[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 189 (Friday, September 28, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49654-49655]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24295]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC01-73-000, FERC Form 73]


Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

September 24, 2001.
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. 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 27, 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

[[Page 49655]]

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) 208-2425, and by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under FERC Form73 
``Oil Pipelines Service Life Data'' (OMB No. 1902-0019) is used by the 
Commission to implement the statutory provisions governed by Sections 
306 and 402 of the Department of Energy Organization Act 42 U.S.C. 7155 
and 7172, and Executive Order No. 12009, 42 FR 46277 (September 13, 
1977). The Commission has authority over interstate oil pipelines as 
stated in the Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U.S.C. 6501 et al. As part of 
the information necessary for the subsequent investigation and review 
of the oil pipeline company's proposed depreciation rates, the pipeline 
companies are required to provide service life data as part of their 
data submissions if the proposed depreciation rates are based on 
remaining physical life calculations. This service life data submitted 
on FERC Form 73.
    The data submitted are used by the Commission to assist in the 
selection of appropriate service lives and book depreciation rates. 
Book depreciation rates are used by oil pipeline companies to compute 
the depreciation portion of their operating expense which is a 
component of their cost of service which is turn is used to determine 
the transportation rate to assess customers. Staff's recommended book 
depreciation rates become legally binding when issued by Commission 
Order. These rates remain in effect until a subsequent review is 
requested and the outcome indicates that a modification is justified. 
The Commission implements these filing requirements in 18 CFR 347 and 
357.
    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 is 
estimated as:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Number of         Number of      Average burden  Total annual burden
   respondents      responses per      hours per      hours  (1) x (2) x
  annually  (1)    respondent (2)     response (3)           (3)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             2                 1               40                 80
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Estimated cost burden to respondents: 80 hours/2,080 hours per year  x  
$117,041 per year = $4,501. The cost per respondent is equal to $2251.
    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.
    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.
    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. 01-24295 Filed 9-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P