[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 146 (Friday, July 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 49970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-18039]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC16-13-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-547); Comment
Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
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, 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, FERC-547 (Gas Pipeline
Rates: Refund Report Requirements).
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due September 27,
2016.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC16-13-
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: Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0084.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-547 information
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting
requirements.
Abstract: The Commission uses FERC-547 (Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund
Report Requirements) to implement the statutory refund provisions
governed by Sections 4, 5 and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA).\1\
Sections 4 and 5 authorize the Commission to order a refund (with
interest) for any portion of a natural gas company's increased rate or
charge found to be unjust or unreasonable. 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 of the NGA authorizes the Commission to prescribe
rules and regulations necessary to administer its refund mandates. The
Commission's refund reporting requirements are located in 18 CFR
154.501 and 154.502.
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\1\ 15 U.S.C. 717-717w.
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The Commission uses the data to monitor refunds owed by natural gas
companies to ensure that the flow-through of refunds owed by these
companies are made as expeditiously as possible and to assure that
refunds are made in compliance with the Commission's regulations.
Type of Respondents: Natural gas companies.
Estimate of Annual Burden: \2\ The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden for the information collection as:
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\2\ The Commission defines burden 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.
\3\ The cost is based on FERC's 2016 average cost (salary plus
benefits) of $74.50/hour. The Commission staff believes that the
industry's level and skill set is comparable to FERC.
FERC--547: Gas Pipeline Rates: Refund Report Requirements
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Annual number Average burden Total annual burden
Number of respondents of responses Total humber & cost per hours & total annual Cost per respondent
per respondent of responses response \5\ cost ($)
(1) (2) (1)x(2)=(3) (4)................... (3)*(4)=(5)........... (5)/(1)
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Natural Gas Pipelines............... 11 1 11 75 hrs.; $5,587.50.... 825 hrs.; $61,462.50.. $5,587.50
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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.
Dated: July 25, 2016.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-18039 Filed 7-28-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P