[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 16, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34107-34108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-14438]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC10-547-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-547); Comment
Request; Extension
June 9, 2010.
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, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) (2006),
(Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the proposed information
collection described below.
DATES: Comments in consideration of the collection of information are
due August 16, 2010.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed either electronically (eFiled) or in
paper format, and should refer to Docket No. IC10-547-000. Documents
must be prepared in an acceptable filing format and in compliance with
Commission submission guidelines at http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. eFiling instructions are available at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. First time users must follow
eRegister instructions at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/eregistration.asp, to establish a user name and password before
eFiling. The Commission will send an automatic acknowledgement to the
sender's e-mail address upon receipt of eFiled comments. Commenters
making an eFiling should not make a paper filing. Commenters that are
not able to file electronically must send an original and two (2) paper
copies of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
Secretary of the
[[Page 34108]]
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
eLibrary at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp, by searching
on Docket No. IC10-547. For user assistance, contact FERC Online
Support by e-mail at [email protected], or by phone at: (866)
208-3676 (toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by e-mail
at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at
(202) 273-0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the
requirements of FERC-547, ``Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report
Requirements'' (OMB No. 1902-0084), is used by the Commission to
implement the statutory refund provisions governed by sections 4, 5 and
16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA).\1\ Sections 4 and 5 authorize the
Commission to order a refund, with interest, for any portion of a
natural gas company's increased rate or charge found to be unjust or
unreasonable. Refunds may also be instituted by a natural gas company
as a stipulation to a Commission-approved settlement agreement or a
provision under the company's tariff. Section 16 of the NGA authorizes
the Commission to prescribe rules and regulations necessary to
administer its refund mandates. The Commission's refund reporting
requirements are found in 18 CFR 154.501 and 154.502.
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 717-717w.
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The Commission uses the data to monitor refunds owed by natural gas
companies to ensure that the flow-through of refunds owed by these
companies are made as expeditiously as possible and to assure that
refunds are made in compliance with the Commission's regulations.
Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the
FERC-547 reporting requirements, with no changes.
Burden Statement: The estimated annual public reporting burden for
FERC-547 is reduced from the estimate made three years ago due to a
reduction in the average number of filings received annually, from 60
in 2007, to 30 presently.
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Average number of
FERC data collection Number of responses per Average burden Total annual
respondents respondent hours per response burden hours
(1)............... (2)............... (3)............... (1) x (2) x (3)
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FERC-547........................ 30 1 75 2,250
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The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $149,143
(2,250 hours/2,080 hours \2\ per year, times $137,874 \3\).
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.
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\2\ Estimated number of hours an employee works each year.
\3\ Estimated average annual cost per employee.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-14438 Filed 6-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P