[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 241 (Friday, December 15, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75523-75524]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-21385]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC07-6Q-000; FERC Form 6Q]


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

December 8, 2006.
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. 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 February 16, 
2007.

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 Secretary of the Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426 and refer to 
Docket No. IC07-6Q-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 6Q ``Quarterly Financial Report of Oil 
Pipeline Companies'' (OMB No. 1902-0206) is used by the Commission to 
carry out its responsibilities in implementing the statutory provisions 
of the Interstate Commerce Act (ICA), (49 U.S.C.).
    Although the Commission requires jurisdictional entities to file 
financial information, a general weakness in this reporting program has 
been the frequency with which the financial reports are required. In a 
rapidly changing business environment, annual reporting is simply 
insufficient. Financial accounting and reporting provides needed 
information concerning a company's past performance and its future 
prospects. Without reliable financial statements prepared in accordance 
with the Commission's Uniform System of Accounts and related 
regulations, the Commission would be unable to accurately determine the 
costs that relate to a particular time period, service or line of 
business. Additionally, it would be difficult to determine whether a 
given entity has previously been given the opportunity to recover its 
cost through rates, or to compare how the financial performance and 
results of

[[Page 75524]]

operations of one regulated entity relates to that of another.
    The need for current and better disclosures in financial statements 
drives the increasing demand for timely, relevant and reliable 
financial information. As such, the FERC Form 6-Q Quarterly Report 
provides the Commission with a more timely and informative picture of 
the jurisdictional oil pipeline entities' financial and operational 
condition.
    More specifically, the Commission's Office of Enforcement (OE) uses 
the FERC Form 6-Q data collected to assist in the implementation of its 
financial and operational audits and investigation programs, in the 
review of the financial condition of regulated companies, and in the 
assessment of energy markets. The Office of Energy Markets and 
Reliability (OEMR) uses the data collected for its various rate 
proceedings and economic analysis. The Office of Administrative 
Litigation (OAL) uses the data collected for background research for 
use in litigation. The Office of General Counsel (OGC) uses the data in 
its programs relating to the administration of the ICA.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated as:

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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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138..........................................................               3              150           62,100
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    Estimated cost burden to respondents is $3,646,494. (62,100 hours/
2080 hours per year times $122,137 per year average per employee = 
$3,646,494). The cost per respondent is $26,424).
    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 other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E6-21385 Filed 12-14-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P