[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 17, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59146-59147]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-27562]



[[Page 59146]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC10-730-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-730); Comment 
Request; Extension

November 10, 2009.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection and request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) (2006), 
(Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission 
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the proposed information 
collection described below.

DATES: Comments in consideration of the collection of information are 
due January 22, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed either electronically (eFiled) or in 
paper format, and should refer to Docket No. IC10-730-000. Documents 
must be prepared in an acceptable filing format and in compliance with 
Commission submission guidelines at http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. eFiling instructions are available at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. First time users must follow 
eRegister instructions at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/eregistration.asp, to establish a user name and password before 
eFiling. The Commission will send an automatic acknowledgement to the 
sender's e-mail address upon receipt of eFiled comments. Commenters 
making an eFiling should not make a paper filing. Commenters that are 
not able to file electronically must send an original and two (2) paper 
copies of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 
20426.
    Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in 
this docket may do so through eSubscription at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp. In addition, all comments and FERC 
issuances may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely through FERC's 
eLibrary at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp, by searching 
on Docket No. IC10-730. For user assistance, contact FERC Online 
Support by e-mail at [email protected], or by phone, toll-
free, at: (866) 208-3676, or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by 
telephone at (202) 502-8663, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FERC-730, ``Report of Transmission 
Investment Activity,'' (OMB Control No. 1902-0239) is filed by public 
utilities that have been granted incentive rate treatment for specific 
electric transmission projects. Filing requirements are specified in 18 
CFR 35.35(h). Actual and planned transmission investments, and related 
project data for the most recent calendar year and the subsequent five 
years, must be reported annually beginning with the calendar year that 
the Commission granted the incentive rates.
    Congress enacted section 1241 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 
(EPAct 2005), adding a new section 219 to the Federal Power Act (FPA), 
to promote the operation, maintenance and enhancement of electric 
transmission infrastructure.\1\ Congress aimed to benefit consumers by 
ensuring reliability and/or reducing the cost of delivered power 
through reducing transmission congestion. In response to EPAct 2005, in 
Docket No. RM06-4, the Commission amended its regulations to allow for 
these incentive-based, (including performance-based), rate treatments.
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    \1\ Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58, 119 Stat. 594, 
315 and 1283 (2005).
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    Through Docket No. RM06-4, the Commission amended its regulations 
in 18 CFR 35.35 to identify the incentive ratemaking treatments allowed 
under FPA section 219. Incentives are required to be tailored to the 
type of transmission investments being made, and each applicant must 
demonstrate that its proposal meets the requirements of FPA section 
219.
    The Commission needs the information filed under FERC-730 to 
provide a basis for determining the effectiveness of the new rules and 
regulations and to provide an accurate assessment of the state of the 
industry with respect to transmission investment.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
current FERC-730 reporting requirements, with no change.
    Burden Statement: The estimated, annual public reporting burden for 
FERC-730 follows.\2\
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    \2\ The number of expected annual responses was overestimated in 
the Final Rule in Docket No. RM06-4. The figures here represent a 
significant reduction in the number of estimated annual responses 
(20 responses, rather than the previous estimate of 200 responses), 
and the corresponding associated estimates for total industry burden 
and cost.

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                                                                Average number   Average burden
         FERC information collection           Annual number   of reponses per     hours per       Total annual
                                               of respondents     respondent        response       burden hours
                                                         (1)              (2)              (3)      (1)x(2)x(3)
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FERC-730....................................              20                1               30              600
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    The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $37,008.75 
(600 hours/2,080 hours \3\ per year, times $128,297 \4\ equals 
$37,008.75).
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    \3\ Number of hours an employee works each year.
    \4\ Average annual salary per employee.
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    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

[[Page 59147]]

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.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-27562 Filed 11-16-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P