[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 237 (Wednesday, December 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65071-65072]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-32234]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC-555]
Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments
December 4, 1997.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.
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
February 9, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed records retention requirements can be
obtained from and written comments may be submitted to the Federal
Energy
[[Page 65072]]
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 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 retained under the
requirements of FERC-555 ``Records Retention Requirements'' (OMB No.
1902-0098) is used by the Commission to implement the statutory
provisions of Sections 301, 304, and 309 of the Federal Power Act (FPA)
16 U.S.C. 792.828c, Sections 8, 10 and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA),
15 U.S.C. 717-717w, and Section 20 of the Interstate Commerce Act
(ICA), 49 U.S.C. 20.
The regulations for preservation of records establish retention
periods, necessary guidelines and requirements to sustain retention of
applicable records for the regulated public utilities, natural gas and
oil pipeline companies subject to the jurisdiction of the FERC. These
records will be used by the regulated companies as the basis for their
required rate filings and reports for the Commission. In addition, the
records will be used by the Commission's audit staffs during the
scheduled periodic compliance reviews and special analyses performed as
deemed necessary by the Commission. The records retained by the
jurisdictional entities as directed by the Commission are the result of
a mandatory requirement. The Commission implements these filing
requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR
parts 125, 225 and 356.
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 recordkeeping burden for this collection
is estimated as:
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No. of responses per Average burden hours per Total annual burden hours--
No. of respondents annually--(1) respondent--(2) response--(3) (1) x (2) x (3)
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500............................... 1................... 2,400 hours.............. 1,200,000 hours.
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Estimated cost burden to respondents: 1,200,000 hours/2,087 hours
per year x $110,000 per year = $63,248,682. The cost per respondent
is equal to $126,497.
The recordkeeping 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
maintaining records, 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. 97-32234 Filed 12-9-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M