[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 139 (Tuesday, July 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39082-39083]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-19336]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC-537 IC98-537-000]


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

July 15, 1998.
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. No. 104-13), the 
Federal Energy Regulatory (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 
September 21, 1998.

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, Office of the Chief 
Information Officer, CI-1, 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 collected under the 
requirements of FERC-537 ``Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, 
Acquisition, and Abandonment'' (OMB No. 1902-0060) is used by the 
Commission to implement the statutory provisions of the Natural Gas 
Policy Act (NGPA), (15 U.S.C. 3301-3432), and of the Natural Gas Act 
(NGA) (15 U.S.C. 717-717w). Under the NGA a natural gas company must 
obtain Commission authorization to engage in the transportation or sale 
of natural gas in interstate commerce, to undertake the construction or 
extension of any facilities, or to acquire or operate any such 
facilities or extensions in accordance with Section 7c of the NGA. A 
natural gas company must also obtain Commission approval under Section 
7(b) of the NGA prior to abandoning any jurisdictional facility or 
service. Under the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA) interstate and 
intrastate pipelines must also obtain Commission authorization for 
certain transportation arrangements.
    Information collection is necessary to certificate interstate 
pipelines engaged in the transportation and sale of natural gas, and 
the construction, acquisition, and operation of facilities to be used 
for those activities, to authorize the abandonment of facilities and 
services and to authorize certain NGPA transportations. If a 
certificate is granted, the natural gas company can engage in the 
interstate transportation or sale of natural gas and construct, 
acquire, or operate facilities therefore. Conversely, approval of an 
abandonment application permits the pipeline to cease service and 
discontinue the operation of such facilities. Authorization under NGPA 
Section 311(a) allows the interstate or intrastate pipeline applicants 
to render certain transportation services.

[[Page 39083]]

    The natural gas companies file the necessary information with the 
Commission so that a determination can be made from the data as to 
whether the requested certificate should be authorized. The data 
required to be submitted consists of identification of the company and 
responsible officials, factors considered in the location of the 
facilities, and impact on the area for environmental considerations. 
Also, to be submitted are flow diagrams showing design capacity of 
engineering design verification and safety determination, and gas 
reserves data for appraisal of the feasibility of the project. Market 
data presenting the economic basis for the proposed action are included 
when appropriate as cost of proposed facilities, plans for financing, 
and estimated revenues and expenses related to the proposed facility 
for financial and accounting evaluation. The Commission implements 
these information collection requirements in the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR Part 2.69; 157.5-11; 157.13-.21; 
157.102-.103; 157.106; 157.201-.208; 157.210-.218; 284.8-.9; 284.11; 
284.126; 284.221-.224; Part 284 Subpart H.
    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:

                                                                                                                
                                    No. of                                                                      
  No. of respondents annually    responses per   Average burden hours per response    Total annual burden hours 
                                  respondent                                                                    
(1)                                        (2)  (3)................................  (1)x(2)x(3)                
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50............................            11.6  252 hours..........................  146,160 hours.             
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    Estimated cost burdens to respondents: 141,160 hours divided by 
2088 hours per year times $109,889 equals $7,429,086. The cost per 
respondent is equal to $148,582.
    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 base upon salaries for 
professionals 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. 98-19336 Filed 7-20-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M