[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 142 (Tuesday, July 23, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38192-38193]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-18622]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
[FERC-582]


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

July 18, 1996.
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 (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 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 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Abstract

    The information collected under the requirements of FERC-582 ``Oil, 
Gas and Electric Fees and Annual Charges'' (OMB No. 1902-0132) is used 
by the Commission to implement the statutory provisions of the Omnibus 
Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, (Pub. L. 99-509) Title III, Subtitle 
E, Section 3401. Congress directed the Commission ``to assess and 
collect fees and annual charges in any fiscal year in amount equal to 
all of the costs incurred by the Commission in that fiscal year.'' The 
Commission implements a program of annual charges to be assessed 
against interstate natural gas and oil pipelines, power marketing 
agencies, electric utilities and electric cooperatives. The Commission 
computes annual charges based on information of adjusted sales for 
resale and adjusted coordination of sales data. In addition the 
Commission uses company financial information filed under the waiver 
provisions to evaluate a company's request for a waiver, or exemption, 
of the obligation to pay a fee for an annual charge. The Commission 
implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) under 18 CFR Part 381 Sections 381.108 and 381.302 and Part 382 
Section 382.201(b).

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:

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                Number of                                               
  Number of     responses                           Total annual burden 
 respondents       per       Average burden hours    hours  (1) x (2) x 
  annually     respondent     per response  (3)             (3)         
     (1)           (2)                                                  
------------------------------------------------------------------------
179.........            1   4 hours..............  716 hours.           
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated cost burden to respondents: 716 hours/2,087 hours per 
year  x  $102,000 per year = $34,993.
    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

[[Page 38193]]

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. 96-18622 Filed 7-22-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M