.
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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; 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 log of data used to
allocate capacity and the transportation discount information pipelines
required to post and/or maintain under 18 CFR 250.16 are still being
used, (2) whether the format for submitting data prescribed in the FERC
Form No. 592 needs to be updated, (3) 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; (4) 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; (5) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected;
and (6) 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. E9-23516 Filed 9-29-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P