Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-545 and FERC-549c); Consolidated Comment Request; Extension, 40759-40761 [2018-17656]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 159 / Thursday, August 16, 2018 / Notices
The Draft WIR Evaluation is available
on the internet at: https://
www.hanford.gov/page.cfm/Waste
ManagementAreaC and is also publicly
available for review at the following
locations: U.S. DOE Public Reading
Room, 1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Washington, DC 20585, phone: (202)
586–5955, or fax: (202) 586–0575; and
U.S. DOE Public Reading Room located
at 2770 University Drive, Consolidated
Information Center (CIC), Room 101L,
Richland, WA 99354, phone: (509) 372–
7303.
Mr.
Jan Bovier by email at Jan_B_Bovier@
orp.doe.gov, by mail at U.S. Department
of Energy, Office of River Protection,
P.O. Box 450, MSIN H6–60, Richland,
WA 99354, or by phone at (509) 376–
9630.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
On June 4,
2018, DOE published in the Federal
Register a notice of availability of the
Draft WIR Evaluation for comment by
States, Tribal Nations, and the public
(83 FR 25657). The original public
comment period was from June 4, 2018
through September 7, 2018.
In response to several requests, DOE
is extending the public comment period
by 60 days, through November 7, 2018.
DOE will consider comments received
after that date to the extent practical.
DOE will consider comments from
States, Tribal Nations and the public, as
well as NRC consultative
recommendations, prior to finalizing
DOE’s analyses and prior to issuing a
final WIR Evaluation. Based on the final
WIR Evaluation, DOE may determine (in
a WIR determination) whether the
stabilized tanks, residuals and ancillary
structures in WMA C at closure meet the
criteria in Section II.B.(2)(a) of DOE M.
435.1–1, Radioactive Waste
Management Manual, are not high-level
radioactive waste, and are to be
managed as low-level radioactive waste.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Signed in Washington, DC, on August 10,
2018.
Anne Marie White,
Assistant Secretary for Environmental
Management.
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[FR Doc. 2018–17687 Filed 8–15–18; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. IC18–18–000]
Commission Information Collection
Activities (FERC–545 and FERC–549c);
Consolidated Comment Request;
Extension
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of information
collections and request for comments.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission or FERC) is soliciting
public comment on the requirements
and burden of the information
collections described below.
DATES: Comments on the collections of
information are due October 15, 2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
(identified by Docket No. IC18–18–000)
by either of the following methods:
• eFiling at Commission’s Website:
https://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.
Please reference the specific
collection number and/or title in your
comments.
Instructions: All submissions must be
formatted and filed in accordance with
submission guidelines at: https://
www.ferc.gov/help/submissionguide.asp. For user assistance contact
FERC Online Support by email at
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, 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 https://www.ferc.gov/docsfiling/docs-filing.asp.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen Brown may be reached by email
at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone
at (202) 502–8663, and fax at (202) 273–
0873.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Type of Request: Three-year extension
of the information collection
requirements for all collections
described below with no changes to the
current reporting requirements. Please
note the two collections are distinct.
Comments: Comments are invited on:
(1) Whether the collections of
SUMMARY:
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40759
information are 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
estimates of the burden and cost of the
collections of information, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the
information collections; and (4) ways to
minimize the burden of the collections
of information on those who are to
respond, including the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
FERC–545, Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate
Change (Non-Formal)
Title: FERC–545, Gas Pipeline Rates:
Rate Change (Non-formal).
OMB Control No.: 1902–0154.
Type of Request: Three-year extension
of the FERC–545 information collection
requirements with no changes to the
current reporting requirements.
Abstract: FERC–545 is required to
implement sections 4, 5, and 16 of the
Natural Gas Act (NGA), (15 U.S.C. 717c–
717o, PL 75 688, 52 Stat. 822 and 830).
NGA sections 4, 5, and 16 authorize the
Commission to inquire into rate
structures and methodologies and to set
rates at a just and reasonable level.
Specifically, a natural gas company
must obtain Commission authorization
for all rates and charges made,
demanded, or received in connection
with the transportation or sale of natural
gas in interstate commerce.
Under the NGA, a natural gas
company’s rates must be just and
reasonable and not unduly
discriminatory or preferential. The
Commission may act under different
sections of the NGA to effect a change
in a natural gas company’s rates. When
the Commission reviews rate increases
that a natural gas company has
proposed, it is subject to the
requirement of section 4(e) of the NGA.
Under section 4(e), the natural gas
company bears the burden of proving
that its proposed rates are just and
reasonable. On the other hand, when the
Commission seeks to impose its own
rate determination, it must do so in
compliance with section 5(a) of the
NGA. Under section 5, the Commission
must first establish that its alternative
rate proposal is both just and
reasonable.
Section 16 of the NGA states that the
Commission ‘‘shall have the power to
perform any and all acts, and to
prescribe, issue, make, amend, and
rescind such orders, rules, and
regulations as it may find necessary or
appropriate to carry out provisions of
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40760
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 159 / Thursday, August 16, 2018 / Notices
Filings; and (6) Market-Based Rates for
Storage Filings (Part 284.501–505). Onetime compliance filings mandated in
Order No. 587–W (Docket Nos. RM96–
1–038 and RM14–2–003) and Order No.
801 (Docket No. RM14–21–000) are
excluded from this data collection
renewal.
Type of Respondents: Natural gas
pipelines under the jurisdiction of NGA.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 1 The
Commission estimates the annual public
reporting burden for the information
collection as:
The Commission uses information in
FERC–545 to examine rates, services,
and tariff provisions related to natural
gas transportation and storage services.
The following filing categories are
subject to FERC–545: (1) Tariff Filings—
filings regarding proposed changes to a
pipeline’s tariff (including Cost
Recovery Mechanisms for
Modernization of Natural Gas Facilities
filings in Docket No. PL15–1) and any
related compliance filings; (2) Rate
Filings—rate-related filings under NGA
sections 4 and 5 and any related
compliance filings and settlements; (3)
Informational Reports; (4) Negotiated
Rate and Non-Conforming Agreement
[the NGA].’’ In other words, section 16
of the NGA grants the Commission the
power to define accounting, technical
and trade terms, prescribe forms,
statements, declarations or reports, and
to prescribe rules and regulations.
Pipelines adjust their tariffs to meet
market and customer needs. The
Commission’s review of these proposed
changes is required to ensure rates
remain just and reasonable and that
services are not provided in an unduly
or preferential manner. The
Commission’s regulations in 18 CFR
part 154 specify what changes are
allowed and the procedures for
requesting Commission approval.
FERC–545: GAS PIPELINE RATES: RATE CHANGE (NON-FORMAL)
Number of
respondents
Average
number of
responses
per
respondent
Total number
of responses
Average burden and cost
per response 2
Total annual burden hours
and total annual cost
Cost per
respondent
($)
(1)
(2)
(1) * (2) = (3)
(4)
(3) * (4 ) = (5)
(5) ÷ (1)
Tariff Filings .............................................
Rate Filings ..............................................
Informational Reports ..............................
Negotiated Rates & Non-Conforming
Agreement Filings.
Market-Base Rates for Storage Filings ...
124
17
101
65
2.597
1.412
2.347
9.923
322
24
237
645
4
1
Total ..................................................
....................
....................
211
354
235
233
hrs.;
hrs.;
hrs.;
hrs.;
$24,054
$40,356
$26,790
$26,562
.................
.................
.................
.................
67,947 hrs.; $7,745,958 .......
8,497 hrs.; $968,658 ............
55,706 hrs.; $6,350,484 .......
150,285 hrs.; $17,132,490 ...
$62,467
56,980
62,876
263,577
4
230 hrs.; $26,220 .................
920 hrs.; $104,880 ...............
26,220
1,232
...............................................
283,355 hrs.; $32,302,470 ...
....................
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FERC–549C, Standards for Business
Practices of Interstate Natural Gas
Pipelines
OMB Control No.: 1902–0174.
Abstract: The business practice
standards under FERC–549C are
required to carry out the Commission’s
policies in accordance with the general
authority in sections 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 14,
16, and 20 of the Natural Gas Act
(NGA),3 and sections 311, 501, and 504
of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978
(NGPA).4 The Commission adopted
these business practice standards in
order to update and standardize the
natural gas industry’s business practices
and procedures in addition to
improving the efficiency of the gas
market and the means by which the gas
industry conducts business across the
interstate pipeline grid.
In various orders since 1996, the
Commission has adopted regulations to
standardize the business practices and
communication methodologies of
interstate natural gas pipelines proposed
by the North American Energy
Standards Board (NAESB) in order to
create a more integrated and efficient
pipeline industry.5 Generally, when and
if NAESB-proposed standards (e.g.,
consensus standards developed by the
Wholesale Gas Quadrant (WGQ) 6) are
approved by the Commission, the
Commission incorporates them by
reference into its approval. The process
of standardizing business practices in
the natural gas industry began with a
Commission initiative to standardize
electronic communication of capacity
release transactions. The outgrowth of
the initial Commission standardization
efforts produced working groups
composed of all segments of the natural
gas industry and, ultimately, the Gas
Industry Standards Board (GISB), a
consensus organization open to all
members of the gas industry was
created. GISB was succeeded by
NAESB.
NAESB is a voluntary non-profit
organization comprised of members
from the retail and wholesale natural
gas and electric industries. NAESB’s
mission is to take the lead in developing
standards across these industries to
simplify and expand electronic
communication and to streamline
business practices. NAESB’s core
objective is to facilitate a seamless North
American marketplace for natural gas,
as recognized by its customers, the
business community, industry
participants, and regulatory bodies.
NAESB has divided its efforts among
four quadrants including two retail
quadrants, a wholesale electric
quadrant, and the WGQ. The NAESB
WGQ standards are a product of this
1 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.
2 The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits)
provided in this section is based on the salary
figures for May 2017 posted by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics for the Utilities sector (available at https://
www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm#13-0000)
and scaled to reflect benefits using the relative
importance of employer costs in employee
compensation from May 2017 (available at https://
www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm). The
hourly estimates for salary plus benefits are:
Computer and Mathematical (Occupation Code:
15–0000), $63.25.
Economist (Occupation Code: 19–3011), $71.98.
Legal (Occupation Code: 23–0000), $143.68.
Accountants and Auditors: 13–2011), $56.59.
The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is
calculated weighting each of the aforementioned
wage categories as follows: $63.25 (0.05) + $71.98
(0.3) + $143.68 (0.6) + $56.59 (0.05) = $113.79. The
Commission rounds it to $114/hour.
3 15 U.S.C. 717c–717w.
4 15 U.S.C. 3301–3432.
5 This series of orders began with the
Commission’s issuance of Standards for Business
Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines, Order
No. 587, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 31,038 (1996).
6 An accredited standards organization under the
auspices of the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI).
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 159 / Thursday, August 16, 2018 / Notices
effort. Industry participants seeking
additional or amended standards (to
include principles, definitions,
standards, data elements, process
descriptions, and technical
implementation instructions) must
submit a request to the NAESB office,
detailing the change, so that the
appropriate process may take place to
amend the standards.
Failure to collect the FERC–549C data
would prevent the Commission from
monitoring and properly evaluating
pipeline transactions and/or meeting
statutory obligations under both the
NGA and NGPA.
40761
Type of Respondent: Natural gas
pipelines under the jurisdictions of
NGA and NGPA.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The
Commission estimates the annual public
reporting burden for the information
collection as:
FERC–549C: STANDARDS FOR BUSINESS PRACTICES OF INTERSTATE NATURAL GAS PIPELINES
Number of
respondents
Average
number of
responses
per
respondent
Total number
of responses
(1)
(2)
(1) * (2) = (3)
Standards for Business Practices of
Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines.
165
Dated: August 10, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
490
Cost per
respondent
($)
(4)
(3) * (4) = (5)
(5) ÷ (1)
96 hrs.; $8,640 .....................
47,040 hrs.; $4,233,600 .......
$25,658
Take notice that the Commission
received the following electric corporate
filings:
Docket Numbers: EC18–133–000.
Applicants: Union Electric Company,
TG High Prairie, LLC.
Description: Joint Application for
Authorization Under Section 203 of the
Federal Power Act of Union Electric
Company, Inc., et al.
Filed Date: 8/9/18.
Accession Number: 20180809–5035.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/30/18.
Docket Numbers: EC18–134–000.
Applicants: Boulder Solar III, LLC.
Description: Application for
Authorization Under Section 203 of the
Federal Power Act of Boulder Solar III,
LLC.
Filed Date: 8/9/18.
Accession Number: 20180809–5140.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/30/18.
Docket Numbers: EC18–135–000.
Applicants: 64KT 8me LLC.
Description: Application for
Authorization under Section 203 of the
Federal Power Act, et al. of 64KT 8me
LLC.
Filed Date: 8/9/18.
Accession Number: 20180809–5146.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/30/18.
Docket Numbers: EC18–136–000.
Applicants: JERA Power Compass,
LLC, Dighton Power, LLC, Marco DM
Holdings, L.L.C., Marcus Hook Energy,
L.P., Marcus Hook 50, L.P., Milford
Power, LLC.
Description: Joint Application for
Authorization under Section 203 of the
Federal Power Act, et al. of JERA Power
Compass, LLC, et al.
Filed Date: 8/9/18.
Accession Number: 20180809–5148.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/30/18.
Take notice that the Commission
received the following electric rate
filings:
Docket Numbers: ER18–2194–000.
Applicants: Fox Creek Farm Solar,
LLC.
Description: Baseline eTariff Filing:
Baseline new to be effective 9/7/2018.
Filed Date: 8/10/18.
Accession Number: 20180810–5003.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/31/18.
Docket Numbers: ER18–2195–000.
Applicants: South Carolina Electric &
Gas Company.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
SCPSA Interconnection Agreement to be
effective 8/10/2018.
Filed Date: 8/10/18.
Accession Number: 20180810–5053.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/31/18.
Docket Numbers: ER18–2196–000.
Applicants: The Potomac Edison
Company, PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
Potomac Edison submits a Construction
Agreement, Service Agreement No. 4799
to be effective 10/10/2018.
Filed Date: 8/10/18.
Accession Number: 20180810–5060.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/31/18.
Docket Numbers: ER18–2197–000.
Applicants: PJM Interconnection,
L.L.C.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
Clean-up to OATT, Schedule 12—
Appendix A (PSEG) to be effective 1/1/
2017.
Filed Date: 8/10/18.
Accession Number: 20180810–5087.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/31/18.
Docket Numbers: ER18–2198–000.
Applicants: Midcontinent
Independent System Operator, Inc.,
ALLETE, Inc.
Description: § 205(d) Rate Filing:
2018–08–10_SA 3146 Minnesota PowerGRE (Knife Falls) T–L Interconnection
Agrmt to be effective 9/1/2018.
Filed Date: 8/10/18.
Accession Number: 20180810–5091.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/31/18.
Take notice that the Commission
received the following electric securities
filings:
Docket Numbers: ES18–55–000.
Applicants: Citizens SycamorePenasquitos Transmission LLC.
Description: Application for
Authorization under Section 204 of the
Federal Power Act of Citizens
Sycamore-Penasquitos Transmission
LLC.
Filed Date: 8/9/18.
Accession Number: 20180809–5145.
Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 8/30/18.
The filings are accessible in the
Commission’s eLibrary system by
7 The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits)
provided in this section is based on the salary
figures for May 2017 posted by the Bureau of Labor
Statistics for the Utilities sector (available at https://
www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm#13-0000)
and scaled to reflect benefits using the relative
importance of employer costs in employee
compensation from May 2017 (available at https://
www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm). The
hourly estimates for salary plus benefits are:
Petroleum Engineer (Occupation Code: 17–2051),
$71.62.
Computer Systems Analysts (Occupation Code:
15–1120), $46.26.
Legal (Occupation Code: 23–0000), $143.68.
Economist (Occupation Code: 19–3011), $71.98.
The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is
calculated weighting each of the aforementioned
wage categories as follows: $71.62 (0.3) + $143.68
(0.3) + $46.26 (0.15) + $71.98 (0.25) = $89.52. The
Commission rounds it to $90/hour.
[FR Doc. 2018–17656 Filed 8–15–18; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
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Combined Notice of Filings #1
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2.96
Total annual burden hours
and total annual cost
Average burden and cost
per response 7
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 159 (Thursday, August 16, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40759-40761]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-17656]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC18-18-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-545 and FERC-
549c); Consolidated Comment Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice of information collections and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or
FERC) is soliciting public comment on the requirements and burden of
the information collections described below.
DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due October 15,
2018.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC18-18-
000) by either of the following methods:
eFiling at Commission's Website: https://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.
Please reference the specific collection number and/or title in
your comments.
Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines at: https://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 https://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:
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the information collection
requirements for all collections described below with no changes to the
current reporting requirements. Please note the two collections are
distinct.
Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the collections of
information are 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 estimates of the
burden and cost of the collections of information, including the
validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance
the quality, utility and clarity of the information collections; and
(4) ways to minimize the burden of the collections of information on
those who are to respond, including the use of automated collection
techniques or other forms of information technology.
FERC-545, Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Change (Non-Formal)
Title: FERC-545, Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Change (Non-formal).
OMB Control No.: 1902-0154.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-545 information
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting
requirements.
Abstract: FERC-545 is required to implement sections 4, 5, and 16
of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), (15 U.S.C. 717c-717o, PL 75 688, 52 Stat.
822 and 830). NGA sections 4, 5, and 16 authorize the Commission to
inquire into rate structures and methodologies and to set rates at a
just and reasonable level. Specifically, a natural gas company must
obtain Commission authorization for all rates and charges made,
demanded, or received in connection with the transportation or sale of
natural gas in interstate commerce.
Under the NGA, a natural gas company's rates must be just and
reasonable and not unduly discriminatory or preferential. The
Commission may act under different sections of the NGA to effect a
change in a natural gas company's rates. When the Commission reviews
rate increases that a natural gas company has proposed, it is subject
to the requirement of section 4(e) of the NGA. Under section 4(e), the
natural gas company bears the burden of proving that its proposed rates
are just and reasonable. On the other hand, when the Commission seeks
to impose its own rate determination, it must do so in compliance with
section 5(a) of the NGA. Under section 5, the Commission must first
establish that its alternative rate proposal is both just and
reasonable.
Section 16 of the NGA states that the Commission ``shall have the
power to perform any and all acts, and to prescribe, issue, make,
amend, and rescind such orders, rules, and regulations as it may find
necessary or appropriate to carry out provisions of
[[Page 40760]]
[the NGA].'' In other words, section 16 of the NGA grants the
Commission the power to define accounting, technical and trade terms,
prescribe forms, statements, declarations or reports, and to prescribe
rules and regulations.
Pipelines adjust their tariffs to meet market and customer needs.
The Commission's review of these proposed changes is required to ensure
rates remain just and reasonable and that services are not provided in
an unduly or preferential manner. The Commission's regulations in 18
CFR part 154 specify what changes are allowed and the procedures for
requesting Commission approval.
The Commission uses information in FERC-545 to examine rates,
services, and tariff provisions related to natural gas transportation
and storage services. The following filing categories are subject to
FERC-545: (1) Tariff Filings--filings regarding proposed changes to a
pipeline's tariff (including Cost Recovery Mechanisms for Modernization
of Natural Gas Facilities filings in Docket No. PL15-1) and any related
compliance filings; (2) Rate Filings--rate-related filings under NGA
sections 4 and 5 and any related compliance filings and settlements;
(3) Informational Reports; (4) Negotiated Rate and Non-Conforming
Agreement Filings; and (6) Market-Based Rates for Storage Filings (Part
284.501-505). One-time compliance filings mandated in Order No. 587-W
(Docket Nos. RM96-1-038 and RM14-2-003) and Order No. 801 (Docket No.
RM14-21-000) are excluded from this data collection renewal.
Type of Respondents: Natural gas pipelines under the jurisdiction
of NGA.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 1 The Commission estimates
the annual public reporting burden for the information collection as:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 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.
\2\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) provided in
this section is based on the salary figures for May 2017 posted by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Utilities sector (available
at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm#13-0000) and scaled
to reflect benefits using the relative importance of employer costs
in employee compensation from May 2017 (available at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm). The hourly estimates for
salary plus benefits are:
Computer and Mathematical (Occupation Code: 15-0000), $63.25.
Economist (Occupation Code: 19-3011), $71.98.
Legal (Occupation Code: 23-0000), $143.68.
Accountants and Auditors: 13-2011), $56.59.
The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is calculated
weighting each of the aforementioned wage categories as follows:
$63.25 (0.05) + $71.98 (0.3) + $143.68 (0.6) + $56.59 (0.05) =
$113.79. The Commission rounds it to $114/hour.
FERC-545: Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Change (Non-Formal)
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Average
number of Cost per
Number of responses Total number Average burden and cost per Total annual burden hours respondent
respondents per of responses response \2\ and total annual cost ($)
respondent
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)........................ (3) * (4 ) = (5).......... (5) / (1)
(3)
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Tariff Filings.......................... 124 2.597 322 211 hrs.; $24,054.......... 67,947 hrs.; $7,745,958... $62,467
Rate Filings............................ 17 1.412 24 354 hrs.; $40,356.......... 8,497 hrs.; $968,658...... 56,980
Informational Reports................... 101 2.347 237 235 hrs.; $26,790.......... 55,706 hrs.; $6,350,484... 62,876
Negotiated Rates & Non-Conforming 65 9.923 645 233 hrs.; $26,562.......... 150,285 hrs.; $17,132,490. 263,577
Agreement Filings.
Market-Base Rates for Storage Filings... 4 1 4 230 hrs.; $26,220.......... 920 hrs.; $104,880........ 26,220
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Total............................... ........... ........... 1,232 ........................... 283,355 hrs.; $32,302,470. ...........
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FERC-549C, Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas
Pipelines
OMB Control No.: 1902-0174.
Abstract: The business practice standards under FERC-549C are
required to carry out the Commission's policies in accordance with the
general authority in sections 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16, and 20 of the
Natural Gas Act (NGA),\3\ and sections 311, 501, and 504 of the Natural
Gas Policy Act of 1978 (NGPA).\4\ The Commission adopted these business
practice standards in order to update and standardize the natural gas
industry's business practices and procedures in addition to improving
the efficiency of the gas market and the means by which the gas
industry conducts business across the interstate pipeline grid.
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\3\ 15 U.S.C. 717c-717w.
\4\ 15 U.S.C. 3301-3432.
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In various orders since 1996, the Commission has adopted
regulations to standardize the business practices and communication
methodologies of interstate natural gas pipelines proposed by the North
American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) in order to create a more
integrated and efficient pipeline industry.\5\ Generally, when and if
NAESB-proposed standards (e.g., consensus standards developed by the
Wholesale Gas Quadrant (WGQ) \6\) are approved by the Commission, the
Commission incorporates them by reference into its approval. The
process of standardizing business practices in the natural gas industry
began with a Commission initiative to standardize electronic
communication of capacity release transactions. The outgrowth of the
initial Commission standardization efforts produced working groups
composed of all segments of the natural gas industry and, ultimately,
the Gas Industry Standards Board (GISB), a consensus organization open
to all members of the gas industry was created. GISB was succeeded by
NAESB.
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\5\ This series of orders began with the Commission's issuance
of Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas
Pipelines, Order No. 587, FERC Stats. & Regs. ] 31,038 (1996).
\6\ An accredited standards organization under the auspices of
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).
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NAESB is a voluntary non-profit organization comprised of members
from the retail and wholesale natural gas and electric industries.
NAESB's mission is to take the lead in developing standards across
these industries to simplify and expand electronic communication and to
streamline business practices. NAESB's core objective is to facilitate
a seamless North American marketplace for natural gas, as recognized by
its customers, the business community, industry participants, and
regulatory bodies. NAESB has divided its efforts among four quadrants
including two retail quadrants, a wholesale electric quadrant, and the
WGQ. The NAESB WGQ standards are a product of this
[[Page 40761]]
effort. Industry participants seeking additional or amended standards
(to include principles, definitions, standards, data elements, process
descriptions, and technical implementation instructions) must submit a
request to the NAESB office, detailing the change, so that the
appropriate process may take place to amend the standards.
Failure to collect the FERC-549C data would prevent the Commission
from monitoring and properly evaluating pipeline transactions and/or
meeting statutory obligations under both the NGA and NGPA.
Type of Respondent: Natural gas pipelines under the jurisdictions
of NGA and NGPA.
Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden for the information collection as:
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\7\ The estimated hourly cost (salary plus benefits) provided in
this section is based on the salary figures for May 2017 posted by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the Utilities sector (available
at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm#13-0000) and scaled
to reflect benefits using the relative importance of employer costs
in employee compensation from May 2017 (available at https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm). The hourly estimates for
salary plus benefits are:
Petroleum Engineer (Occupation Code: 17-2051), $71.62.
Computer Systems Analysts (Occupation Code: 15-1120), $46.26.
Legal (Occupation Code: 23-0000), $143.68.
Economist (Occupation Code: 19-3011), $71.98.
The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is calculated
weighting each of the aforementioned wage categories as follows:
$71.62 (0.3) + $143.68 (0.3) + $46.26 (0.15) + $71.98 (0.25) =
$89.52. The Commission rounds it to $90/hour.
FERC-549C: Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
number of Cost per
Number of responses Total number Average burden and cost per Total annual burden hours respondent
respondents per of responses response \7\ and total annual cost ($)
respondent
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)........................ (3) * (4) = (5)........... (5) / (1)
(3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Standards for Business Practices of 165 2.96 490 96 hrs.; $8,640............ 47,040 hrs.; $4,233,600... $25,658
Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines.
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Dated: August 10, 2018.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2018-17656 Filed 8-15-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
