[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 33 (Friday, February 19, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7465-7466]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-3100]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC10-730-001]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-730); Comment 
Request; Submitted for OMB Review

February 3, 2010.
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 or FERC) has submitted the 
information collection described below to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. 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 the Federal Register 
notice (74 FR 59146, 11/17/2009) and has noted that in its submission 
to OMB.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by March 22, 
2010.

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 OMB Control Number 1902-0238 as a 
point of reference. The Desk Officer may be reached by telephone at 
202-395-4638. A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission and should refer to Docket No. IC10-730-
001. Comments may be filed either electronically or in paper format. 
Those persons filing electronically do not need to make a paper filing. 
Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared in an 
acceptable filing format and in compliance with the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission submission guidelines. Complete filing 
instructions (including the required number of copies and acceptable 
filing formats) are available at http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide/electronic-media.asp. To file the document electronically, access 
the Commission's Web site and click on Documents & Filing, E-Filing 
(http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp),

[[Page 7466]]

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: 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. 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.
    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 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 expiration date for the FERC-730, with no changes.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated as follows.

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                                                         Average number of    Average burden
     FERC Information collection       Annual number of     reponses per        hours per         Total annual
                                         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/2080 hours \1\ per year, times $128,297 \2\ equals 
$37,008.75).
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    \1\ Number of hours an employee works each year.
    \2\ 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 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. 2010-3100 Filed 2-18-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P