[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 181 (Thursday, September 18, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54722-54723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23805]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC03-715-000, FERC Form 715]


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

September 11, 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 November 
10, 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. IC03-715-000.
    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 ``eLibrary'' 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-715 ``Annual Transmission Planning and Evaluation 
Report'' (OMB Control No. 1902-0171) is used by the Commission to 
implement the statutory provisions of Sections 202, 207, 210, 211-213 
of the Federal Power Act (FPA), as amended (49 Stat. 838; 16 U.S.C. 
791a-825r) and particularly Sections 213(b), 304, 309 and 311. The 
Commission describes the Form 715 filing requirements in the Code of 
Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR part 141.300.
    FERC Form No. 715 gathers basic electric transmission systems 
information. The Commission staff uses the Form 715 information to 
evaluate available transmission capacity and transmission constraints 
on electric transmission systems. Electrical transmission customers use 
the information to determine transmission availability.
    Transmission dependent utilities use the information to determine 
transmission availability from alternative wholesale suppliers.
    Federal, military, and private agencies use the information to 
simulate various scenarios and test theories in order to improve the 
current transmission system. Form 715 may be accessed on the 
Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/eforms-elec.asp.
    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
   respondents       responses  per      hours  per       Total annual
     annually          respondent         response        burden hours
(1)                            (2)                (3)       (1)x(2)x(3)
------------------
            183                  1                160            29,280
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[[Page 54723]]

    Estimated cost burden to respondents: 29,280 hours /2,080 hours per 
year x $117,041 per year = $1,647,577. The cost per respondent is equal 
to $ 9,003.
    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. 03-23805 Filed 9-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P