[Federal Register: October 6, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 193)]
[Notices]               
[Page 57679-57680]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06oc03-42]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC03-537-000, FERC-537]

 
Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed 
Collection; Comment Request; Extension

September 29, 2003.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice.

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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), the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public 
comment on the specifics of the information collection described below.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by December 1, 
2003.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be 
obtained from Michael Miller, Office of the Executive Director, ED-30, 
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426. Comments may be filed 
either in paper format or electronically. Those parties filing 
electronically do not need to make a paper filing.
    For paper filings, the original and 14 copies of such comments 
should be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE. Washington, DC 20426 and 
refer to Docket No. IC03-537-000.
    Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared in 
WordPerfect, MS Word, Portable Document Format, or ASCII format. To 
file the document, access the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov
 and click on ``Make an E-filing,'' and then follow the 
instructions for each screen. First time users will have to establish a 
user name and password. The Commission will send an automatic 
acknowledgment to the sender's E-mail address upon receipt of comments.
    All comments may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely via the 
Internet through FERC's homepage using the eLibrary link. For user assistance, contact FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at (866) 
208-3676 or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by 
telephone at (202) 502-8415, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at michael.miller@ferc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-537 ``Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, 
Acquisition, and Abandonment'' (OMB Control No. 1902-0060) is used by 
the Commission to implement the statutory provisions of the Natural Gas 
Policy Act of 1978 (NGPA), 15 U.S.C. 3301-3432, and the Natural Gas Act 
(NGA) (15 U.S.C. 717-717w). Under the NGA, natural gas pipeline 
companies must obtain Commission authorization to undertake the 
construction or extension of any facilities, or to acquire or operate 
any such facilities or extensions in accordance with Section 7(c) of 
the NGA. A natural gas company must also obtain Commission approval 
under section 7(b) of the NGA prior to

[[Page 57680]]

abandoning any jurisdictional facility or service. Under the NGPA 
interstate and intrastate pipelines must also obtain authorization for 
certain transportation arrangements.
    The information collected is necessary to certificate interstate 
pipelines engaged in the transportation and sale of natural gas, and 
the construction, acquisition, and operation of facilities to be used 
in those activities, to authorize the abandonment of facilities and 
services and to authorize certain NGPA transactions. If a certificate 
is granted, the natural gas company can construct, acquire, or operate 
facilities plus engage in interstate transportation or sale of natural 
gas. Conversely, approval of an abandonment application permits the 
pipeline to cease service and/or discontinue the operation of such 
facilities. Authorization under NGPA section 311(a) allows the 
interstate or intrastate pipeline applicants to render certain 
transportation services.
    The data required to be submitted consists of identification of the 
company and responsible officials, factors considered in the location 
of the facilities and the impact on the area for environmental 
considerations. Also to be submitted are flow diagrams showing design 
capacity of engineering design verification and safety determination, 
and gas reserves data for appraisal of the feasibility of the project. 
Market data presenting the economic basis for the proposed action are 
included when appropriate as cost of the proposed facilities, plans for 
refinancing, and estimated revenues and expenses related to the 
proposed facility for financial and accounting evaluation. The 
Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal 
Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR parts 157.5-.11; 157.13-.20; 157.22; 
157.53; 157.201-.209; 157.211; 157.214-.218; 284.8; 284.11; 284.126; 
284.221; 284.223-.224; 284.227.
    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:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Number of          Number of       Average  burden
   respondents       responses per       hours  per       Total  annual
     annually          respondent         response        burden hours
(1)                            (2)                (3)       (1)x(2)x(3)
------------------
             76               10.2              271.2        * 210,234
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* Rounded off.

    Estimated cost burden to respondents: 210,234 hours/2,080 hours per 
year x $117,041 per year = $11,829,807. The cost per respondent is 
equal to $155,655.
    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.

Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 03-25224 Filed 10-3-03; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P