Document ID: FERC-2009-0710-0001
Agency: ferc
Document Type: Notice
Title: Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-714); Comment Request; Extension
Posted Date: 2009-05-15T04:00Z

[Federal Register: May 15, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 93)]
[Notices]               
[Page 22913-22914]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15my09-49]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC09-714-000]

 
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-714); Comment 
Request; Extension

May 7, 2009.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

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

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13), the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting 
public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection 
described below.

DATES: Comments in consideration of the collection of information are 
due July 13, 2009.

ADDRESSES: An example of this collection of information may be obtained 
from the Commission's Web site (at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
elibrary.asp). Comments may be filed either electronically or in paper 
format, and should refer to Docket No. IC09-714-000. Documents must be 
prepared in an acceptable filing format and in compliance with the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission submission guidelines at http://
www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp.
    Comments may be filed electronically via the eFiling link on the 
Commission's Web site at www.ferc.gov. First time users will have to 
establish a user name and password (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
eregistration.asp) before eFiling. The Commission will send an 
automatic acknowledgement to the sender's e-mail address upon receipt 
of comments through eFiling.
    Commenters filing electronically should not make a paper filing. 
Commenters that are not able to file electronically must send an 
original and 14 copies of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the 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 
Web site using the ``eLibrary'' link and searching on Docket Number 
IC09-714. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support (e-mail at 
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or call toll-free at (866) 208-3676, or for 
TTY, contact (202) 502-8659).

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: FERC-714 (Annual Electric Balancing 
Authority Area and Planning Area Report (formerly called ``Annual 
Electric Control and Planning Area Report''), OMB No. 1902-0140) is 
used by the Commission to implement Sections 4, 202, 207, 210, 211-213, 
304, 309 and 311 of the Federal Power Act (FPA) as amended (49 Stat. 
838: 16 U.S.C. 791 a-825r), Section 3(4) of Public Utility Regulatory 
Policies Act of 1978, 26 U.S.C. 2602 and sections 1211, 1221, 1231, 
1241 and 1242 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58) (119 
Stat. 594). The filing requirements are found at 18 CFR 141.51. The 
information allows the Commission to analyze power system operations, 
to estimate the effect of changes in power system operations that 
result from the installation of a new generating unit or plant, 
transmission facilities, energy transfers between systems and/or new 
points of interconnections. The analyses also serve to correlate rates 
and charges, assess reliability and other operating attributes in 
regulatory proceedings, monitor market trends and behaviors, and 
determine the competitive impacts of proposed mergers, acquisitions and 
dispositions.

ACTION: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
current reporting requirements.
    Burden Statement: There has been a change in burden due to: (1) An 
informal, limited survey of respondents in order to obtain improved 
estimates of both the burden and cost, (2) a change in the number of 
filers resulting from the formation of regional transmission 
organizations (and other similar entities) encompassing numerous former 
Control Areas (Balancing Authority Areas), and (3) the switch to an 
all-electronic filing in 2007 (from a paper and diskette filing). 
Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated as follows.

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                                                 Number of        Number of      Average burden
            FERC data collection                respondents     responses per      hours per       Total annual
                                                  annually        respondent        response       burden hours
                                                         (1)              (2)              (3)      (1)x(2)x(3)
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FERC-714....................................             215                1           \1\ 87       \1\ 18,705
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Note: These figures may not be exact, due to rounding.

    The total estimated annual cost burden\1\ to respondents is 
$885,155 (215 respondents x $4,117 per respondent).
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    \1\ These figures are based on a limited survey of 8 
respondents. The average estimated annual burden per respondent (and 
filing) is 87 hours.
    Using the number of hours spent by each specific job title or 
level, the estimated annual staff cost was calculated based on the 
nationwide average annual salary for various levels of engineers, 
found in the Occupational Outlook Handbook (2008-09 Edition) [posted 
on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site at http://www.bls.gov/
oco/ocos027.htm]. The estimated average annual staff cost for 
preparing the FERC-714 was $3,603.
    The respondents surveyed had additional costs of $514, on 
average per year. Therefore the total estimated average annual cost 
per respondent is $4,117.
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    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;

[[Page 22914]]

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.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-11333 Filed 5-14-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P