98-16712. Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 121 (Wednesday, June 24, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 34369]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-16712]



[[Page 34369]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC98-2000; FERC Form 2]


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

June 18, 1998.
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)(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 
August 24, 1998.

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, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer, CI-1 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC Form 2 ``Annual Report of Major Natural Gas 
Companies'' (OMB No. 1902-0028) is used by the Commission to implement 
the statutory provisions of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), (15 U.S.C. 717). 
The NGA authorizes the Commission to prescribe rules and regulations 
concerning accounts, records and memoranda as necessary or appropriate 
for purposes of administering the NGA. The Commission may prescribe a 
system of accounts for jurisdictional companies and, after notice and 
opportunity for hearing may determine the accounts in which particular 
outlays and receipts will be entered, charged or credited.
    The Commission's Office of Chief Accountant uses the information 
collected in its audit program and the continuous review of the 
financial condition of regulated companies. The Office of Pipeline 
Regulation uses the data in its various rate proceedings and supply 
programs, and the Offices of Economic Policy and General Counsel use 
the data in their programs relating to the administration of the NGA. 
Data on certain schedules of the FERC Form 2 is used to compute annual 
charges which are then assessed against natural gas companies to 
recover the Commission's annual costs. These annual charges are 
required by Section 3401 of the Budget Act.
    The NGA mandates the collection of information needed by the 
Commission to perform it regulatory responsibilities in the setting of 
just and reasonable rates. The Commission could be held in violation of 
the NGA if the information was not collected.
    The Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR Section 260.1, and Parts 158 and 
201 and Section 385.2011.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
current expiration date.
    Burden Statement: Public Reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated as:

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   Number of respondents       Number of responses per     Average burden hours per    Total annual burden hours
        annually (1)                respondent (2)               response (3)               (1) x (2) x (3)     
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58.........................                          1                       1,485                      86,130  
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    Estimated cost burden to respondents: 86,130 hours divided by 2088 
hours per year times $109,889 per year equals $4,532,921. The cost per 
respondent is equal to $78,154.
    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclosure, 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 of 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 Commission'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.
David P. Boergers,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-16712 Filed 6-23-98; 8:45 am]
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