[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 138 (Thursday, July 18, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58366-58367]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15851]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC24-21-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-588); 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-588, Emergency Natural Gas Transportation, 
Sale, and Exchange Transactions (OMB Control Number 1902-0144).

DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due September 16, 
2024.

ADDRESSES: You may submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket 
No. IC24-21-000 and the specific FERC collection number (FERC-588)) by 
one of the following methods: Electronic filing through http://www.ferc.gov, is preferred.
     Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable 
native

[[Page 58367]]

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 other delivery services:
    [cir] Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE, 
Washington, DC 20426.
    [cir] All other delivery services: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the 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: Jean Sonneman may be reached by email 
at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-6362.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-588 (Emergency Natural Gas Transportation, Sale, and 
Exchange Transactions).
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0144.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-588 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements.
    Abstract: FERC-588 is an existing information collection consisting 
of filing requirements and notice procedures applicable to responses to 
natural gas emergency circumstances. Two sets of information collection 
activities pertain to such responses. One set applies to responses by a 
jurisdictional ``natural-gas company,'' i.e., a person engaged in the 
transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce, or the sale in 
interstate commerce of such gas for resale.\1\ Section 7(c)(1)(A) of 
the Natural Gas Act \2\ requires any natural-gas company to obtain a 
certificate of public convenience and necessity issued by the 
Commission before engaging in the transportation or sale of natural gas 
in interstate commerce, or undertaking the construction or extension of 
any facilities for the transportation or sale of natural gas in 
interstate commerce. Under 18 CFR 157.17, a jurisdictional natural-gas 
company may file an application for a temporary certificate authorizing 
the construction and operation of extensions of existing facilities, 
interconnections of pipeline systems, or sales of natural gas that may 
be required to assure maintenance of adequate service, or to service 
particular customers.
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    \1\ The definition of ``natural-gas company'' is at 15 U.S.C. 
717a(6).
    \2\ 15 U.S.C. 717f(c)(1)(A).
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    The other set of responses to a natural gas emergency, at 18 CFR 
part 284 subpart I, exempts a person who engages in an emergency 
natural gas transaction in interstate commerce from the certificate 
requirements of section 7 of the Natural Gas Act.\3\ The term 
``emergency natural gas transaction'' is defined at 18 CFR 284.262 as 
the sale, transportation, or exchange of natural gas (including the 
construction and operation of necessary facilities) conducted pursuant 
to this subpart, that is:
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    \3\ 18 CFR 284.261.
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    (1) Necessary to alleviate an emergency; and
    (2) Not anticipated to extend for more than 60 days in duration.
    A non-jurisdictional company that engages in an emergency natural 
gas transactions must file information with the Commission under 18 CFR 
284.270, so that the Commission may ensure compliance with relevant 
legal requirements.
    Types of Respondent: Providers and recipients of assistance in 
natural gas emergency circumstances.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \4\ The Commission estimates the total 
annual burden and cost \5\ for this information collection in the 
following table:
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    \4\ ``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 5 CFR 1320.3.
    \5\ The Commission staff believes that industry is similarly 
situated to the Commission in terms of cost for wages and benefits. 
Based on FERC's current annual average cost of $207,786 (for salary 
plus benefits) for a full-time equivalent, the average hourly cost 
is $100/hour. Therefore, the hourly cost used in the burden 
calculation is $100.

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                  Annual number    Total number of
   Number of       of responses   responses (Col. A   Average hr. burden and cost    Total annual hr. burden and
  respondents     per respondent      x Col. B)              per  response             cost (Col. C x Col. D)
A.                           B.                   C. D............................  E.
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            10                3                 30   10 hrs; $1,000...............  300 hrs.; $30,000.
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    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) whether the collections 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 collections of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collections; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collections of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

    Dated: July 12, 2024.
Debbie-Anne A. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-15851 Filed 7-17-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P