[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 32 (Tuesday, February 18, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8853-8854]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-03124]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC20-3-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-574); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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-574 (Gas Pipeline Certificates: Hinshaw 
Exemption) 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 by March 19, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Comments filed with OMB, identified by the OMB Control No. 
1902-0116, 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. IC20-3-000, 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: 
    Title: FERC-574 (Gas Pipeline Certificates: Hinshaw Exemption).
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0116.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-574 with no 
changes to the current reporting requirements.
    Abstract: On November 26, 2019 (84 FR 65148), the Commission 
published a Notice in the Federal Register in Docket No. IC20-3-000 
requesting public comments. The Commission received no comments and is 
noting that in the related submittal to OMB. On December 19, 2019, OMB 
granted the Commission an emergency extension for FERC-574, from 
December 31, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
    The Commission uses the information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-574 to implement the statutory provisions of 
Sections 1(c), 4, and 7 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA). Natural gas 
pipeline companies file applications with the Commission furnishing 
information in order to facilitate a determination of an applicant's 
qualification for an exemption under the provisions of the section 
1(c). If the Commission grants an exemption, the natural gas pipeline 
company is not required to file certificate applications, rate 
schedules, or any other applications or forms prescribed by the 
Commission.
    The exemption applies to companies engaged in the transportation, 
sale, or resale of natural gas in interstate commerce if: (a) They 
receive gas at or within the boundaries of the state from another 
person at or within the boundaries of that state; (b) such gas is 
ultimately consumed in such state; (c) the rates, service and 
facilities of such company are subject to regulation by a State 
Commission; and (d) that such State Commission is exercising that 
jurisdiction. 18 CFR part 152 specifies the data required to be filed 
by pipeline companies for an exemption.
    Type of Respondents: Pipeline companies.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \1\ The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden and cost \2\ for the information collection as:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ ``Burden'' is 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.
    \2\ Commission staff estimates that the industry's skill set and 
cost (for wages and benefits) for FERC-574 are approximately the 
same as the Commission's average cost. The FERC 2019 average salary 
plus benefits for one FERC full-time equivalent (FTE) is $167,091/
year (or $80.00/hour).

[[Page 8854]]



                                                 FERC-574--Gas Pipeline Certificates: Hinshaw Exemption
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Number of                            Average burden hours &
         Number of respondents             responses per      Total number of      average cost ($) per    Total annual burden hours     Cost ($) per
                                            respondent           responses               response           & total annual cost ($)       respondent
(1)                                                   (2)     (1) * (2) = (3)   (4)......................  (3) * (4) = (5)..........    (5) / (1) = (6)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.....................................                  1                   2   60 hours; $4,800.........  120 hours; $9,600........             $4,800
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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: February 11, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-03124 Filed 2-14-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P