[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53708-53709]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-22586]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC00-547-000, FERC-547]


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

August 29, 2000.
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 (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 
November 6, 2000.

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 NE., Washington, DC 20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by 
telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax at (202) 208-1415, and by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under FERC-547 
``Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements'' (OMB No. 1902-0084) 
is used by the Commission to implement statutory refund provisions 
governed by sections 4, 5, and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (15 
U.S.C. 717-717w). Sections 4 and 5 authorize the Commission to order a 
refund, with interest, on any portion of a natural gas company's 
increased rate or charge found to be not just or reasonable. Refunds 
may also be instituted by a natural gas company as a stipulation to a 
Commission-approved settlement agreement or a provision under the 
company's tariff. Section 16 authorizes the Commission to prescribe the 
rules and regulations necessary to administer its refund mandates. The 
Commission's refund and reporting requirements are set forth at 
sections 154.501 and 154.502 of the Commission's regulations (18 CFR 
154.501 and 154.502). The data collected thereunder allows the 
Commission to monitor the refunds owned by the natural gas companies 
and to ensure the flow through of the refunds, with applicable 
interest, to the appropriate customers and ultimately to the 
residential customers and end users.
    Action: The Commission is requesting reinstatement, without change, 
of the previously approved data collection for which approval expired 
July 31, 2000, and a three-year approval of the data. This is a 
mandatory information collection requirement.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated as:

[[Page 53709]]



 
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                                                 Number of
                                                 responses      Average
     Number of respondents annually  (1)            per      burden hours        Total annual burden hours
                                                respondent   per response               (1)x(2)x(3)
                                                    (2)           (3)
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75...........................................            1            75   5,625 hours.
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    The estimated total cost to respondents is $311,963, (5,625 hours 
divided by 2,080 hours per year per employee times $115,357 \1\ per 
year per average employee=$311,963). The cost per respondent is $3,900.
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    \1\ The cost per year per average employee estimate is based on 
the annual allocated cost per Commission employee for fiscal year 
2001. The estimated $115,357 cost consists of approximately $92,286 
in salary and $23,071 in benefits and overhead.
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    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended by the respondent to assemble and disseminate the 
information including: (1) Reviewing the instructions; (2) developing 
or acquiring appropriate technological support systems needed for 
purposes of collecting, validating, processing, and disseminating the 
information; (3) administration; and (4) transmitting, or otherwise 
disclosing the information.
    The cost estimate 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 
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 necesssary 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. 00-22586 Filed 9-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M