[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 76 (Thursday, April 21, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20743-20744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-1872]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC05-73-001, FERC Form 73]


Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed 
Collection; Comment Request; Submitted for OMB Review

April 14, 2005.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of Section 3507 of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507, the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission (Commission) has submitted the information 
collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and reinstatement of this information collection 
requirement. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB 
and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as 
explained below. The Commission received no comments in response to an 
earlier Federal Register notice of January 31, 2005 (70 FR 4831-32) and 
has made this notation in its submission to OMB.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by May 19, 
2005.

ADDRESSES: Address comments on the collection of information to the 
Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. 
Comments to OMB should be filed electronically, c/o [email protected] and include the OMB Control No. as a point of 
reference. The Desk Officer may be reached by telephone at 202-395-
4650. A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Office of the Executive Director, ED-33, 
Attention: Michael Miller, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. 
Comments may be filed either in paper format or electronically. Those 
persons filing electronically do not need to make a paper filing. For 
paper filings, such comments should be submitted to the Office of the 
Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC20426 and should refer to Docket No. IC05-73-001.
    Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared 
in, MS Word, Portable Document Format, Word Perfect 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 are available for review at the Commission or may be 
viewed on the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov, using the 
``eLibrary'' link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three 
digits in the docket number field to access the document. For 
assistance, contact FERC Online Support at [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:

Description

    The information collection submitted for OMB review contains the 
following:
    1. Collection of Information: FERC Form 73 ``Oil Pipeline Service 
Life Data''
    2. Sponsor: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
    3. Control No.: 1902-0019.
    The Commission is now requesting that OMB approve with a three-year

[[Page 20744]]

extension of the expiration date, with no changes to the existing 
collection. The information filed with the Commission is mandatory.
    4. Necessity of the Collection of Information: Submission of the 
information is necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its 
responsibilities in implementing the statutory provisions of the 
Department of Energy Organization Act, and Executive Order No. 12009, 
42 FR 46277 (September 13, 1977). The Commission has authority over 
interstate pipelines as stated in the Interstate Commerce Act, 49 
U.S.C. Sec.  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 public service life data as part of their data submission if 
the proposed depreciation rates are based on the remaining physical 
life calculations. This service life data is submitted on FERC Form 73.
    The scope of the Commission's jurisdiction over oil pipelines 
includes the authority to regulate their rates and charges for 
transportation of oil in interstate commerce, and the authority to 
establish valuations. Oil pipeline companies are required to submit 
depreciation information pursuant to 1-8(b)(2) and 1-8(b)(3) of the 
General Instructions found at 18 CFR Part 352 of the Commission's 
regulations. These instructions require oil pipeline carriers to 
compute percentage rate studies for their depreciable property 
accounts, and to maintain records as to the service life and net 
salvage value of their property and property retirements.
    The Commission uses the information submitted on FERC Form 73 to 
conduct depreciation rate investigations of oil pipelines. The 
Commission also uses the information to determine appropriate oil 
pipeline service lives and book depreciation rates. Oil pipeline 
companies use book depreciation rates to compute the depreciation 
portion of their operating expenses when determining their cost of 
service. The Commission implements these requirements in 18 CFR 357.3 
of its regulations.
    5. Respondent Description: The respondent universe currently 
comprises 2 companies (on average per year) subject to the Commission's 
jurisdiction
    6. Estimated Burden: 80 total hours, 2 respondents (average per 
year), 1 response per respondent, and 40 hours per response (average).
    7. Estimated Cost Burden to respondents: 80 hours/2080 hours per 
years x $108,558 per year = $4,176.

    Statutory Authority:  Sections 306 and 402 of the Department of 
Energy Organization Act, Pub. L. 95-91, 42 sections 7155 and 7172, 
Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U.S.C. 6501 et al., and Executive Order 
No. 12009.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-1872 Filed 4-20-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P