[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 19 (Monday, January 31, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4831-4832]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-331]



[[Page 4831]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC05-73-000; FERC Form 73]


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

January 21, 2005.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

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 March 29, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained from Michael Miller, Office of the Executive Director, ED-33, 
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. IC05-73-
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 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 Form 73 ``Oil Pipelines Service Life Data'' (OMB 
No. 1902-0019) is used by the Commission to implement the statutory 
provisions of sections 306 and 402 of the Department of Energy 
Organization Act, 42 U.S.C. 7155 and 7172, and Executive Order No. 
12009, 42 FR 46277 (September 13, 1977). The Commission has authority 
over interstate oil pipelines as stated in the Interstate Commerce Act, 
49 U.S.C. 6501 et al. As part of the information necessary for the 
subsequent investigation and review of an oil pipeline company's 
proposed depreciation rates, the pipeline companies are required to 
provide service life data as part of their data submissions if the 
proposed depreciation rates are based on the remaining physical life 
calculations. This service life data is submitted on FERC Form No. 73.
    The data submitted are used by the Commission to assist in the 
selection of appropriate service lives and book depreciation rates. 
Book depreciation rates are used by oil pipeline companies to compute 
the depreciation portion of their operating expense which is a 
component of their cost of service which in turn is used to determine 
the transportation rate to assess customers. FERC staff's recommended 
book depreciation rates become legally binding when issued by 
Commission order. These rates remain in effect until a subsequent 
review is requested and the outcome indicates that a modification is 
justified. The Commission implements these filings in 18 CFR parts 347 
and 357.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year approval of the 
collection of data with no changes to the information that is collected 
on Form 73. This is a mandatory information collection requirement.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated as follows:

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                                                                  Number of     Average  burden    Total annual
             Number of respondents annually  (1)                responses per      hours per       burden hours
                                                               respondent  (2)   response  (3)     (1)x(2)x(3)
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2............................................................               1               40               80
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    The estimated total cost to respondents is $4,176.00 (80 hours 
divided by 2,080 hours per employee per year times $108,588 per year 
average salary per employee = $4,176.00 (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

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e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
 [FR Doc. E5-331 Filed 1-28-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P