[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 227 (Tuesday, November 30, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67943-67947]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-26036]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC21-40-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-549b, Ferc-
549d, Ferc-556, and FERC-561); Comment Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of information collections 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 the currently approved 
information collections: FERC-549B (Gas Pipeline Rates: Annual Capacity 
Reports and Index of Customers); FERC-549D (Quarterly Transportation 
and Storage Report For Intrastate Natural Gas and Hinshaw Pipelines); 
FERC-556 (Certification of Qualifying Facility (QF) Status for a Small 
Power Production or Cogeneration Facility); FERC-561 (Annual Report of 
Interlocking Directorates). The above four collections are a part of 
this combined notice only and are not being combined into one OMB 
Control Number.

DATES: Comments on the collections of information are January 31, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket 
No. IC21-40-000) 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 to: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Instructions: All 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 http://www.ferc.gov.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. FERC-549B

    Title: FERC-549B, Gas Pipeline Rates: Capacity Reports and Index of 
Customers.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0169.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-549B information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: As described below, FERC-549B is comprised of information 
collection activities at 18 CFR 284.13(b), 284.13(c), 284.13(d)(1), and 
284.13(d)(2). The purpose of these

[[Page 67944]]

information collection activities is to provide reliable information 
about capacity availability and price that shippers need to make 
informed decisions in a competitive market, and to enable shippers and 
the Commission to monitor marketplace behavior to detect, and remedy 
anti-competitive behavior.
    The regulations at 18 CFR 284.13(b) and 284.13(d)(1) require each 
interstate pipeline to post information about firm and interruptible 
service on its internet website, and in downloadable file formats. The 
information required at 18 CFR 284.13(b) includes identification of the 
shippers receiving service, and details about contracts for firm 
service, capacity release transactions,\1\ and agreements for 
interruptible service. The pipeline must maintain access to that 
information for a period not less than 90 days from the date of 
posting. The regulation at 18 CFR 284.13(d)(1) requires equal and 
timely access to information relevant to the availability of all 
transportation services whenever capacity is scheduled. In addition, 
each interstate pipeline must provide information about the volumes of 
no-notice transportation \2\ provided. This information collection 
activity enables shippers to release transportation and storage 
capacity to other shippers wanting to obtain capacity. The information 
results in reliable capacity information availability and price data 
that shippers need to make informed decisions in a competitive market 
and enables shippers and the Commission to monitor the market for 
potential abuses.
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    \1\ As provided at 18 CFR 284.8, an interstate pipeline that 
offers transportation service on a firm basis must include in its 
tariff a mechanism for firm shippers to release firm capacity to the 
pipeline for resale.
    \2\ No-notice transportation allows for the reservation of 
pipeline capacity on demand without incurring any penalties.
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    The regulation at 18 CFR 284.13(c) requires each interstate 
pipeline to file with the Commission an index of all its firm 
transportation and storage customers under contract on the first 
business day of each calendar quarter. The index of customers also must 
be posted on the pipeline's own internet website, in downloadable file 
formats, and must be made available until the next quarterly index is 
posted. The requirements for the electronic index can be obtained from 
the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Division of Information 
Services, Public Reference and Files Maintenance Branch, Washington, DC 
20426.
    The regulation at 18 CFR 284.13(d)(2) requires an annual peak-day 
capacity report of all interstate pipelines, including natural gas 
storage-only companies. This report is generally a short report showing 
the peak day design capacity or the actual peak day capacity achieved, 
with a short explanation, if needed. The regulation provides that an 
interstate pipeline must make an annual filing by March 1 of each year 
showing the estimated peak day capacity of the pipeline's system, and 
the estimated storage capacity and maximum daily delivery capability of 
storage facilities under reasonably representative operating 
assumptions and the respective assignments of that capacity to the 
various firm services provided by the pipeline.
    Types of Respondents: Respondents for this data collection are 
interstate pipelines and storage facilities subject to FERC regulation 
under the Natural Gas Act.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden \3\ and cost \4\ for FERC-549B as shown in the 
following table:
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    \3\ For FERC-549B, FERC-549D, FERC-556, and FERC-561, ``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, refer to 5 CFR 1320.3.
    \4\ For FERC-549B, the Commission staff believes that industry 
is similarly situated to the Commission in terms of wages and 
benefits. Therefore, cost estimates are based on FERC's 2021 average 
annual wage (and benefits) for a full-time employee of $180,703 (or 
$87.00/hour).

                                        FERC-549B--(Gas Pipeline Rates: Capacity Reports and Index of Customers)
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                                                               Annual number                    Average burden &     Total annual burden
                                                 Number of     of responses    Total number       cost ($) per       & total annual cost     Cost per
                                                respondents   per respondent   of responses         response                 ($)          respondent ($)
                                                         (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =                   (4)       (3) * (4) = (5)       (5) / (1)
                                                                                         (3)
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Capacity Reports under 284.13(b) &                       168               6           1,008     145 hrs.; $12,615         146,160 hrs.;         $75,690
 284.13(d)(1)...............................                                                                                 $12,715,920
Peak Day Annual Capacity Report under                    168               1             168         10 hrs.; $870  1,680 hrs.; $146,160             870
 284.13(d)(2)...............................
Index of Customers under 284.13(c) \5\......             168               4             672          3 hrs.; $261  2,016 hrs.; $175,392           1,044
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        Total...............................  ..............  ..............           1,848  ....................         149,856 hrs.;          77,604
                                                                                                                           $13,037,47240
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2. FERC-549D
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    \5\ The burden per response is based on burden expended on 
similar forms and other similar FERC reporting requirements (e.g. 
capacity reports).
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    Title: FERC-549D, Quarterly Transportation and Storage Report for 
Intrastate Natural Gas and Hinshaw Pipelines.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0253.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-549D information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The reporting requirements under FERC-549D are required 
to carry out the Commission's policies in accordance with the general 
authority in Section 1(c) of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) \6\ and Section 
311 of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 (NGPA).\7\ This collection 
promotes transparency by making available intrastate and Hinshaw 
pipeline transactional information. The Commission collects the data on 
a standardized form with all requirements outlined in 18 CFR 284.126.
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    \6\ 15 U.S.C. 717(c).
    \7\ 15 U.S.C. 3371.
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    The FERC-549D collects the following information:

[[Page 67945]]

     Full legal name and identification number of the shipper 
receiving service, including whether the pipeline and the shipper are 
affiliated;
     Type of service performed;
     The rate charged under each contract;
     The primary receipt and delivery points for each contract;
     The quantity of natural gas the shipper is entitled to 
transport, store, or deliver for each transaction;
     The duration of the contract, specifying the beginning and 
(for firm contracts only) ending month and year of current agreement;
     Total volumes transported, stored, injected or withdrawn 
for the shipper; and
     Annual revenues received for each shipper, excluding 
revenues from storage services.
    Filers submit the Form-549D on a quarterly basis.
    Type of Respondents: Intrastate natural gas pipelines under NGPA 
Section 311 authority and Hinshaw pipelines.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting burden and cost \8\ for the information collection as 
follows:
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    \8\ For FERC-549D, the hourly wage figure is $92.92/hour 
(rounded). This cost represents the average hourly cost (for wages 
plus benefits) of four career fields: 23-0000 Legal ($142.25/hour), 
13-2011 Accountants ($57.41/hour), 13-1111 Management Analyst 
($68.39/hour), and 11-3021 Computer and Information Sys. ($103.61/
hour). These June 2021 figures were compiled using Bureau of Labor 
Statistics data that were specific to each occupational category: 
http://bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm.

                         FERC-549D--Quarterly Transportation and Storage Report for Intrastate Natural Gas and Hinshaw Pipelines
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                                                              Average annual
                                              Average annual     number of    Average annual   Average burden hrs.   Total annual burden     Cost per
                                                 number of     responses per   total number      & cost ($) per     hours & total annual  respondent ($)
                                                respondents     respondent     of responses         response         cost ($) (rounded)
                                                         (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =                   (4)       (3) * (4) = (5)       (5) / (1)
                                                                                         (3)
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PDF filings.................................             120               4             480   12.5 hrs. $1,161.50   6,000 hrs. $557,520          $4,646
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    Total...................................  ..............  ..............             480  ....................  6,000 hrs.; $557,520  ..............
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3. FERC-556

    Title: FERC-556, Certification of Qualifying Facility (QF) Status 
for a Small Power Production or Cogeneration Facility.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0075.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-556 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: Form No. 556 is required to implement sections 201 and 
210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 \9\ (PURPA). 
FERC is authorized, under those sections, to encourage cogeneration and 
small power production and to prescribe such rules as necessary to 
carry out the statutory directives.
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    \9\ 16 U.S.C. 796 and 824i.
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    A primary statutory objective is efficient use of energy resources 
and facilities by electric utilities. One means of achieving this goal 
is to encourage production of electric power by cogeneration facilities 
which make use of reject heat associated with commercial or industrial 
processes, and by small power production facilities which use other 
wastes and renewable resources. PURPA encourages the development of 
small power production facilities and cogeneration facilities that meet 
certain technical and corporate criteria through establishment of 
various regulatory benefits. Facilities that meet these criteria are 
called Qualifying Facilities (QFs).
    FERC's regulations in 18 CFR part 292, as relevant here, specify: 
(a) The certification procedures which must be followed by owners or 
operators of small power production and cogeneration facilities; (b) 
the criteria which must be met; (c) the information which must be 
submitted to FERC in order to obtain qualifying status; and (d) the 
PURPA benefits which are available to QFs to encourage small power 
production and cogeneration.
    18 CFR part 292 also exempts QFs from certain corporate, 
accounting, reporting, and rate regulation requirements of the Federal 
Power Act,\10\ certain state laws, and the Public Utility Holding 
Company Act of 2005.\11\
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    \10\ 16 U.S.C. 791a, et seq.
    \11\ 42 U.S.C. 16451 through 165463.
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    Type of Respondents: Facilities that are self-certifying their 
status as a cogenerator or small power producer or that are submitting 
an application for FERC certification of their status as a cogenerator 
or small power producer.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the burden and 
cost for this information collection as follows:
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    \12\ The Commission staff believes that industry is similarly 
situated in terms of wages and benefits. Therefore, cost estimates 
are based on FERC's 2021 average annual wage (and benefits) for a 
full-time employee of $180,703 (or $87.00/hour).
    \13\ MW = megawatt.
    \14\ The regulation at 18 CFR 292.203(d) exempts small power 
production facilities and cogeneration facilities from self-
certification if they have a net power production capacity of 1 MW 
or less. However, we are disclosing burdens for these filings 
because some facilities seek status as qualifying facilities 
regardless of their capacity.

[[Page 67946]]



                       FERC-556--Certification of Qualifying Facility Status for a Small Power Production or Cogeneration Facility
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                                                                                                    Average burden     Total annual
                                                   Number of      Number of      Total number of    hours and cost     burden hours         Cost per
         Facility type             Filing type    respondents   responses per       responses        per response    and total annual    respondent ($)
                                                                 respondent                              \12\          cost (rounded)      (rounded)
                                                          (1)             (2)    (1) * (2 ) = (3)  (4).............  (3) * (4) = (5).          (5) / (1)
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Cogeneration Facility >1 MW     Self-                      68            2.14              145.52  3.54 hrs;         515.14 hrs;                 $659.07
 \13\.                           certification.                                                     $307.98.          $44,817.18.
Cogeneration Facility >1 MW...  Application for         28.89            2.14               61.81  50 hrs; $4,350..  3,090.52 hrs;                930.26
                                 FERC                                                                                 $268,875.24.
                                 certification.
Small Power Production          Self-                   2,698            2.14            5,773.72  3.54 hrs;         20,438.97 hrs;               659.07
 Facility >1 MW.                 certification.                                                     $307.98.          $1,778,190.39.
Small Power Production          Application for             0            2.14                   0  50 hrs; $4,350..  0 hrs; $0.......                  0
 Facility >1 MW.                 FERC
                                 certification.
Cogeneration and Small Power    Self-                     697            2.14            1,491.58  3.54 hrs;         2,237.37 hrs;                279.27
 Production Facility <=1 MW      certification.                                                     $307.98.          $194,651.19.
 (Self-Certification) \14\.
                                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.....................  ................        3,469  ..............            7,423.66  ................  26,282 hrs;       .................
                                                                                                                      $2,286,534.
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4. FERC-561

    Title: FERC-561, Interlocking Directorates.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0099.
    Abstract: The FERC Form 561 responds to the Federal Power Act (FPA) 
requirements for annual reporting of similar types of positions which 
public utility officers and directors hold with financial institutions, 
insurance companies, utility equipment and fuel providers, and with any 
of an electric utility's 20 largest purchasers of electric energy 
(i.e., the 20 entities with high expenditures of electricity). The FPA 
specifically defines most of the information elements in the Form 561 
including the information that must be filed, the required filers, the 
directive to make the information available to the public, and the 
filing deadline.
    The Commission uses the information required by 18 CFR 131.31 and 
collected by the Form 561 to implement the FPA requirement that those 
who are authorized to hold interlocked directorates annually disclose 
all the interlocked positions held within the prior year. The Form 561 
data identifies persons holding interlocking positions between public 
utilities and other entities, allows the Commission to review these 
interlocking positions, and allows identification of possible conflicts 
of interest.
    Type of Respondents: Each officer or director of a public utility 
also holding the position of officer, director, partner, appointee, or 
representative of any other entity listed in section 305(c)(2) of the 
FPA (including but not limited to organizations primarily engaged in 
the business of providing financial services or credit, insurance 
companies, security underwriters, electrical equipment suppliers, fuel 
provider, and any entity which is controlled by one or more of these 
entities).
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the total 
annual burden and cost \15\ for this information collection as follows:
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    \15\ Commission staff estimates that the industry's skill set 
and cost (for wages and benefits) for FERC-561 are approximately the 
same as the Commission's average cost. The FERC 2021 average salary 
plus benefits for one FERC full-time equivalent (FTE) is $180,703/
year (or $87.00/hour).

                                                FERC Form 561, Annual Report of Interlocking Directorates
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                                      Annual number
       Number of respondents           of responses    Total number      Average burden and cost per      Total annual burden hours and      Cost per
                                      per respondent   of responses               response                      total annual cost         respondent ($)
(1)                                              (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).............................  (3) * (4) = (5).................       (5) / (1)
                                                                 (3)
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2,700..............................                1           2,700  0.25 hrs.; $21.75...............  675 hrs.; $58,725...............          $21.75
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    Comments are invited on FERC-549B, FERC-549D, FERC-556, and/or 
FERC-561, regarding: (1) Whether each 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 each collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of each information collection; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of each collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.


[[Page 67947]]


    Dated: November 23, 2021.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2021-26036 Filed 11-29-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P