[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 17, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7461-7462]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-292]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC04-588-000; FERC-588]


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

February 10, 2004.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: Comments on the collection of information are due by April 16, 
2004.

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. IC04-
588-000.
    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 acknowledgement to the 
sender's e-mail address upon receipt of comments.
    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

[[Page 7462]]

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) 273-0873, and by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-588 ``Emergency Natural Gas Transportation, Sale 
and Exchange Transactions'' (OMB No. 1902-0144) is used by the 
Commission to implement the statutory provisions of sections 7(c) of 
the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (Pub. L. 75-688) (15 U.S.C. 717-717w) and 
provisions of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 (NGPA), 15 U.S.C. 
3301-3432. Under the NGA, a natural gas company must obtain Commission 
approval to engage in the transportation, sale or exchange of natural 
gas in interstate commerce. However, section 7(c) exempts from 
certificate requirements ``temporary acts or operations for which the 
issuance of a certificate will not be required in the public 
interest.'' The NGPA also provides for non-certificated interstate 
transactions involving intrastate pipelines and local distribution 
companies.
    A temporary operation, or emergency, is defined as any situation in 
which an actual or expected shortage of gas supply would require an 
interstate pipeline company, intrastate pipeline, or local distribution 
company, or Hinshaw pipeline to curtail deliveries of gas or provide 
less than the projected level of service to the customer. The natural 
gas companies file the necessary information with the Commission so 
that it may determine if the transaction/operation qualifies for 
exemption. A report within 48 hours of the commencement of the 
transportation, sale or exchange, a request to extend the sixty-day 
term of the emergency transportation, if needed, and a termination 
report are required. The data required to be filed for the 48 hour 
report is specified by 18 CFR 284.270.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year approval of the 
collection of data. This is a mandatory information collection 
requirement.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Number of        Average burden
            Number of  respondents annually                responses per        hours per         Total annual
                                                             respondent          response         burden hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)....................................................               (2)                (3)        (1)x(2)x(3)
--------------------------------------------------------
8......................................................                 1                 10                 80

    The estimated total cost to respondents is $4,123.00 (80 hours 
divided by 2,080 hours per employee per year times $107,185 per year 
average salary per employee = $4,123.00 (rounded)).
    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. E4-292 Filed 2-13-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P