[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 221 (Friday, November 15, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62529-62530]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-24568]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC19-33-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-539); 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 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission 
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved 
information collection, FERC-539 (Gas Pipeline Certificates: Import and 
Export Related Applications) and submitting the information collection 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Any interested 
person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of 
those comments to the Commission as explained below.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due December 16, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by the OMB Control No. 
1902-0062, should be sent via email to the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs: [email protected]. Attention: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission Desk Office.
    A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in 
Docket No. IC19-33-000, by either of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Website: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
     Mail: 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: On September 3, 2019 (84 FR 46005), the 
Commission published a Notice in the Federal Register in Docket No. 
IC19-33-000 requesting public comments. The Commission received no 
comments and is noting that in the related submittal to OMB.
    Title: FERC-539 (Gas Pipeline Certificates: Import and Export 
Related Applications).
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0062.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-539 with no 
changes to the reporting and recordkeeping requirements.\1\
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    \1\ On 10/29/2019, FERC submitted a request to OMB for an 
emergency extension. On 10/31/2019, OMB granted a 2-month extension 
for FERC-539.

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[[Page 62530]]

    Abstract: Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (Pub. L. 75-688) 
(15 U.S.C. 717-717w) provides, in part, that . . . no person shall 
export any natural gas from the United States to a foreign country or 
import any natural gas from a foreign country without first having 
secured and order from the Commission authorizing it to do so. The 1992 
amendments to Section 3 of the NGA concern importation or exportation 
from/to a nation which has a free trade agreement with the United 
States, and requires that such importation or exportation: (1) Shall be 
deemed to be a first sale, i.e., not a sale for a resale, and (2) Shall 
be deemed to be consistent with the public interest, and applications 
for such importation or exportation shall be granted without 
modification or delay.
    With the ratification of the North American Free Trade Agreement 
and the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, the Federal regulatory focus on 
construction, operation, and siting of import and export facilities 
increased significantly.
    Estimate of Annual Burden.\2\ The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden and cost \3\ for the information collection as:
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    \2\ 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. See 5 
CFR 1320 for additional information on the definition of information 
collection burden.
    \3\ The Commission staff estimates that industry is similarly 
situated in terms of hourly cost (for wages plus benefits). Based on 
the Commission's FY (Fiscal Year) 2019 average cost (for wages plus 
benefits), $80.00/hour is used.

                                        FERC-539, Gas Pipeline Certificates: Import & Export Related Applications
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                    Number of
   Number of      responses per     Total number of     Average burden hours & average cost      Total annual burden hours & total         Cost per
  respondents       respondent         responses                 per response ($)                         annual cost ($)               respondent ($)
(1)                         (2)     (1) x (2) = (3)   (4)...................................  (3) x (4) = (5).......................    (5) / (1) = (6)
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             6                2                  12   15 hours; $1,200......................  180 hours; $14,400....................             $2,400
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    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 estimates 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: November 5, 2019.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-24568 Filed 11-14-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P