[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 139 (Tuesday, July 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39082-39083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19336]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC-537 IC98-537-000]
Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments
July 15, 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)(a)
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13), the
Federal Energy Regulatory (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
September 21, 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 N.E., Washington, D.C.
20426.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by
telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at
michael.miller@ferc.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the
requirements of FERC-537 ``Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction,
Acquisition, and Abandonment'' (OMB No. 1902-0060) is used by the
Commission to implement the statutory provisions of the Natural Gas
Policy Act (NGPA), (15 U.S.C. 3301-3432), and of the Natural Gas Act
(NGA) (15 U.S.C. 717-717w). Under the NGA a natural gas company must
obtain Commission authorization to engage in the transportation or sale
of natural gas in interstate commerce, to undertake the construction or
extension of any facilities, or to acquire or operate any such
facilities or extensions in accordance with Section 7c of the NGA. A
natural gas company must also obtain Commission approval under Section
7(b) of the NGA prior to abandoning any jurisdictional facility or
service. Under the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA) interstate and
intrastate pipelines must also obtain Commission authorization for
certain transportation arrangements.
Information collection is necessary to certificate interstate
pipelines engaged in the transportation and sale of natural gas, and
the construction, acquisition, and operation of facilities to be used
for those activities, to authorize the abandonment of facilities and
services and to authorize certain NGPA transportations. If a
certificate is granted, the natural gas company can engage in the
interstate transportation or sale of natural gas and construct,
acquire, or operate facilities therefore. Conversely, approval of an
abandonment application permits the pipeline to cease service and
discontinue the operation of such facilities. Authorization under NGPA
Section 311(a) allows the interstate or intrastate pipeline applicants
to render certain transportation services.
[[Page 39083]]
The natural gas companies file the necessary information with the
Commission so that a determination can be made from the data as to
whether the requested certificate should be authorized. The data
required to be submitted consists of identification of the company and
responsible officials, factors considered in the location of the
facilities, and impact on the area for environmental considerations.
Also, to be submitted are flow diagrams showing design capacity of
engineering design verification and safety determination, and gas
reserves data for appraisal of the feasibility of the project. Market
data presenting the economic basis for the proposed action are included
when appropriate as cost of proposed facilities, plans for financing,
and estimated revenues and expenses related to the proposed facility
for financial and accounting evaluation. The Commission implements
these information collection requirements in the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR Part 2.69; 157.5-11; 157.13-.21;
157.102-.103; 157.106; 157.201-.208; 157.210-.218; 284.8-.9; 284.11;
284.126; 284.221-.224; Part 284 Subpart H.
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:
No. of
No. of respondents annually responses per Average burden hours per response Total annual burden hours
respondent
(1) (2) (3)................................ (1)x(2)x(3)
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50............................ 11.6 252 hours.......................... 146,160 hours.
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Estimated cost burdens to respondents: 141,160 hours divided by
2088 hours per year times $109,889 equals $7,429,086. The cost per
respondent is equal to $148,582.
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 base upon salaries for
professionals 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.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 98-19336 Filed 7-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
