[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