[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 207 (Thursday, October 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55137-55138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27236]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC Form No. 538]
Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments
October 18, 1996.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Energy.
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) is soliciting public
comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described
below.
DATES: Consideration will be given to comments submitted on or before
December 23, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be
obtained from and written comments may be submitted to the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael P. Miller, Information
Services Division, ED-12.4, 888 First Street N.E., Washington, D.C.
20426.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael P. Miller may be reached by telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax
at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at mmiller@ferc.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the
requirements of FERC Form No. 538 ``Gas Pipeline Certificates: Initial
Service'' (OMB No. 1902-0061) is used by the Commission to implement
the statutory provisions of Sections 7(a), 10(a) and 16 of the Natural
Gas Act (NGA) (P.L. 75-688) (15 U.S.C. 717-717w). The reporting
requirements contained in this collection of information are used by
the Commission to determine whether a distributor applicant can
economically construct and manage its facilities. Requests are made to
the Commission by individuals or entities to have the Commission, by
order, direct a natural gas pipeline to extend or improve its
transportation facilities, and sell gas to an individual, entity or
municipality for the specific purpose indicated in the order, and to
extend the pipeline's transportation facilities to communities
immediately adjacent to the municipality's facilities or to territories
served by the natural gas company. In addition, the Commission reviews
the supply data to determine if the pipeline company can provide the
service without curtailing certain of its existing customers. The flow
data and market data are also used to evaluate existing and future
customer requirements on the system to find if sufficient capacity will
be available. Likewise, the cost of facilities and the rate data are
used to evaluate the financial impact of the cost of the project to
both the pipeline company and its customers. The Commission implements
these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)
under 18 CFR Part 156.
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:
Number of
responses Average burden hours per
Number of respondents annually per response Total annual burden hours
respondent
(1) (2) (3)....................... (1) x (2) x (3)
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1........................................ 1 240 hours................. 240 hours.*
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* The Office of Management and Budget's current inventory indicates a total of 320 hours. Based on Commission
staff's knowledge and familiarity with gas pipeline practices, this estimate should be adjusted downwards to
240 hours as stated above.
Estimated cost burden to respondents: 320 hours/2,087 hours per
year x $102,000 per year=$15,640.
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
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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.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-27236 Filed 10-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
