[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 162 (Thursday, August 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44464-44465]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22204]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC-577]


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

August 15, 1997.
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. 104-13), the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment 
on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

DATES: Comments are due October 20, 1997.

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, Information 
Services Division, ED-12.4, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 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 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-577 ``Gas Pipeline Certificates: Environmental 
Impact Statement'' (OMB No. 1902-0128) is a filing requirement 
pertaining to environmental assessment of pipeline and Liquefied 
Natural Gas (LNG) facility construction projects. The filing collects 
data from all Natural Gas Act (NGA) jurisdictional pipeline companies 
as well as companies whose Natural Gas Policy Act projects are reviewed 
by the Commission. The Commission implements these filing requirements 
in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR Parts 2; 157; 
284; 375 and 380. The information collected under the requirements of 
FERC-577 is used by the Commission to implement the statutory 
provisions of Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy 
Act of 1969 (NEPA) (Pub. L. 91-190) (1969). NEPA requires that all 
Federal agencies must include in every recommendation or report on 
proposals for legislation and other major Federal actions significantly 
affecting the quality of human environment, a detail statement on: the 
environmental impact of the proposed actions; any adverse environmental 
effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented; 
alternatives to the proposed action; the relationship between local 
short-term uses of man's environment and the maintenance and 
enhancement of long term productivity; and any irreversible and 
irretrievable commitment of resources which would be involved in the 
proposed action should it be implemented. The Commission uses the 
pipeline's data to evaluate the environmental aspects of construction 
proposals and may be used in the Commission staff's independent 
preparation of Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact

[[Page 44465]]

Statements. The staff examines and projects potential effects on soils, 
geology, water resources, land use, recreation, aesthetics, air and 
noise quality, vegetation, wildlife, cultural resources and pipeline 
and liquefied natural gas (LNG) safety.
    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:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                          Total annual  
    Number of          Number of       Average burden     burden hours  
   respondents       responses per        hours per      (1)  x  (2)  x 
  annually  (1)     respondent  (2)     response  (3)          (3)      
------------------------------------------------------------------------
70...............             16.9                154           182,182 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated cost burden to respondents: 182,182 hours divided by 
2,087 hours per year times $110,000 per year equals $9,602,310. The 
cost per respondent is equal to $137,176.
    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 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. 97-22204 Filed 8-20-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M