Notice2022-01684
Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-546) Comment Request; Extension
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
January 28, 2022
Issuing agencies
Energy DepartmentFederal Energy Regulatory Commission
Abstract
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-546, (Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates), which will be submitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 19 (Friday, January 28, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 19 (Friday, January 28, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4581-4582]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-01684]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC22-2-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (Ferc-546) 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 (Commission or
FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved
information collection FERC-546, (Certificated Rate Filings: Gas
Pipeline Rates), which will be submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due February 28,
2022.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-546 to OMB through
<a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number (1902-
0155) in the subject line of your comments. Comments should be sent
within 30 days of publication of this notice to <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.
Please submit copies of your comments to the Commission. You may
submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket No. IC22-2-000) by
one of the following methods: Electronic filing through <a href="http://www.ferc.gov">http://www.ferc.gov</a>, 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, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
Instructions: OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines at <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>. 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: <a href="http://www.ferc.gov">http://www.ferc.gov</a>. For user assistance,
contact FERC Online Support by email at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f5939087969a9b999c9b90868085859a8781b593908796db929a83"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7a1c1f081915141613141f090f0a0a15080e3a1c1f0819541d150c">[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 <a href="https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview">https://www.ferc.gov/ferc-online/overview</a>.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#5115302530123d343023303f323411171403127f363e27"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a7e3c6d3c6e4cbc2c6d5c6c9c4c2e7e1e2f5e489c0c8d1">[email protected]</span></a>, telephone at (202) 502-8663.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
1. FERC-546
Title: FERC-546, Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0155.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-546 information
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting
requirements. There were no comments received on the 60-day comment
period (86 FR 63010).
Abstract: The Commission reviews the FERC-546 materials to decide
whether to approve rates and tariff changes associated with an
application for a certificate under Natural Gas Act (NGA) section 7(c)
(15 U.S.C. 717f(c)). Additionally, FERC reviews FERC-546 materials in
storage applications under NGA section 4(f) (15 U.S.C. 717c(f)), to
evaluate an applicant's market power and determine whether to grant
market-based rate authority to the applicant. The Commission uses the
information in FERC-546 to monitor jurisdictional transportation,
natural gas storage, and unbundled sales activities of interstate
natural gas pipelines and Hinshaw \1\ pipelines. In addition to
fulfilling the Commission's obligations under the NGA, the FERC-546
enables the Commission to monitor the activities and evaluate
transactions of the natural gas industry, ensure competitiveness, and
improve efficiency of the industry's operations. In summary, the
Commission uses the information to:
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\1\ Hinshaw pipelines are those that receive all out-of-state
gas from entities within or at the boundary of a state if all the
natural gas so received is ultimately consumed within the state in
which it is received, 15 U.S.C. 717(c). Congress concluded that
Hinshaw pipelines are ``matters primarily of local concern,'' and so
are more appropriately regulated by pertinent state agencies rather
than by FERC. The Natural Gas Act section 1(c) exempts Hinshaw
pipelines from FERC jurisdiction. A Hinshaw pipeline, however, may
apply for a FERC certificate to transport gas outside of state
lines.
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<bullet> Ensure adequate customer protections under NGA section
4(f);
<bullet> review rate and tariff changes filed under NGA section
7(c) for certification of natural gas pipeline transportation and
storage services;
<bullet> provide general industry oversight; and
<bullet> supplement documentation during the pipeline audits
process.
Failure to collect this information would prevent the Commission
from monitoring and evaluating transactions and operations of
jurisdictional pipelines and performing its regulatory functions.
Type of Respondents: Jurisdictional pipeline companies and storage
operators.
Estimate of Annual Burden: \2\ The Commission estimates the burden
and cost for this information collection as follows:
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\2\ ``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 Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
[[Page 4582]]
FERC-546 (Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates)
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Annual
Annual number of Total number Cost per
number of responses of responses Average burden & cost per response \3\ Total annual burden hours & total annual cost respondent
respondents per (rounded) (rounded) (rounded) ($)
respondent (rounded)
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4).................................... (3) * (4) = (5)...................................... (5) / (1)
(3)
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Pipeline Certificate Filings and Storage 47 \4\ 1.595 74.965 500 hrs.; $41,652...................... 37,482.50 hrs.; $3,122,442.18........................ $66,434.94
Applications.
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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.
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\3\ The hourly cost (for salary plus benefits) uses the figures
from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, June 2021, for positions
involved in the reporting and recordkeeping requirements. These
figures include salary (<a href="https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm">https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm</a>) and benefits <a href="http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm">http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm</a>) and are:
Electrical Engineer (Occupation Code: 17-2071; $72.15/hour)
Management Analyst (Occupation Code: 13-1111; $68.39/hour)
Accounting (Occupation Code: 13-2011; $57.41/hours)
Computer and Mathematical (Occupation Code: 15-0000; $65.73/
hour)
Legal (Occupation Code: 23-0000; $142.25/hour)
The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is calculated
weighting each of the previously mentioned wage categories as
follows: $72.15/hour (0.4) + $68.39/hour (0.2) + $57.41/hour (0.1) +
$65.73/hour (0.1) + $142.25/hour (0.2) = $83.304/hour. The
Commission rounds this figure to $83/hour.
\4\ This figure was calculated by dividing the total number of
responses (1.595) by the total number of respondents (47). The
resulting figure was then rounded to the nearest thousandth place.
Dated: January 21, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-01684 Filed 1-27-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
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