[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 174 (Thursday, September 9, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48997-48998]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-23468]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[FERC-800 IC99-800-000]
Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments
September 3, 1999.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Request for Office of Management and Budget Emergency
Processing of proposed information collection and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of Section 3507(j)(1) of
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13), and 5 CFR
1320.13 of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations, the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is providing notice
of its request to OMB for emergency processing of a proposed collection
of information request on the specific aspects of the information
collection described below. OMB approval has been requested by
September 8, 1999. A copy of this information collection request (ICR),
with applicable supporting documentation, may be obtained by calling
the Commission's Information Clearance Officer, Michael Miller at
(202)208-1415. Comments and questions about the ICR listed below should
be directed to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attn:
FERC Desk Officer, Office of Management and Budget, Room 10202 NEOB,
Washington, D.C. 20503.
Agency: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Title: Pilot Project for Electronic Filing of Documents.
OMB Number: 1902-new.
Frequency: Monthly.
Affected Public: Business or other for profit; State, Local or
Tribal Governments.
Number of Respondents: 100.
Estimated Time Per Respondent: 20 minutes.
Total Burden Hours: 150.
Description: The challenges facing the Commission over the next few
years are substantial, particularly in light of the changing and more
competitive electric and gas industries. To ensure that the
Commission's decisions are based on accurate, complete and timely
information, an information technology initiative was developed to
create a comprehensive information management system to minimize filing
burdens, generate better information for use by industries and reduce
the
[[Page 48998]]
processing times for Commission workload. The goal of this
comprehensive information management system will be the development of
a common, multipurpose, standards-based infrastructure that accepts
electronic filings and maintains all Commission data in a data
repository accessible electronically by Commission staff and eventually
the public. Electronic filing pilots through the Commission's Web Site
will assist in the development of standards, minimize the number of
filing types and streamline filing requirements. When completed,
electronic filing will substantially reduce the cost of paper, copying,
postage, and messenger services for those who file at the Commission.
The initial pilot will allow the following categories of documents
to be submitted electronically with the Commission in accordance with
its regulations in 18 CFR Part 385:
Motions to Intervene and Notices to Intervene
Sec. 385.214;
Protests filed pursuant to Secs. 385.208 and 385.211;
Comments filed in rulemaking proceedings and in connection
with Environmental Impact Statements;
Comments on pleadings other than those set for hearing
under Subpart E of the regulations and settlement comments;
Answers to pleadings and rulemaking comments filed in
accordance with Sec. 385.213, other than those in proceedings set for
hearing under Subpart E of the regulations;
Withdrawals of comments in pleadings and rulemakings in
accordance with Sec. 385.206, other than those in proceedings set for
hearing under Subpart E of the regulations;
Amendments to such pleadings and rulemaking comments
pursuant to Sec. 385.215, other than those in proceedings set for
hearing under Subpart E of the regulations;
These documents were selected for this pilot because of the lack of
complexity in the information that is submitted to the Commission.
During the pilot phase, participants will still be required to file
paper copies in accordance with the Commission's current regulations in
addition to filing the electronic submission.
Further impetus for expanding the use of electronic filing at the
Commission is to ensure its compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act
of 1995 (PRA) (Pub. L. 104-13) and its commitment to the provisions of
OMB's regulations at 5 CFR 1320 and corresponding guidance in OMB
Circular A-130. The PRA calls upon agencies to ``promote the use of
information technology by the Federal Government to improve
productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness of Federal Programs,
including through dissemination of public information and the reduction
of information collection burdens on the public.'' (44 U.S.C.
3504(h)(5)). The goal is to have regulated entities file with the
Commission fewer, and ultimately no, paper documents, as appropriate.
The electronic submission also creates a transaction where documents
can be accessed and retrieved faster and, as a result, the Commission
response will be measurably faster.
The Commission is seeking emergency clearance for this pilot
because the normal clearance procedures would disrupt the Commission's
planned implementation of an electronic filing program and the
Commission's strategic goal of reducing the regulatory burden on
industries through the generation of better and more timely information
for use by industries, minimizing the filing burden and reducing
workload processing times for both industries and Commission staff.
David P. Boergers,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 99-23468 Filed 9-8-99; 8:45 am]
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