[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 182 (Wednesday, September 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49121-49122]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23892]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC Form No. 592]


Proposed Information Collection and Request For Comments

September 13, 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 within 60 days 
of the publication of this notice.

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: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC Form No. 592 ``Marketing Affiliates of Interstate 
Pipelines'' (OMB No. 1902-0157) is used by the Commission to implement 
the statutory provisions of the Section 311, 501 and 504 of the Natural 
Gas Policy Act of 1978 (NGPA), 15 U.S.C. 3301-3432, and Sections 4, 5, 
7, 8, 10, 14, 16, and 20 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (15 U.S.C. 717-
717w). The reporting and recordkeeping requirements contained in this 
collection of information apply only to those major interstate natural 
gas pipelines involved in transactions with affiliated marketing or 
brokering companies. The information maintained and provided by the 
respondents is used by the Commission to monitor pipelines' 
transportation, sales, and storage activities for their marketing 
affiliates to deter undue discrimination by pipeline companies in favor 
of their marketing affiliates. Additionally, pipelines provide 24-hour 
electronic access of this information to any interested party. The 
information is also used by nonaffiliated shippers or others (such as 
state commissions) to determine whether they have been harmed by 
affiliate preference and, in some cases, to prepare evidence for formal 
proceedings following the filing of a compliant. The Commission 
implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations 
(CFR) under 18 CFR 161.3 and 250.16.
    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 burden 
   respondents     responses per      house per    hours (1) x (2) x (3)
  annually  (1)    respondent (2)   response (3)           (hours)      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
60..............            1            *58.3                 3,500.   
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Rounded.                                                               

    The estimated total cost to respondents is $171,059, (3,500 hours 
divided by 2,087 hours per year employee times $102,000 per year per 
average employee=$171,059).
    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

[[Page 49122]]

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. 96-23892 Filed 9-17-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M