[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 5 (Monday, January 9, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1216-1217]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00156]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC22-21-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-555); 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-555 (Preservation of Records for Public 
Utilities and Licensees, Natural Gas and

[[Page 1217]]

Oil Pipeline Companies) 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 February 8, 
2023.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-555 to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB control number (1902-
0098) 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. 
IC22-21-000) 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: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at 
[email protected] and telephone at (202) 502-8663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the information collection 
requirements with no changes to the current reporting requirements.
    Title: Preservation of Records for Public Utilities and Licensees, 
Natural Gas and Oil Pipeline Companies.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0098.
    Abstract: The Commission collects the information to carry out its 
responsibilities described in sections 301, 304 and 309 of the Federal 
Power Act (FPA),\1\ sections 8, 10 and 16 of the Natural Gas Act 
(NGA),\2\ and in the Interstate Commerce Act (ICA).\3\
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    \1\ 16 U.S.C. 825, 825c and 825h.
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 717g, 717i, and 717o.
    \3\ 49 U.S.C. 60502.
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    The regulations for preservation of records at 18 CFR parts 125, 
225, and 356 establish retention periods and other requirements for 
applicable records. These requirements apply to the public utilities, 
licensees, natural gas companies, and oil pipeline companies that are 
subject to the Commission's jurisdiction. Regulated entities use these 
records as the basis for required rate filings and reports to the 
Commission. The Commission's audit staff will use the records during 
compliance reviews, and the Commission's enforcement staff will use the 
information during investigations. In addition, the Commission's staff 
may use the records for special analyses on subjects such as 
jurisdictional entities' responses to extreme weather events.
    On January 8, 1999 the Commission issued AI99-2-000, an Accounting 
Issuance providing guidance on records storage media.\4\ More 
specifically, the Commission gave each jurisdictional company the 
flexibility to select its own storage media. The storage media selected 
must have a life expectancy equal to the applicable record period 
unless the quality of the data transferred from one media to another 
with no loss of data would exceed the record period.
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    \4\ The Accounting Issuance can be found in the FERC eLibrary by 
typing the docket number (i.e., AI99-2-000) in the eLibrary Search 
Form, within the field labeled ``Enter Docket Number.''
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    Types of Respondents: Electric utilities, licensees, natural gas 
companies, and oil pipeline companies
    Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual 
public reporting hour burden for the information collection as:

  FERC-555--Preservation of Records for Public Utilities and Licensees, Natural Gas Pipeline Companies, and Oil
                                               Pipeline Companies
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                Annual number  of
   Number of      responses per     Total  number    Average burden hrs. & cost     Total annual burden hours &
  respondents       respondent      of  responses         per response \5\               total annual cost
(1)                           (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4)...........................  (3) * (4) = (5)
                                              (3)
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           509                  1             509  5,218 hrs.; $453,966..........  2,655,962 hrs.; $231,068,694.
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    FERC estimates that the annual total non-hour record storage cost 
is $78,243,220. The average annual rounded non-hour storage cost per 
company is $153,719 (or $78,243,220/509). FERC staff derived these 
estimates using cost information submitted by a few jurisdictional 
filers.
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    \5\ Commission staff estimates that the average industry hourly 
cost for this information collection is approximated by the FERC 
2021 average hourly costs for wages and benefits, i.e., $87.00/hour.
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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.

    Dated: January 3, 2023.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2023-00156 Filed 1-6-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P