[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 150 (Thursday, August 5, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 42623-42625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20110]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Rregulatory Commission

18 CFR Part 357

[Docket No. RM99-10-000]


Revision of FERC Form No. 6: Annual Report of Oil Pipeline 
Companies; Notice Of Technical Conference and Request For Comments

July 30, 1999.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of Technical Conference and Request for Comments on 
Revisions to FERC Form No. 6: Annual Report of Oil Pipeline Companies 
(FERC Form No. 6).

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SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) Staff 
will conduct a technical conference to solicit comments and discuss 
potential changes to the FERC Form No. 6 to better meet current and 
future regulatory requirements and industry needs. The technical 
conference is intended to be an informal working session so 
participants can freely discuss their views on issues related to FERC 
Form No. 6. The Commission is interested in discussing and obtaining 
specific comments on the need to: delete, add, revise, consolidate, and 
clarify FERC Form No. 6 schedules and instructions. The Commission is 
also seeking comments on the related regulations contained in 18 CFR 
Part 357; and procedures to implement electronic filing for FERC Form 
No. 6.
    The Commission is inviting interested parties to submit written 
comments addressing issues outlined in Appendix A of the notice prior 
to the technical conference and is requesting parties to notify the 
Commission if they wish to attend.

DATES: The technical conference will be held on Wednesday, September 8, 
1999.

[[Page 42624]]

    Notification of persons who wish to attend the conference must be 
filed on or before Friday, August 20, 1999.
    Written comments must be filed on or before Friday, August 20, 
1999.

ADDRESSES: The technical conference will be held at the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426.
    Submit written comments to: Office of the Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426.
    Persons who wish to attend the conference must notify:

Michael Oliva, (202)219-2597, FAX: (202)219-0125, E-Mail: 
[email protected]
    or
Donna Culbertson, (202)219-1102, FAX: (202)219-0125, E-Mail: 
[email protected]

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Donna Culbertson (Technical Issues), Office of Finance, Accounting and 
Operations, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, 
N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, (202) 219-1102
Andrew Lyon (Legal Issues), Office of the General Counsel, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 
20426, (202) 208-0637

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In addition to publishing the full text of 
this document in the Federal Register, the Commission also provides all 
interested persons an opportunity to inspect or copy the contents of 
this document during normal business hours in the Public Reference Room 
at 888 First Street, N.E., Room 2A, Washington, D.C. 20426.
    The Commission Issuance Posting System (CIPS) provides access to 
the texts of formal documents issued by the Commission from November 
14, 1994 to the present. CIPS can be accessed via Internet through 
FERC's Home Page (http://www.ferc.fed.us) using the CIPS Link or the 
Energy Information Online icon. Documents will be available on CIPS in 
ASCII and WordPerfect 6.1 format. User assistance is available at 202-
208-2474 or by E-mail to [email protected].
    This document is also available through the Commission's Records 
and Information Management System (RIMS), an electronic storage and 
retrieval system of documents submitted to and issued by the Commission 
after November 16, 1981. Documents from November 1995 to the present 
can be viewed and printed. RIMS is available in the Public Reference 
Room or remotely via Internet through FERC's Home Page using the RIMS 
link or the Energy Information Online icon. User assistance is 
available at 202-208-2222, or by E-mail to [email protected].
    Finally, the complete text on diskette in WordPerfect format may be 
purchased from the Commission's copy contractor, RVJ International, 
Inc. RVJ International, Inc., is located in the Public Reference Room 
at 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426.

Notice of Technical Conference and Request for Comments

    The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Staff (Staff) will convene 
a technical conference to solicit comments and discuss potential 
changes to the FERC Form No. 6: Annual Report of Oil Pipeline Companies 
(FERC Form No. 6) filing requirements and related regulations contained 
in 18 CFR Part 357 to better meet current and future regulatory 
requirements and industry needs. The technical conference will be held 
on Wednesday, September 8, 1999, at 9:00 A.M. in a room to be 
designated at the offices of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426. The conference is 
intended to be an informal working session so participants can freely 
discuss their views on issues related to FERC Form No. 6. The 
conference is open to shippers, trade associations, oil pipeline 
companies, federal and state agencies, users of the information 
reported in the FERC Form No. 6, and other interested parties. Appendix 
A contains a list of suggested subjects for discussion at the technical 
conference. The discussion is not limited to these topics but can cover 
other FERC Form No. 6 topics as well.
    The Commission's oil pipeline regulations require each oil pipeline 
company, subject to the provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act, and 
having jurisdictional operating revenues exceeding $350,000 in each of 
the three immediately preceding calendar years, to submit the FERC Form 
No. 6. Oil pipeline companies exempt from filing the FERC Form No. 6 
prepare and file only pages 1 and 700 of the Form 6.
    FERC Form No. 6 is filed by March 31st of each year for the 
previous calendar year. This report collects financial and operational 
information from oil pipeline companies subject to FERC's jurisdiction 
through various schedules including: general corporate information, 
financial statements, balance sheet supporting schedules, income 
account supporting schedules, and plant statistical data.
    Staff is convening the conference to solicit comments from the 
industry and the public and discuss potential changes to the schedules 
listed above and the Commission's regulations. The Commission is 
interested in obtaining specific comments on the need to: delete, add, 
revise, consolidate, and clarify FERC Form No. 6 schedules and 
instructions. The Commission is also seeking comments on the related 
regulations contained in 18 CFR Part 357; and procedures to implement 
electronic filing for FERC Form No. 6.
    Persons who wish to attend the conference should notify Michael 
Oliva or Donna Culbertson by August 20, 1999, either by telephone, 
facsimile, or by E-Mail.

Michael Oliva, (202) 219-2597, FAX: (202) 219-0125, 
[email protected]
      or
Donna Culbertson, (202) 219-1102, FAX: (202) 219-0125 
[email protected]

    Please provide your name, title, affiliation, mailing address, 
voice and fax telephone numbers, and your Internet E-Mail address if 
you have one. Companies or organizations with more than one 
representative may consolidate the notifications if they provide the 
Companies are encouraged to coordinate with their respective industry 
associations to consolidate discussions as much as possible.
    The Commission Staff also invites interested persons to submit 
written comments addressing the issues outlined in Appendix A prior to 
the technical conference to help focus the discussion. Interested 
persons should come prepared to discuss these issues at the technical 
conference. Based on the comments received, Commission Staff will 
determine the best way to structure the conference to efficiently 
obtain the information needed.
    The original and 14 copies of such comments must be received by the 
Commission before 5:00 P.M., Friday, August 20, 1999. Comments should 
be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20426 and should 
refer to Docket No. RM99-10-000.
    In addition to filing paper copies, the Commission encourages the 
filing of comments either on computer diskette or via Internet E-Mail. 
Comments may be filed in the following formats: WordPerfect 8.0 or 
below, MS Word Office 97 or lower version, or ASCII format.
    For diskette filing, include the following information on the 
diskette

[[Page 42625]]

label: Docket No. RM99-10-000; the name of the filing entity; the 
software and version used to create the file; and the name and 
telephone number of a contact person.
    For Internet E-Mail submittal, comments should be submitted to 
``[email protected]'' in the following format. On the subject 
line, specify Docket No. RM99-10-000. In the body of the E-Mail 
message, include the name of the filing entity; the software and 
version used to create the file, and the name and telephone number of 
the contact person. Attach the comment to the E-Mail in one of the 
formats specified above. The Commission will send an automatic 
acknowledgment to the sender's E-Mail address upon receipt. Questions 
on electronic filing should be directed to Brooks Carter at 202-501-
8145, E-Mail address [email protected].
    Commenters should take note that, until the Commission amends its 
rules and regulations, the paper copy of the filing remains the 
official copy of the document submitted. Therefore, any discrepancies 
between the paper filing and the electronic filing or the diskette will 
be resolved by reference to the paper filing.
    All written comments will be placed in the Commission's public 
files and will be available for inspection in the Commission's Public 
Reference Room at 888 First Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426, 
during regular business hours. Additionally, comments may be viewed, 
printed, or downloaded remotely via the Internet through FERC's 
Homepage using the RIMS or CIPS links. RIMS contains all comments but 
only those comments submitted in electronic format are available on 
CIPS. User assistance is available at 202-208-2222, or by E-Mail to 
[email protected].
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.

Appendix A--Topics for Discussion at Form 6 Technical Conference 
September 8, 1999

Form 6 General Information, Instructions, and Definitions (Pages i--
iii)

     What information, instructions, and definitions should 
be included, eliminated, revised, and consolidated?

Form 6 Instructions

     Where are there interpretation problems with the Form 6 
instructions? For example, categorizing expenses between operations 
and maintenance expense, defining system property, defining 
Statement of Cash Flows line item requirements, and calculating cost 
of service.

--Identify by schedule and instruction where more clarification is 
needed.
--Define type and detail of instruction needed.

Form 6 Schedules

     What GAAP updates should be made? For example, updating 
the ``Analysis of Federal Income and Other Taxes Deferred'' Schedule 
from APB 11 to FASB 109.
     Are there items that should be included, eliminated, 
revised, and consolidated in each Form 6 schedule?

--Identify by schedule, column, and line item where changes are 
needed.
--Define type and detail of change needed.

Conforming Form 6 Changes to the Oil Regulations

     What changes need to be made to conform the instruction 
and schedule changes outlined above to the oil regulations?

--Identify the part and section of the regulations that need to be 
changed.
--Define type and detail of change needed.

Form 6 Alternatives

     Are there other alternatives to filing the Form 6? For 
example, filing GAAP financial statements certified by the external 
accountants and supplemental schedules containing the information 
FERC needs to regulate its jurisdictional companies.

Form 6 Electronic Filing

     What format should be used to prepare the Form 6 (e.g., 
use the same format used to prepare the Form 1 or Form 2)?
     How should the electronic Form 6 be tested?

[FR Doc. 99-20110 Filed 8-4-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P