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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 153 (Friday, August 8, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42769-42770]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21007]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC-546]

Information Collection Submitted for Review and Request for 
Comments

August 5, 1997.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of submission for review by the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of Section 3507 of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13), the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is submitting a collection of 
information listed in this notice to OMB for review under the 
provisions of the Act.

DATES: Comments regarding this collection of information are best 
assured of having their full effect if received within 30 days of this 
notification.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained from and written comments may be submitted to the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael P. Miller, Information 
Services Division, ED-12.4, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. 
Comments should also be addressed to: Desk Officer, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Michael P. Miller may be reached by telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax 
at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Abstract: The information collected under the requirements of FERC 
Form No. 546 ``Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates'' (OMB No. 
1902-0155) is used by the Commission to implement the statutory 
provisions of Title IV of the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA), 15 U.S.C. 
3301-3432, Pub. L. 95-621) and Sections 4, 5, and 16, of the Natural 
Gas Act (NGA) (15 U.S.C. 717-717o, Pub. L. 75-688). These statutory 
provisions require natural gas pipeline companies to obtain Commission 
authorization for all rates and charges made, demanded, or in 
connection with the transportation or sale of natural gas in interstate 
commerce. The Commission is authorized to investigate the rates charged 
by natural gas pipeline companies subject to its investigation. The 
data filed in certificated rate filings are used to implement new or 
revised service proposals for the transportation or sale of natural gas 
and for compliance with subsequent Commission orders. The distinction 
between FERC-546 and other rate/tariff data collections is that data 
collected under FERC-546 involved initial service and tariff revisions 
due to changes in service rather than changes in existing rates. The 
Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR 154.202-.206; 154.312; 154.601-.603.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
current expiration date, with no changes to the existing collection of 
data.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated as:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Average burden                   
    Number of          Number of          hours per       Total annual  
   respondents       responses per    response (hours)  burden hours (1)
   annually (1)      respondent (2)          (3)          x  (2)  x  (3)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
100..............                4                400            16,000 
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Estimated cost burden to respondents: 16,000 hours / 2,087 hours 
per year  x  $110,000 per year = $843,700. The cost per respondent is 
equal to $8,437.
    The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide 
the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing, 
acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the 
purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, 
disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways 
to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) 
searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of 
information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the 
information.

[[Page 42770]]

    The estimate of cost for respondents is based upon salaries for 
professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect 
overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to 
providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost 
for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs 
incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs 
apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than 
any one particular function or activity.
    Comments are invited on: (1) whether the proposed 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 of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology e.g. permitting electronic submission of 
responses.
Lois D. Cashell,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-21007 Filed 8-7-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M
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