[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 26, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81517-81518]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-32798]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC01-546-000, FERC-546]


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

December 19, 2000.
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. 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 26, 2001.

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, DC 20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by 
telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax at (202) 208-2425, and by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-546 ``Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Pipeline 
Rates'' (OMB No. 1902-0155) is used by the Commission to implement the 
statutory provisions of Title IV of the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA), 
(15 U.S.C. 3301-3432) and Sections 4, 5, and 16 of the Natural Gas Act 
(NGA) (15 U.S.C. 717-717w). The Commission has the regulatory 
responsibility under these Acts to ensure that pipeline rates and 
services are just and reasonable and not unduly discriminatory. 
Accordingly, jurisdictional natural gas pipeline companies are required 
to obtain Commission approval for all rates and charges made, or 
demanded, in connection with the transportation or sale of natural gas 
in interstate commerce.
    Service and tariff revision information necessary for Commission 
examination and subsequent approval of any certificated pipeline change 
in service is collected under FERC-546. (Information necessary to 
examine and approve any change in rates is collected separately under 
FERC-542 for tracking filings (non-formal), and 544 and 545 for general 
rate change filings, including NGA Section 4 major rate cases, (formal 
and non-formal respectively)). The required FERC-546 information is set 
forth in each pipeline's tariff, and must be filed in compliance with 
Commission regulations found in 18 CFR Part 154.4; 154.7; 154.202; 
154.204-.209; and 154.602-.603.
    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 reporting burden for this collection 
remains unchanged from the previous renewal and is estimated as:

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                                                           Number of        Average burden       Total annual
         Number of respondents annually  (1)             responses per    hours per response     burden hours
                                                        respondent  (2)           (3)             (1)x(2)x(3)
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77..................................................                  4                  40              12,320
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[[Page 81518]]

    The estimated total cost to respondents is: $683,268 (12,320 hours/
2,080 hours per year per employee times $115,357 \1\ per year per 
average employee = $683,268). The cost per respondent is equal to 
$8,874.
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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 to assemble and disseminate the information 
including: (1) Reviewing the instructions; (2) developing, or acquiring 
appropriate technological support systems necessary for the 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 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 burden estimate 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.

David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-32798 Filed 12-22-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M