[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70746-70747]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28747]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC13-1-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-592); Comment
Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Energy.
ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A), the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (Commission or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the
currently approved information collection, Standards of Conduct for
Transmission Provider; and Marketing Affiliates of Interstate
Pipelines.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due January 28,
2013.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC13-1-
000) by either of the following methods:
eFiling at Commission's Web Site: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426.
Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance contact FERC Online Support
by email at [email protected], or by phone at: (866) 208-3676
(toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.
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 http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at
[email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202)
273-0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: FERC-592, Standards of Conduct for
Transmission Providers; and Marketing Affiliates of Interstate
Pipelines.
OMB Control No.: 1 902-0157.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-592 information
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting
requirements.
Abstract: The Commission uses the information maintained and posted
by the respondents to monitor the pipeline's transportation, sales, and
storage activities for its marketing affiliate to deter undue
discrimination by pipeline companies in favor of their marketing
affiliates. Non-affiliated shippers and other entities (e.g. state
commissions) also use information to determine whether they have been
harmed by affiliate preference and to prepare evidence for proceedings
following the filing of a complaint.
18 CFR Part 358 (Standards of Conduct)
Respondents maintain and provide the information required by Part
358 on their Internet Web sites. When the Commission requires a
pipeline to post information on its Web site following a disclosure of
non-public information to its marketing affiliate, non-affiliated
shippers obtain comparable access to the non-public transportation
information, which allows them to compete with marketing affiliates on
a more equal basis.
18 CFR 250.16, and the FERC-592 Log/Format
This form (log/format) provides the electronic formats for
maintaining information on discounted transportation transactions and
capacity allocation to support monitoring of activities of interstate
pipeline marketing affiliates. Commission staff considers discounts
given to shippers in litigated rate cases.
Without this information collection:
The Commission would be unable to effectively monitor
whether pipelines are giving discriminatory preference to their
marketing affiliates; and
Non-affiliated shippers and state commissions and others
would be unable to determine if they have been harmed by affiliate
preference or prepare evidence for proceedings following the filing of
a complaint.
Type of Respondents: Natural gas pipelines.
[[Page 70747]]
Estimate of Annual Burden \1\: The Commission estimates the total
Public Reporting Burden for this information collection as:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Burden is defined as 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, reference 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of Average Estimated
Number of responses per Total number burden hours total annual
respondents respondent of responses per response burden
(A) (B) (A) x (B) = (D) (C) x (D)
(C)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 CFR 358...................... 85 1 85 116.62 9,913
18 CFR 250.16
FERC Form No. 592
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The total estimated annual cost burden to respondents is $684,092
[9,913 hours / 2,080 \2\ hours/year = 4.76586 * $143,540/year \3\ =
$684,092].
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ 2080 hours/year = 40 hours/week * 52 weeks/year.
\3\ Average annual salary per employee in 2012.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
Dated: November 20, 2012.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-28747 Filed 11-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P