[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 138 (Thursday, July 22, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38709-38710]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15543]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC21-25-000]


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

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

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, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or 
FERC) is soliciting public comment on a renewal of currently approved 
information collection FERC-552, (Annual Report of Natural Gas 
Transactions), which will be submitted to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due August 23, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-552 to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number (1902-
0242) in the subject line of your comments. Comments should be sent 
within 30 days of publication of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
    Please submit copies of your comments to the Commission. You may 
submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket No. IC21-25-000) 
by one of the following methods:
    Electronic filing through http://www.ferc.gov, is preferred.
     Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable 
native applications and print-to-PDF, but not in scanned or picture 
format.
     For those unable to file electronically, comments may be 
filed by USPS mail or by hand (including courier) delivery.
    [cir] Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Addressed to: Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
    [cir] Hand (Including Courier) Delivery: Deliver to: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Instructions: OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Using the search function under the ``Currently Under Review'' 
field, select Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; click ``submit,'' 
and select ``comment'' to the right of the subject collection.
    FERC submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with 
submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov. For user assistance, 
contact FERC Online Support by email at [email protected], or 
by phone at: (866) 208-3676 (toll-free).
    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 https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: FERC Form No. 552, Annual Report of Natural Gas 
Transactions.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0242.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC Form No. 552 
information collection requirements with no changes to the current 
reporting requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission uses the information collected in the FERC 
Form No. 552 \1\ to provide greater transparency into the size of the 
physical natural gas market and the use of physical fixed-price and 
index-based natural gas transactions. This information assists the 
Commission and the public in assessing whether index prices are the 
result of a robust market of fixed-price transactions.
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    \1\ FERC Form No. 552 is prescribed in 18 CFR 260.401.
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    FERC Form No. 552 had its genesis in the Energy Policy Act of 
2005,\2\ 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,

[[Page 38710]]

and the protection of consumers.'' \3\ The 60-day notice comment period 
ended on 7/12/2021 and the Commission received no comments.\4\
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    \2\ Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58, sections 1261 
et seq., 119 Stat. 594 (2005).
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 717t-2(a)(1)(2006).
    \4\ 86 FR 26022 (5/12/2021).
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    Type of Respondents: Wholesale natural gas market participants.
    Estimate of Annual Burden:\5\ The Commission estimates the average 
annual burden and cost \6\ for this information collection as follows.
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    \5\ 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. Refer to 
5 CFR 1320.3 for additional information.
    \6\ Costs (for wages and benefits) are based on wage figures 
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for May 2020 (at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm) and benefits information 
(issued March 2020, https://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm). 
The staff estimates that 75% of the work is done by a financial 
analyst (code 13-2098) at an hourly cost of $66.09 (for wages plus 
benefits), and 25% of the work is done by legal staff members (code 
23-0000) at an hourly cost of $142.25 (for wages plus benefits). 
Therefore, the weighted cost (for wages plus benefits) is calculated 
to $85.13/hour [or ($66.09/hour * 0.75) + ($142.25/hour * 0.25)].

                                              FERC Form No. 552, Annual Report of Natural Gas Transactions
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                                                                                                                                              Average
                                          Number of     Annual number   Total number     Annual average burden     Total average annual     annual cost
               Category                  respondents    of responses    of responses      hrs. & cost ($) per     burden hrs. & cost ($)  per respondent
                                                       per respondent                          response                                    ($) (rounded)
                                                  (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).....................  (3) * (4) = (5)........       (5) / (1)
                                                                                  (3)
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Wholesale natural gas market                      688               1             688  20 hrs.; $1,702.60......  13,760 hrs.;                   1,702.60
 participants.                                                                                                    $1,171,388.80.
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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 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: July 15, 2021.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-15543 Filed 7-21-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P