[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 32 (Wednesday, February 18, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7623-7624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E4-307]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Committee

[Docket No.IC04-547-000 FERC-547]


Commission Collection Activities, Proposed Collection; Comment 
Request; Extension & Reinstatement

February 11, 2004.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

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 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 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. IC 04-547-000.
    Documents filed electronically via the Internet can be prepared in 
a variety of formats, including WordPerfect, MS Word, Portable Document 
Format, Rich Text 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 this 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

[[Page 7624]]

(202)273-0873 and by E-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-547, ``Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report 
Requirements'' (OMB No. 1902-0084) is used by the Commission to 
implement the statutory refund provisions governed by sections 4, 5, 
and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (15 U.S.C. 717-717w). Sections 4 
and 5 authorize the Commission to order a refund, with interest, on any 
portion of a natural gas company's increased rate or charge found to be 
not just or reasonable. Refunds may also be instituted by a natural gas 
company as stipulation to a Commission-approved settlement agreement or 
provision under the company's tariff. Section 16 authorizes the 
Commission to prescribe the rules and regulations necessary to 
administer its refund mandates. The Commission's refund and reporting 
requirements are set forth at Sections 154.501 and 154.502 of the 
Commission's regulations (18 CFR 154.501 and 154.502). The data 
collected thereunder allows the Commission to monitor the refunds owed 
by the Natural gas companies and to ensure the flow through of the 
refunds, with applicable interest, to the appropriate customers and 
ultimately to the residential customers and end users.
    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 information 
collection is estimated as:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                 Average burden    Total annual
                                                                  Number of        (number of     burden (total
                Number of respondents annually                  responses per      hours per        number of
                                                                  respondent       response)          hours)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1)                                                                       (2)              (3)      (1)x(2)x(3)
--------------------------------------------------------------
75...........................................................               1               75            5,625

    Estimated cost to respondents: 5,625 hours ( 2,080 per year x 
$107,185 = $289,863. The cost per respondent = $3,865 (rounded off). 
The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide the 
information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing, 
acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the 
purpose 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.

Linda Mitry,
Acting Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E4-307 Filed 2-17-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P