[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13819-13820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3880]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC06-544-000; FERC-544]


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

March 10, 2006.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

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 May 19, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Copies of sample filings of the proposed collection of 
information can be obtained from the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filings/elibrary.asp) or from the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael Miller, Office of the Executive 
Director, ED-34, 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 
filing, 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. 
IC06-544-000. 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-544 ``Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Change (Formal)'', 
(OMB No. 1902-0153) is used by the Commission to carry out its 
responsibilities in implementing the statutory Provisions of Sections 
4, 5, and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (15 U.S.C. 717c-717o, Pub. L. 75-
688). The Commission implements FERC-544 filing requirements in the 
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR part 154.
    General rate change applications filed under section 4(e) of the 
Natural Gas Act reflect changes in rates based generally upon changes 
in the pipeline company's overall costs of providing service. Staff 
analyses are performed to determine whether the proposed rates and 
charges are consistent with the Commission's statutory 
responsibilities, policies, conditions. A preliminary review and report 
to the Commission of all changes filed under the NGA must be made by 
staff. Based upon the report, the Commission determines whether the 
filing should be accepted or suspended and set for hearing and 
investigation. 18 CFR 154.301-154.313 govern the filing requirements 
for rate changes and define the statements and schedules pipeline 
companies must file in support of their proposed rates and changes. 18 
CFR 154.205 governs the filing requirements for changes relating to 
suspended tariffs, executed agreements or parts thereof. 18 CFR 154.206 
permits the proposed change in rate, charge,

[[Page 13820]]

classification or service to go into effect upon motion of the 
jurisdictional gas pipeline at the expiration of the suspension period 
or upon receipt of the motion, whichever is later.
    Formal rate change filings (FERC-544) are suspended and set for 
hearing. When the NGA section 4(e) filing is suspended, the rate 
becomes the subject of a hearing process and may go into effect subject 
to refund with interest. All suspended filings that go through the 
hearing process are considered formal cases and an investigation is 
instituted to determine the reasonableness of the rate filing. If the 
rates and charges are deemed unjust, unreasonable or unduly 
discriminatory, the appropriate rate, charge or service condition is 
ascertained. The formal proceeding is terminated by the issuance of a 
final Commission order.
    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)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
             11                  1              4,583            50,413
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated cost burden to respondents is $248,486,990. (50,413 
hours/2080 hours per year times $117,321 per year average per employee 
= $ 2,843,511). The cost per respondent is $258,501).
    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. E6-3880 Filed 3-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P