[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 174 (Thursday, September 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48997-48998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23468]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC-800 IC99-800-000]


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

September 3, 1999.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Request for Office of Management and Budget Emergency 
Processing of proposed information collection and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of Section 3507(j)(1) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13), and 5 CFR 
1320.13 of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is providing notice 
of its request to OMB for emergency processing of a proposed collection 
of information request on the specific aspects of the information 
collection described below. OMB approval has been requested by 
September 8, 1999. A copy of this information collection request (ICR), 
with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling 
the Commission's Information Clearance Officer, Michael Miller at 
(202)208-1415. Comments and questions about the ICR listed below should 
be directed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn: 
FERC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10202 NEOB, 
Washington, D.C. 20503.
    Agency: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
    Title: Pilot Project for Electronic Filing of Documents.
    OMB Number: 1902-new.
    Frequency: Monthly.
    Affected Public: Business or other for profit; State, Local or 
Tribal Governments.
    Number of Respondents: 100.
    Estimated Time Per Respondent: 20 minutes.
    Total Burden Hours: 150.
    Description: The challenges facing the Commission over the next few 
years are substantial, particularly in light of the changing and more 
competitive electric and gas industries. To ensure that the 
Commission's decisions are based on accurate, complete and timely 
information, an information technology initiative was developed to 
create a comprehensive information management system to minimize filing 
burdens, generate better information for use by industries and reduce 
the

[[Page 48998]]

processing times for Commission workload. The goal of this 
comprehensive information management system will be the development of 
a common, multipurpose, standards-based infrastructure that accepts 
electronic filings and maintains all Commission data in a data 
repository accessible electronically by Commission staff and eventually 
the public. Electronic filing pilots through the Commission's Web Site 
will assist in the development of standards, minimize the number of 
filing types and streamline filing requirements. When completed, 
electronic filing will substantially reduce the cost of paper, copying, 
postage, and messenger services for those who file at the Commission.
    The initial pilot will allow the following categories of documents 
to be submitted electronically with the Commission in accordance with 
its regulations in 18 CFR Part 385:
     Motions to Intervene and Notices to Intervene 
Sec. 385.214;
     Protests filed pursuant to Secs. 385.208 and 385.211;
     Comments filed in rulemaking proceedings and in connection 
with Environmental Impact Statements;
     Comments on pleadings other than those set for hearing 
under Subpart E of the regulations and settlement comments;
     Answers to pleadings and rulemaking comments filed in 
accordance with Sec. 385.213, other than those in proceedings set for 
hearing under Subpart E of the regulations;
     Withdrawals of comments in pleadings and rulemakings in 
accordance with Sec. 385.206, other than those in proceedings set for 
hearing under Subpart E of the regulations;
     Amendments to such pleadings and rulemaking comments 
pursuant to Sec. 385.215, other than those in proceedings set for 
hearing under Subpart E of the regulations;

These documents were selected for this pilot because of the lack of 
complexity in the information that is submitted to the Commission. 
During the pilot phase, participants will still be required to file 
paper copies in accordance with the Commission's current regulations in 
addition to filing the electronic submission.
    Further impetus for expanding the use of electronic filing at the 
Commission is to ensure its compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1995 (PRA) (Pub. L. 104-13) and its commitment to the provisions of 
OMB's regulations at 5 CFR 1320 and corresponding guidance in OMB 
Circular A-130. The PRA calls upon agencies to ``promote the use of 
information technology by the Federal Government to improve 
productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of Federal Programs, 
including through dissemination of public information and the reduction 
of information collection burdens on the public.'' (44 U.S.C. 
3504(h)(5)). The goal is to have regulated entities file with the 
Commission fewer, and ultimately no, paper documents, as appropriate. 
The electronic submission also creates a transaction where documents 
can be accessed and retrieved faster and, as a result, the Commission 
response will be measurably faster.
    The Commission is seeking emergency clearance for this pilot 
because the normal clearance procedures would disrupt the Commission's 
planned implementation of an electronic filing program and the 
Commission's strategic goal of reducing the regulatory burden on 
industries through the generation of better and more timely information 
for use by industries, minimizing the filing burden and reducing 
workload processing times for both industries and Commission staff.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-23468 Filed 9-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P