[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 207 (Thursday, October 24, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55137-55138]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-27236]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC Form No. 538]


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

October 18, 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 on or before 
December 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: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC Form No. 538 ``Gas Pipeline Certificates: Initial 
Service'' (OMB No. 1902-0061) is used by the Commission to implement 
the statutory provisions of Sections 7(a), 10(a) and 16 of the Natural 
Gas Act (NGA) (P.L. 75-688) (15 U.S.C. 717-717w). The reporting 
requirements contained in this collection of information are used by 
the Commission to determine whether a distributor applicant can 
economically construct and manage its facilities. Requests are made to 
the Commission by individuals or entities to have the Commission, by 
order, direct a natural gas pipeline to extend or improve its 
transportation facilities, and sell gas to an individual, entity or 
municipality for the specific purpose indicated in the order, and to 
extend the pipeline's transportation facilities to communities 
immediately adjacent to the municipality's facilities or to territories 
served by the natural gas company. In addition, the Commission reviews 
the supply data to determine if the pipeline company can provide the 
service without curtailing certain of its existing customers. The flow 
data and market data are also used to evaluate existing and future 
customer requirements on the system to find if sufficient capacity will 
be available. Likewise, the cost of facilities and the rate data are 
used to evaluate the financial impact of the cost of the project to 
both the pipeline company and its customers. The Commission implements 
these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
under 18 CFR Part 156.

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                                                           
                                            responses   Average burden hours per                                
      Number of respondents annually           per              response             Total annual burden hours  
                                           respondent                                                           
(1)                                              (2)   (3).......................  (1) x (2) x (3)              
                                                                                                                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1........................................          1   240 hours.................  240 hours.*                  
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* The Office of Management and Budget's current inventory indicates a total of 320 hours. Based on Commission   
  staff's knowledge and familiarity with gas pipeline practices, this estimate should be adjusted downwards to  
  240 hours as stated above.                                                                                    

    Estimated cost burden to respondents: 320 hours/2,087 hours per 
year  x  $102,000 per year=$15,640.
    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

[[Page 55138]]

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.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 96-27236 Filed 10-23-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M