[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 30 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7353-7354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-3529]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

[Docket No. IC03-423-000, FERC Form No. 423]


Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Commission Collection Activities, Proposed 
Collection; Comment Request; Extension

February 6, 2003.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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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: Comments on the collection of information are due by April 9, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained from Michael Miller, Office of the Executive Director, ED-30, 
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Comments on the proposed 
collection of information may be filed either in paper format or 
electronically. Those parties filing electronically do not need to make 
a paper filing. For paper filings, the original and 14 copies of such 
comments should be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 
20426 and should refer to Docket No. 03-423-000.
    Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared in 
WordPerfect, MS Word, Portable Document Format, or ASCII format. To 
file the document, access the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov and click on ``Make an E-filing,'' and then follow the 
instructions

[[Page 7354]]

for each screen. First time users will have to establish a user name 
and password. The Commission will send an automatic acknowledgment to 
the sender's E-mail address upon receipt of comments. User assistance 
for electronic fillings is available at (202) 502-8258 or by e-mail to 
[email protected]. Comments should not be submitted to this e-mail 
address.
    All comments may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely via the 
Internet through FERC's homepage using the FERRIS link. For user 
assistance, contact [email protected] or toll-free at (866) 
208-3676 or for TTY, contact (202)502-8659.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by 
telephone at (202) 502-8415, by fax at (202) 208-2425 and by E-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC Form No. 423, ``Monthly Report of Cost and Quality 
of Fuels for Electric Plants'' (OMB No. 1902-0024) is used by the 
Commission to carry out its responsibilities in implementing provisions 
of the Federal Power Act (FPA) as amended by the Public Utility 
Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA).
    The Commission uses the information reported on FERC Form No. 423 
to conduct fuel reviews under section 205(a) and (e)of the FPA, and to 
prepare expert testimony in electric utility rate cases filed with the 
Commission. The Form 423 data provides the only effective means for 
assessing the potential impact of new developments on the future 
utility fuel supply patterns. The Commission's staff compare delivered 
fuel costs for utilities receiving like fuels of similar quality; 
detect consistently high cost patterns or irregularities indicative of 
possible uneconomic fuel purchase practices; evaluate the economic 
effect of unusual fuel purchases practices, such as buying fuel from 
affiliate fuel sources, as opposed to selecting buyers by competitive 
bids, and investigate a broad range of fuel costs and fuel purchase 
practice issues raised in contested rate proceedings.
    With the transition to power markets the data from FERC Form 423, 
in conjunction with other data sources, allow Commission staff to 
identify potential out-of-merit dispatch practices by system operators, 
a quick source for estimating the thermal efficiency of individual 
plants and when used in conjunction with bid data, indicates the 
efficiency of markets by identifying the key components associated with 
generators' variable costs.
    The Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR 141.61. The statutory 
authorities for this mandatory information collection requirement are 
sections 205, of the Federal Power Act, as amended by section 208 of 
the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (49 Stat. 851; 16 U.S.C. 
824d).

Action

    The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the current 
expiration date with no changes to the existing collection of data. It 
should be noted that during OMB's last review of Form 423, the 
Commission was directed prior to its next submission to OMB, to make a 
determination as to whether the information reported on Form 423 should 
be confidential. In order to assist the Commission in making that 
determination, the Commission seeks comments on how the public 
disclosure of information contained on Form 423 harms the competitive 
position of reporting parties and adversely affects the competitiveness 
of the market. Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this 
collection is estimated as:

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                                                                    Annual       Average burden    Total burden
                  Number of respondents  (1)                    responses per      hours per          hours
                                                               respondent  (2)   response  (3)     (1)x(2)x(3)
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584..........................................................              12                1            7,008
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    Estimated Burden: 7,008 total burden hours, 584 respondents, 12 
responses annually, 1.0 hours per response (average). In Order No. 622, 
66 FR 67076 (December 28, 2001), the Commission amended its regulations 
to provide for electronic filing of Form No. 423 commencing with the 
January 2002 filing. These changes to the reporting requirements 
resulted in a reduction in burden for all respondents.
    Estimated cost burden to respondents is $394,338; (i.e., 7,008 
hours divided by 2,080 hours per full time employee per year multiplied 
by $117,041 per year equals $394,338)(rounded off).
    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or 
provide the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) 
developing, acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems 
for the purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, 
maintaining, disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the 
existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and 
requirements; (4) training personnel to respond to a collection of 
information; (5) searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing 
the collection of information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise 
disclosing the information.
    The estimate of cost 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 
anyone 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 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.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-3529 Filed 2-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P