[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 119 (Wednesday, June 22, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37324-37325]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-13279]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC22-11-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-538) 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 FERC-538 (Gas 
Pipeline Certificates: Section 7(a) Mandatory Initial Service), which 
will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review. No Comments were received on the 60-day notice published on 
April 12, 2022.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due July 22, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-538 to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number (1902-
0061) 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. IC22-11-000) 
by one of the following methods:
    Electronic filing through https://www.ferc.gov, is preferred.
    <bullet> Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable 
native applications and print-to-PDF, but not in scanned or picture 
format.
    <bullet> 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, Secretary of the 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c7a1a2b5a4a8a9abaea9a2b4b2b7b7a8b5b387a1a2b5a4e9a0a8b1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="c7a1a2b5a4a8a9abaea9a2b4b2b7b7a8b5b387a1a2b5a4e9a0a8b1">[email protected]</span></a>, 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 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#54103520351738313526353a373114121106177a333b22"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5115302530123d343023303f323411171403127f363e27">[email protected]</span></a>, telephone at (202) 502-8663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: Gas Pipeline Certificates: Section 7(a) Mandatory Initial 
Service.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0061.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-538 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The purpose of FERC-538 is to implement the information 
collections pursuant to Sections 7(a), 10(a) and 16 of Natural Gas Act 
(NGA),\1\ and part 156 of the Commission Regulations.\2\ These statutes 
and regulations upon application by a person or municipality authorized 
to engage in the local distribution of natural gas allows for the 
Commission to order a natural gas company to extend or improve its 
transportation facilities and sell natural gas to the municipality or 
person. Additionally, the natural gas company must for such purpose, 
extend its transportation facilities to communities immediately 
adjacent to such facilities or to territories served by the natural gas 
pipeline company. The Commission uses the application data (in FERC-
538) in order to be fully informed concerning the applicant, and the 
service the applicant is requesting.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 717f-w.
    \2\ 18 CFR 156.

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[[Page 37325]]

    Type of Respondents: Persons or municipalities authorized to engage 
in the local distribution of natural gas.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \3\ The Commission estimates the annual 
reporting burden and cost for the information collection as:
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    \3\ ``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 Code of Federal 
Regulations 1320.3.
    \4\ The estimates for cost per response are derived using the 
following formula: Average Burden Hours per Response * $87.00/hour = 
Average cost/response. The figure is the 2021 FERC average hourly 
cost (for wages and benefits) of $87.00 (and an average annual cost 
of $180,703/year). Commission staff is using the FERC average salary 
plus benefits because we consider people completing the FERC-538 to 
be compensated at rates similar to FERC employees.

                                       FERC-538: Gas Pipeline Certificates: Section 7(a) Mandatory Initial Service
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                                                      Annual number                     Average  burden hrs. &    Total annual  burden
                                       Number of       of responses     Total number    cost ($) per  response   hours  & total annual       Cost per
                                      respondents     per respondent    of responses             \4\                   cost  ($)         respondent  ($)
                                               (1)              (2)   (1) * (2) = (3)  (4)....................  (3) * (4) = (5)........       (5) / (1)
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Gas Pipeline Certificates.........               1                1                1   240 hrs.; $20,880......  240 hrs.; $20,880......         $20,880
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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.

    Dated: June 14, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-13279 Filed 6-21-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


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