97-12399. Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 91 (Monday, May 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25932-25933]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-12399]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC Form No. 546]


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

May 7, 1997.
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) is soliciting public comment 
on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

DATES: Consideration will be given to comments submitted July 11, 1997.

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 Miller, Information 
Services Division, ED-12.4, 888 First Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 
20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 Michael Miller may be reached by telephone at [phone], by fax 
at [phone], and by e-mail at [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: the information collected under the 
requirements of FERC Form No. -546 ``Certificated Rate Filings: Gas 
Pipeline Rates'' (OMB No. 1902-0155) is used by the Commission to 
implement the statutory provisions of Title IV of the Natural Gas 
Policy Act (NGPA), 15 U.S.C. 3301-3432, Public Law 95-621) and Sections 
4, 5, and 16, of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (15 U.S.C. 717-717o, Pub. L. 
75-688). These statutory provisions require natural gas pipeline 
companies to obtain Commission authorization for all rates and charges 
made, demanded, or in connection with the transportation or sale of 
natural gas in interstate commerce. The Commission is authorized to 
investigate the rates charged by natural gas pipeline companies subject 
to its investigation. The data filed in certificated rate filings are 
used to implement new or revised service proposals for the 
transportation or sale of natural gas and for compliance with 
subsequent certification orders. The distinction between FERC-546 and 
other rate/tariff data collections is that data collected under FERC-
546 involve initial service and tariff revisions due to changes in 
service rather than changes in existing rates. The Commission 
implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) under 18 CFR 154.4; .7; .202; .205-.206; .312; .601-.603.
    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          Number of       Average burden     Total annual  
   respondents       responses per        hours per       burden hours  
  annually  (1)     respondent  (2)     response  (3)    (1) x (2) x (3)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
100..............                4                400            16,000 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated cost burden to respondents: 16,000 hours/2,087 hours per 
year  x  $104,350 per year = $800,000. The cost per respondent is equal 
to $8,000.
    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

[[Page 25933]]

e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-12399 Filed 5-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M