Document ID: FERC-2010-0832-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals
Posted Date: 2010-06-16T04:00Z

[Federal Register: June 16, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 115)]
[Notices]               
[Page 34107-34108]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16jn10-51]                         

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC10-547-000]

 
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-547); Comment 
Request; Extension

June 9, 2010.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection and request for 
comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) (2006), 
(Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission 
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the proposed information 
collection described below.

DATES: Comments in consideration of the collection of information are 
due August 16, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed either electronically (eFiled) or in 
paper format, and should refer to Docket No. IC10-547-000. Documents 
must be prepared in an acceptable filing format and in compliance with 
Commission submission guidelines at http://www.ferc.gov/help/
submission-guide.asp. eFiling instructions are available at: http://
www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. First time users must follow 
eRegister instructions at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
eregistration.asp, to establish a user name and password before 
eFiling. The Commission will send an automatic acknowledgement to the 
sender's e-mail address upon receipt of eFiled comments. Commenters 
making an eFiling should not make a paper filing. Commenters that are 
not able to file electronically must send an original and two (2) paper 
copies of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 
Secretary of the

[[Page 34108]]

Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in 
this docket may do so through eSubscription at http://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/esubscription.asp. In addition, all comments and FERC 
issuances may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely through FERC's 
eLibrary at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp, by searching 
on Docket No. IC10-547. For user assistance, contact FERC Online 
Support by e-mail at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone at: (866) 
208-3676 (toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by e-mail 
at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at 
(202) 273-0873.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-547, ``Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report 
Requirements'' (OMB No. 1902-0084), is used by the Commission to 
implement the statutory refund provisions governed by sections 4, 5 and 
16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA).\1\ Sections 4 and 5 authorize the 
Commission to order a refund, with interest, for any portion of a 
natural gas company's increased rate or charge found to be unjust or 
unreasonable. Refunds may also be instituted by a natural gas company 
as a stipulation to a Commission-approved settlement agreement or a 
provision under the company's tariff. Section 16 of the NGA authorizes 
the Commission to prescribe rules and regulations necessary to 
administer its refund mandates. The Commission's refund reporting 
requirements are found in 18 CFR 154.501 and 154.502.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 717-717w.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Commission uses the data to monitor refunds owed by natural gas 
companies to ensure that the flow-through of refunds owed by these 
companies are made as expeditiously as possible and to assure that 
refunds are made in compliance with the Commission's regulations.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
FERC-547 reporting requirements, with no changes.
    Burden Statement: The estimated annual public reporting burden for 
FERC-547 is reduced from the estimate made three years ago due to a 
reduction in the average number of filings received annually, from 60 
in 2007, to 30 presently.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       Average number of
      FERC data collection             Number of         responses per      Average burden       Total annual
                                      respondents         respondent      hours per response     burden hours
                                  (1)...............  (2)...............  (3)...............  (1) x (2) x (3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FERC-547........................          30                   1                  75                 2,250
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $149,143 
(2,250 hours/2,080 hours \2\ per year, times $137,874 \3\).
    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.
    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.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Estimated number of hours an employee works each year.
    \3\ Estimated average annual cost per employee.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2010-14438 Filed 6-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P