Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-576); Comment Request; Extension, 6273-6274 [E9-2520]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 24 (Friday, February 6, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6273-6274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-2520]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC09-576-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-576); Comment 
Request; Extension

January 29, 2009.
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. 104-13), the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment 
on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

DATES: Comments in consideration of the collection of information are 
due April 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed either electronically or in paper 
format, and should refer to Docket No. IC09-576-000. Documents must be 
prepared in an acceptable filing format and in compliance with the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission submission guidelines at https://
www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp.
    Comments may be filed electronically via the eFiling link on the 
Commission's Web site at https://www.ferc.gov. First time users will 
have to establish a user name and password (https://www.ferc.gov/docs-
filing/eregistration.asp) before eFiling. The Commission will send an 
automatic acknowledgement to the sender's e-mail address upon receipt 
of comments through eFiling.
    Commenters filing electronically should not make a paper filing. 
Commenters that are not able to file electronically must send an 
original and 14 copies of their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street, NE., 
Washington, DC 20426.
    Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in 
this docket may do so through eSubscription (at https://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/esubscription.asp). In addition, all comments and FERC 
issuances may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely through FERC's 
Web site using the ``eLibrary'' link and searching on Docket Number 
IC09-576. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support (e-mail at 
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or call 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: Under the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (Pub. L. 75-
688) (15 U.S.C. 717-717w), a natural gas company must obtain Commission 
authorization to engage in the transportation, sale or exchange of 
natural gas in interstate commerce. The Commission is also empowered to 
oversee continuity of service in the transportation of natural gas in 
interstate commerce. The information collected under FERC-576 (Report 
of Service Interruptions; OMB Clearance No. 1902-0004) notifies the 
Commission of: (1) Damage to jurisdictional natural gas facilities as a 
result of a hurricane, earthquake, or other natural disaster, or 
terrorist activity, (2) serious interruptions to service, and (3) 
damage to jurisdictional natural gas facilities due to natural disaster 
or terrorist activity, that creates the potential for serious delivery 
problems on the pipeline's own system or the pipeline grid.
    Filings in accordance with the provisions of section 4(d) of the 
Natural Gas Act (NGA) (15 U.S.C. 717c) are to contain information 
necessary to advise the Commission when a change in service has 
occurred. Under section 7(d) of the NGA (15 U.S.C. 717f), the 
Commission may issue a temporary certificate in cases of emergency to 
assure maintenance of adequate service or to serve particular 
customers, without notice or hearing.
    The FERC-576 initial reports are submitted by e-mail to 
pipelineoutage@ferc.gov or by facsimile transmission. 18 CFR 260.9(b) 
requires that a report of service interruption or damage to natural gas 
facilities state: (1) The location of the service interruption or 
damage to natural gas pipeline or storage facilities; (2) The nature of 
any damage to pipeline or storage facilities; (3) Specific 
identification of the facilities damaged; (4) The time the service 
interruption or damage to the facilities occurred; (5) The customers 
affected by the service interruption or damage to the facilities; (6) 
Emergency actions taken to maintain service; and (7) Company contact 
and telephone number. (In response to these reports, the Commission may 
contact other pipelines to determine available supply, and if 
necessary, authorize transportation or construction of facilities to 
alleviate the problem.) The company also reports to the Commission when 
pipeline throughput or storage deliverability has been restored.
    Failure by the Commission to collect this information would mean 
that it is unable to monitor and evaluate transactions, operations, and 
reliability of interstate pipelines and perform its regulatory 
functions.
    In coordination with the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), 
FERC has reviewed the reporting requirements. FERC and DOT have

[[Page 6274]]

concluded that there is minimal duplication, the intent, timing, and 
the information collected serve different needs, and a common form is 
not appropriate.\1\
    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 at:

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                                                     Number of
                                                    respondents      Number of    Average burden   Total annual
         FERC data collection--FERC-576              [events]      responses per     hours per     burden hours
                                                     annually       respondent       response
                                                             (1)             (2)          (3)        (1)x(2)x(3)
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Submittal to FERC of the original e-mail and                  40           \2\ 2            1             \2\ 80
 follow-up e-mail \2\...........................
Submittal of damage report to state commissions.              40               1            0.25              10
Submittal to FERC of copy of DOT incident report              40               1            0.25             10
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\1\ FERC needs the information immediately, and DOT receives its detailed form after 30 days. DOT's immediate
  telephonic report is used to decide whether they need to send a field person on-site. In addition, some
  incidents are reportable only to FERC.
\2\ This includes the original e-mail, plus the follow-up e-mail (sent when throughput or storage deliverability
  has been restored).

    The estimated cost burden to respondents is $6,076.15 (100 hours/
2080 hours per year times $126,384 per year average per employee = 
$6,076.15).
    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.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E9-2520 Filed 2-5-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P