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Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
[Federal Register: September 5, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 172)]
[Notices]
[Page 53708-53709]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05se00-71]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC00-547-000, FERC-547]
Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments
August 29, 2000.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
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) is soliciting public
comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described
below.
DATES: Consideration will be given to comments submitted on or before
November 6, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be
obtained from and written comments may be submitted to the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael Miller, Office of the Chief
Information Officer, CI-1, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by
telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax at (202) 208-1415, and by e-mail at
mike.miller@ferc.fed.us.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under FERC-547
``Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements'' (OMB No. 1902-0084)
is used by the Commission to implement statutory refund provisions
governed by sections 4, 5, and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (15
U.S.C. 717-717w). Sections 4 and 5 authorize the Commission to order a
refund, with interest, on any portion of a natural gas company's
increased rate or charge found to be not just or reasonable. 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 authorizes the Commission to prescribe the
rules and regulations necessary to administer its refund mandates. The
Commission's refund and reporting requirements are set forth at
sections 154.501 and 154.502 of the Commission's regulations (18 CFR
154.501 and 154.502). The data collected thereunder allows the
Commission to monitor the refunds owned by the natural gas companies
and to ensure the flow through of the refunds, with applicable
interest, to the appropriate customers and ultimately to the
residential customers and end users.
Action: The Commission is requesting reinstatement, without change,
of the previously approved data collection for which approval expired
July 31, 2000, and a three-year approval of the data. This is a
mandatory information collection requirement.
Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is
estimated as:
[[Page 53709]]
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Number of
responses Average
Number of respondents annually (1) per burden hours Total annual burden hours
respondent per response (1)x(2)x(3)
(2) (3)
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75........................................... 1 75 5,625 hours.
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The estimated total cost to respondents is $311,963, (5,625 hours
divided by 2,080 hours per year per employee times $115,357 \1\ per
year per average employee=$311,963). The cost per respondent is $3,900.
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\1\ The cost per year per average employee estimate is based on
the annual allocated cost per Commission employee for fiscal year
2001. The estimated $115,357 cost consists of approximately $92,286
in salary and $23,071 in benefits and overhead.
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The reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended by the respondent to assemble and disseminate the
information including: (1) Reviewing the instructions; (2) developing
or acquiring appropriate technological support systems needed for
purposes of collecting, validating, processing, and disseminating the
information; (3) administration; and (4) transmitting, or otherwise
disclosing the information.
The cost estimate 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 necesssary 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.
Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 00-22586 Filed 9-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-M