[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4581-4582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01684]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC22-2-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-546) 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 the currently approved 
information collection FERC-546, (Certificated Rate Filings: Gas 
Pipeline Rates), which will be submitted to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due February 28, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-546 to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number (1902-
0155) 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. IC22-2-000) 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:

1. FERC-546

    Title: FERC-546, Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0155.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-546 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements. There were no comments received on the 60-day comment 
period (86 FR 63010).
    Abstract: The Commission reviews the FERC-546 materials to decide 
whether to approve rates and tariff changes associated with an 
application for a certificate under Natural Gas Act (NGA) section 7(c) 
(15 U.S.C. 717f(c)). Additionally, FERC reviews FERC-546 materials in 
storage applications under NGA section 4(f) (15 U.S.C. 717c(f)), to 
evaluate an applicant's market power and determine whether to grant 
market-based rate authority to the applicant. The Commission uses the 
information in FERC-546 to monitor jurisdictional transportation, 
natural gas storage, and unbundled sales activities of interstate 
natural gas pipelines and Hinshaw \1\ pipelines. In addition to 
fulfilling the Commission's obligations under the NGA, the FERC-546 
enables the Commission to monitor the activities and evaluate 
transactions of the natural gas industry, ensure competitiveness, and 
improve efficiency of the industry's operations. In summary, the 
Commission uses the information to:
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    \1\ Hinshaw pipelines are those that receive all out-of-state 
gas from entities within or at the boundary of a state if all the 
natural gas so received is ultimately consumed within the state in 
which it is received, 15 U.S.C. 717(c). Congress concluded that 
Hinshaw pipelines are ``matters primarily of local concern,'' and so 
are more appropriately regulated by pertinent state agencies rather 
than by FERC. The Natural Gas Act section 1(c) exempts Hinshaw 
pipelines from FERC jurisdiction. A Hinshaw pipeline, however, may 
apply for a FERC certificate to transport gas outside of state 
lines.
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     Ensure adequate customer protections under NGA section 
4(f);
     review rate and tariff changes filed under NGA section 
7(c) for certification of natural gas pipeline transportation and 
storage services;
     provide general industry oversight; and
     supplement documentation during the pipeline audits 
process.
    Failure to collect this information would prevent the Commission 
from monitoring and evaluating transactions and operations of 
jurisdictional pipelines and performing its regulatory functions.
    Type of Respondents: Jurisdictional pipeline companies and storage 
operators.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \2\ The Commission estimates the burden 
and cost for this information collection as follows:
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    \2\ ``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. For further 
explanation of what is included in the information collection 
burden, refer to Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.

[[Page 4582]]



                                                                    FERC-546 (Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates)
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                                                           Annual
                                              Annual     number of    Total number                                                                                                     Cost per
                                            number of    responses    of responses    Average burden & cost per response \3\      Total annual burden hours & total annual cost       respondent
                                           respondents      per         (rounded)                   (rounded)                                       (rounded)                            ($)
                                                         respondent                                                                                                                   (rounded)
                                                   (1)          (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)....................................  (3) * (4) = (5)......................................    (5) / (1)
                                                                                (3)
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Pipeline Certificate Filings and Storage            47    \4\ 1.595          74.965  500 hrs.; $41,652......................  37,482.50 hrs.; $3,122,442.18........................   $66,434.94
 Applications.
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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.
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    \3\ The hourly cost (for salary plus benefits) uses the figures 
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2021, for positions 
involved in the reporting and recordkeeping requirements. These 
figures include salary (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm) and benefits http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm) and are:
    Electrical Engineer (Occupation Code: 17-2071; $72.15/hour)
    Management Analyst (Occupation Code: 13-1111; $68.39/hour)
    Accounting (Occupation Code: 13-2011; $57.41/hours)
    Computer and Mathematical (Occupation Code: 15-0000; $65.73/
hour)
    Legal (Occupation Code: 23-0000; $142.25/hour)
    The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is calculated 
weighting each of the previously mentioned wage categories as 
follows: $72.15/hour (0.4) + $68.39/hour (0.2) + $57.41/hour (0.1) + 
$65.73/hour (0.1) + $142.25/hour (0.2) = $83.304/hour. The 
Commission rounds this figure to $83/hour.
    \4\ This figure was calculated by dividing the total number of 
responses (1.595) by the total number of respondents (47). The 
resulting figure was then rounded to the nearest thousandth place.

    Dated: January 21, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-01684 Filed 1-27-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P