[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 31, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53469-53470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18792]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC22-15-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-592); 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, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or 
FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved 
information collection, FERC-592 (Standards of Conduct for Transmission 
Provider and Marketing Affiliates of Interstate Pipelines), which will 
be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for a review 
of the information collection requirements.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due September 30, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-592 to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB control number (1902-
0157) in the subject line. Your comments should be sent within 30 days 
of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
    Please submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket No. 
IC22-15-000) to the Commission as noted below. Electronic filing 
through https://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: https://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.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Standards of Conduct for Transmission Providers and 
Marketing Affiliates of Interstate Pipelines.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0157.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-592 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission uses the information maintained and posted 
by the respondents to monitor the pipeline's transportation, sales, and 
storage activities for its marketing affiliates to deter undue 
discrimination by pipeline companies in favor of their marketing 
affiliates. Non-affiliated shippers and other entities (e.g., state 
commissions) also use the information to determine whether they have 
been harmed by affiliate preference and to prepare evidence for 
proceedings following the filing of a complaint.

18 CFR Part 358 (Standards of Conduct)

    Respondents maintain and provide the information required by 18 CFR 
part 358 on their internet websites. When the Commission requires a 
pipeline to post information on its website following a disclosure of 
non-public information to its marketing affiliate, non-affiliated 
shippers obtain comparable access to the non-public transportation 
information, which allows them to compete with marketing affiliates on 
a more equal basis.

18 CFR 250.16, and the FERC-592 Log/Format

    This form (log/format) provides the electronic formats for 
maintaining information on discounted transportation transactions and 
capacity allocation to support monitoring of activities of interstate 
pipeline marketing affiliates. Commission staff considers discounts 
given to shippers in litigated rate cases.
    Without this information collection:
     the Commission would be unable to effectively monitor 
whether pipelines are giving discriminatory preference to their 
marketing affiliates; and
     non-affiliated shippers and state commissions and others 
would be unable to determine if they have been harmed by affiliate 
preference or prepare evidence for proceedings following the filing of 
a complaint.
    Type of Respondents: Natural gas pipelines.

[[Page 53470]]

    Estimate of Annual Burden: \1\ The Commission estimates the annual 
reporting burden and cost for the information collection as shown in 
the following table:
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    \1\ ``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, reference 5 CFR 1320.3.

                                        FERC-592--Estimated Annual Burden
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                                                                                   Total annual
                                Annual number   Total number   Average burden &   burden hours &     Cost per
    Number of respondents       of responses    of responses       cost per        total annual   respondent ($)
                               per respondent                    response \2\          cost
(1)                                       (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4).............  (3) * (4) = (5)       (5) / (1)
                                                          (3)
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85...........................               1              85  117 hrs.;         9,945 hrs.;             $10,179
                                                                $10,179.          $865,215.
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    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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    \2\ Commission staff estimate that the industry's hourly cost 
for wages plus benefits is similar to the Commission's $87.00 FY 
2021 average hourly cost for wages and benefits.

    Dated: August 25, 2022.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-18792 Filed 8-30-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P