[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19009-19010]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7507]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC12-9-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-552); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission is soliciting public comment on the currently approved 
information collection, FERC-552, Annual Report of Natural Gas 
Transactions.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due May 29, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC12-9-
000) by either of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Web Site: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
     Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE., 
Washington, DC 20426.
    Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance contact FERC Online Support 
by email at [email protected], or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 
(toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
    Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of 
activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and 
issuances in this docket may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: FERC-552, Annual Report of Natural Gas Transactions.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0242.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-552 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission uses the information collected within the 
FERC-552 to provide greater transparency concerning the use of indices 
to price natural gas and how well index prices reflect market forces. 
The collection also includes transactions that contribute to, or may 
contribute to natural gas price indices. Many market participants rely 
on indices as a way to reference market prices without taking on the 
risks of active trading.
    FERC-552 had its genesis in the Energy Policy Act of 2005,\1\ which 
added section 23 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). Section 23 of the NGA, 
among other things, directs the Commission ``to facilitate price 
transparency in markets for the sale or transportation of physical 
natural gas in interstate commerce, having due regard for the public 
interest, the integrity of those markets, and the protection of 
consumers.'' \2\
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    \1\ Public Law 109-58.
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 717t-2.
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    Type of Respondents: Wholesale natural gas market participants.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \3\ The Commission estimates the total 
Public Reporting Burden for this information collection as:
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    \3\ Burden is defined as the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or 
disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. For 
further explanation of what is included in the information 
collection burden, reference 5 Code of Federal Regulations 
1320.3(b)(1).

[[Page 19010]]



                                            FERC-552 (IC12-9-000)--Annual Report of Natural Gas Transactions
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                                                                                  Number of                           Average burden
                                                               Number of        responses per     Total number of       hours per       Estimated total
                                                              respondents         respondent         responses           response        annual burden
                                                                        (A)                (B)       (A) x (B) = C               (D)                  (C) x (D)
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Wholesale natural market participants....................               691                  1                691                 10              6,910
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    The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $476,857 
[6,910 hours / 2,080 \4\ hours/year = 3.32212 * $143,540/year \5\ = 
$476,857].
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    \4\ 2,080 hours = 40 hours/week * 52 weeks (1 year).
    \5\ Average annual salary per employee in 2012.
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    The estimated annual cost of filing the FERC-552 per response is 
$690 [$476,857 / 691 responses = $690/response].
    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the 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 and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

    Dated: March 22, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-7507 Filed 3-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P