[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 95 (Friday, May 16, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26590-26591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-12323]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC03-585-000, FERC-585]


Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed 
Collection; Comment Request; Extension

May 9, 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, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public 
comment on the specifics of the information collection described below.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by July 11, 
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 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 
refer to Docket No. IC03-585-000.
    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 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 filings is available at 202-502-8258 or 
by e-mail to [email protected]. Comments should not be submitted to the 
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-585 ``Reporting of Electric Energy Shortages and 
Contingency Plans Under PURPA'' (OMB Control No. 1902-0138) is used by 
the Commission to implement the statutory provisions of sections 206 of 
the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1979 (PURPA) Pub. L. 95-
617, 92 Stat. 3117 added to the Federal Power Act (FPA) section 202, 
subsection (g). FPA section 202(g) requires the Commission to establish 
rules requiring each public utility to report to FERC and appropriate 
State regulatory authorities any anticipated shortage of electric 
energy or capacity which would affect the utility's ability to serve 
its wholesale customers; and submit to the Commission and the 
appropriate State regulatory authority, and periodically revise 
contingency plans respecting shortages of electric energy or capacity 
which would equitably accommodate service to both direct retail 
customers and those served by utilities supplied at wholesale by the 
public utility.
    The Commission uses the information to evaluate and formulate 
appropriate options for action in the event an unanticipated shortage 
is reported and/or materializes. Without this information, the 
Commission and State

[[Page 26591]]

agencies would be unable to: (1) examine and approve or modify utility 
actions, (2) prepare a response to anticipated disruptions in electric 
energy, and (3) ensure equitable treatment of all public utility 
customers under the shortage situations. The Commission implements 
these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 
under 18 CFR part 294.
    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:

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 Number of respondents   Number of responses per    Average burden hours     Total annual burden
     annually  (1)           respondent  (2)         per response  (3)       hours  (1)x(2)x(3)
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                 7                        1                       73                      511
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    Estimated cost burden to respondents: 511 hours/2,080 hours per 
year x $117,041 per year = $28,754. The cost per respondent is equal to 
$ 4,108.
    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, 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 
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 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. 03-12323 Filed 5-15-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P