Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-550), Comment Request Extension, 54683-54684 [2022-19251]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 7, 2022 / Notices
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. IC22–34–000]
Commission Information Collection
Activities (FERC–550), Comment
Request Extension
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Comment request.
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 currently
approved information collection, FERC–
550 (Oil Pipeline Rates—Tariff Filings
and Depreciation Studies).
DATES: Comments on the collection of
information are due November 7, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on
FERC–550 (IC22–34–000) to the
Commission. You may submit copies of
your comments by one of the following
methods:
Electronic filing through https://
www.ferc.gov, is preferred.
• Electronic Filing: Documents must
be filed in acceptable native
applications and print-to-PDF, but not
in scanned or picture format.
• For those unable to file
electronically, comments may be filed
by USPS mail or by hand (including
courier) delivery.
Æ Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only
Addressed to: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the
Commission, 888 First Street NE,
Washington, DC 20426.
Æ Hand (including courier) delivery
to: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue,
Rockville, MD 20852.
Instructions: FERC submissions must
be formatted and filed in accordance
with submission guidelines at: https://
www.ferc.gov. For user assistance,
contact FERC Online Support by email
at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by
phone at: (866) 208–3676 (toll-free).
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/ferconline/overview.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Ellen Brown may be reached by email
at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone
at (202) 502–8663.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC–550, Oil Pipeline Rates—
Tariff Filings and Depreciation Studies.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:50 Sep 06, 2022
Jkt 256001
OMB Control No.: 1902–0089.
Type of Request: Three-year extension
of the FERC–550 information collection
requirements with no revisions to the
collection, but with adjustments in the
burden estimates.
Abstract: FERC–550 is required to
assist the Commission in implementing
the duties and powers that were vested
on October 1, 1977, in the Interstate
Commerce Commission (49 U;S.C.
60502). The Commission’s regulatory
jurisdiction over oil pipelines includes:
• Regulation of rates and practices of
oil pipeline companies engaged in
interstate transportation;
• Establishment of equal service
conditions to provide shippers with
equal access to pipeline transportation;
and
• Establishment of reasonable rates
for transporting petroleum and
petroleum products by pipeline.
Oil Pipeline Tariffs and Rates
The filing requirements for oil
pipeline tariffs and rates 1 put in place
by the FERC–550 data collection
provide the Commission with the
information it needs to analyze
proposed tariffs, rates, fares, and charges
of oil pipelines and other carriers in
connection with the transportation of
crude oil and petroleum products.
Specifically, these filings typically
include indexing, market-based rates, or
initial rate filings. The Commission uses
this information to determine whether
the proposed tariffs and rates are just
and reasonable.
The Commission’s regulations at 18
CFR parts 341 through 348 provide that
letters of transmittal must describe the
filings and explain any changes to the
carrier’s rates, rules, terms or conditions
of service; state if a waiver is being
requested, and specify the statute,
section, regulation, policy, or order
requested to be waived; and identify the
tariffs supplemental numbers, or tariff
sections and the proposed effective date
of the tariff publication. The letter of
transmittal must certify that the filing
has been sent to each subscriber of the
tariff publication. A carrier may file to
amend or modify a tariff contained in a
tariff filing at any time during the
pendency of the filing. Carriers must
cancel tariffs when the service or
transportation movement is terminated.
If the service in connection with the
tariff is no longer in interstate
commerce, the tariff publication must
state so. Whenever the tariff of a carrier
on file with the Commission is to be
adopted by another carrier as a result of
an acquisition, merger, or name change,
1 18
PO 00000
CFR parts 341 through 348.
Frm 00014
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
54683
the succeeding company must file with
the Commission, and post within 30
days after such succession, the tariff, or
portion thereof, that has been adopted
in the electronic format required by
§ 341.1 bearing the name of the
successor company.
Oil Pipeline Depreciation Studies
The Commission’s regulation at 18
CFR 347.1 provides that oil pipelines
must file material to support requests
for newly established or changed
property account depreciation studies. It
requires an applicant to file
electronically, and the transmittal letter
must give a general description of the
change in depreciation rates, certify that
the transmittal also has been sent to
each shipper and to each subscriber,
and state if there are no subscribers. The
proposed depreciation rates being
established must be used until they are
either accepted or modified by the
Commission. Rates in effect at the time
of the proposed revision must continue
to be used until the proposed revised
rates are approved or modified by the
Commission. The oil pipeline must
provide information in sufficient detail
to fully explain and justify the proposed
rates. Modifications, additions, and
deletions to data elements should be
made to reflect the individual
circumstances of the carrier’s properties
and operations.
Type of Respondent: Oil Pipelines.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 2 The
burden related to this collection now
includes a new line item, Depreciation
Studies, which is currently approved by
OMB under the FERC collection FERC–
550 (1902–0089), but historically was
combined with other requirements
outlined in 18 CFR parts 341 through
348. Depreciation studies are required if
an oil pipeline seeks to modify the
depreciation rates they have in their
existing tariffs. Since these filings are
submitted only for pipelines seeking
modification, and are more rare (<10%
of filings) than other reporting
requirements such as indexing. Staff is
correcting the estimates by adding a
new line item specific to depreciation
studies. Based on recent experience
with this collection, staff estimates that
22 respondents will file a depreciation
study each year. By separating
depreciation studies from tariff filings,
this adjustment will allocate 880 total
2 ‘‘Burden’’ is 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, refer to 5 CFR 1320.3.
E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM
07SEN1
54684
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 7, 2022 / Notices
burden hours to the depreciation studies
line item now being added.
In another adjustment, the number of
hours for Oil Rates and Tariff Filings
will decrease from 7.8 hours to 7 hours
per respondent due to the hour
allocation going to the second line
(Depreciation Studies) in the table
below. Additionally, since the previous
renewal, the number of respondents to
Oil Rates and Tariff filings also
increased from 219 to 258 based on the
number of filings received by the
Commission. The overall revised burden
estimates result to an increase to 280
(+61) respondents, 796 (+86) responses,
and 6,298 hours (+760).
The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden and cost 3 for
the FERC–550 information collection as
follows:
FERC–550: OIL PIPELINE RATES—TARIFF FILINGS AND DEPRECIATION STUDIES
Number of
respondents
Annual
number of
responses per
respondent
Total number
of
responses 4
Average burden
hrs. & cost
($)
per response
Total annual
burden hours
& total annual cost
($)
Cost per
respondent
($)
(1)
(2)
(1) * (2) = (3)
(4)
(3) * (4) = (5)
(5) ÷ (1)
Oil Rates and Tariff
Filings.
Depreciation 5 Studies.
Total .................
258
3
774
7 hrs.; $637 ...........
5,418 hrs.; $493,038 ..............
$1,911
22
1
22
40 hrs.; $3,640 ......
880 hrs.; $80,080 ...................
$3,640
280
........................
796
................................
6,298 hrs.; $573,118 ..............
........................
4 This
figure is rounded.
Studies previously was included under Oil Rates and Tariff Filings in the OMB inventory under OMB Control No. 1902–0089.
However, for a more accurate estimate of burden a new row was added for Depreciation Studies (18 CFR 347.1). This new row will properly account for the differences in burden hours and type of filing with the Oil Rates and Tariff filings (18 CFR parts 341 through 348).
5 Depreciation
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: August 31, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022–19251 Filed 9–6–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
water quality certification filed with the
Missouri Department of Natural
Resources (Missouri DNR), in
conjunction with the above captioned
project. Pursuant to 40 CFR 121.6 and
section [4.34(b)(5), 5.23(b), 153.4, or
157.22] of the Commission’s
regulations,1 we hereby notify the
Missouri DNR of the following:
Date of Receipt of the Certification
Request: July 28, 2022
Reasonable Period of Time to Act on
the Certification Request: One year (July
28, 2023).
If Missouri DNR fails or refuses to act
on the water quality certification request
on or before the above date, then the
agency certifying authority is deemed
waived pursuant to section 401(a)(1) of
the Clean Water Act, 33 U.S.C.
1341(a)(1).
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Dated: August 31, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[FR Doc. 2022–19250 Filed 9–6–22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Empire District Electric Company;
Notice of Waiver Period for Water
Quality Certification Application
On August 26, 2022, Empire District
Electric Company submitted to the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission) a copy of its application
for a Clean Water Act section 401(a)(1)
3 The Commission staff thinks that the hourly cost
(for wages and benefits) for industry staff
completing the FERC–550 is similar to the cost of
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:50 Sep 06, 2022
Jkt 256001
FERC employees. FERC staff estimates that industry
costs for salary plus benefits are similar to
Commission costs. The cost figure is the FY2022
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. RM98–1–000]
Records Governing Off-the-Record
Communications
This constitutes notice, in accordance
with 18 CFR 385.2201(b), of the receipt
of prohibited and exempt off-the-record
communications.
Order No. 607 (64 FR 51222,
September 22, 1999) requires
Commission decisional employees, who
make or receive a prohibited or exempt
off-the-record communication relevant
to the merits of a contested proceeding,
to deliver to the Secretary of the
Commission, a copy of the
communication, if written, or a
summary of the substance of any oral
communication.
Prohibited communications are
included in a public, non-decisional file
associated with, but not a part of, the
decisional record of the proceeding.
Unless the Commission determines that
the prohibited communication and any
responses thereto should become a part
of the decisional record, the prohibited
off-the-record communication will not
be considered by the Commission in
reaching its decision. Parties to a
proceeding may seek the opportunity to
respond to any facts or contentions
made in a prohibited off-the-record
FERC average annual salary plus benefits
($188,992/year or $91/hour).
1 18 CFR [4.34(b)(5)/5.23(b)/153.4/157.22].
E:\FR\FM\07SEN1.SGM
07SEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 7, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54683-54684]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19251]
[[Page 54683]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC22-34-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-550), Comment
Request Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Comment request.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 currently approved
information collection, FERC-550 (Oil Pipeline Rates--Tariff Filings
and Depreciation Studies).
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due November 7,
2022.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-550 (IC22-34-000) to the
Commission. You may submit copies of your comments by one of the
following methods:
Electronic filing through https://www.ferc.gov, is preferred.
Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable
native applications and print-to-PDF, but not in scanned or picture
format.
For those unable to file electronically, comments may be
filed by USPS mail or by hand (including courier) delivery.
[cir] Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only Addressed to: Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
[cir] Hand (including courier) delivery to: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
Instructions: FERC submissions must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines at: https://www.ferc.gov. For
user assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at
[email protected], or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 (toll-free).
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/ferc-online/overview.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at
[email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: FERC-550, Oil Pipeline Rates--Tariff Filings and
Depreciation Studies.
OMB Control No.: 1902-0089.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-550 information
collection requirements with no revisions to the collection, but with
adjustments in the burden estimates.
Abstract: FERC-550 is required to assist the Commission in
implementing the duties and powers that were vested on October 1, 1977,
in the Interstate Commerce Commission (49 U;S.C. 60502). The
Commission's regulatory jurisdiction over oil pipelines includes:
Regulation of rates and practices of oil pipeline
companies engaged in interstate transportation;
Establishment of equal service conditions to provide
shippers with equal access to pipeline transportation; and
Establishment of reasonable rates for transporting
petroleum and petroleum products by pipeline.
Oil Pipeline Tariffs and Rates
The filing requirements for oil pipeline tariffs and rates \1\ put
in place by the FERC-550 data collection provide the Commission with
the information it needs to analyze proposed tariffs, rates, fares, and
charges of oil pipelines and other carriers in connection with the
transportation of crude oil and petroleum products. Specifically, these
filings typically include indexing, market-based rates, or initial rate
filings. The Commission uses this information to determine whether the
proposed tariffs and rates are just and reasonable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ 18 CFR parts 341 through 348.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Commission's regulations at 18 CFR parts 341 through 348
provide that letters of transmittal must describe the filings and
explain any changes to the carrier's rates, rules, terms or conditions
of service; state if a waiver is being requested, and specify the
statute, section, regulation, policy, or order requested to be waived;
and identify the tariffs supplemental numbers, or tariff sections and
the proposed effective date of the tariff publication. The letter of
transmittal must certify that the filing has been sent to each
subscriber of the tariff publication. A carrier may file to amend or
modify a tariff contained in a tariff filing at any time during the
pendency of the filing. Carriers must cancel tariffs when the service
or transportation movement is terminated. If the service in connection
with the tariff is no longer in interstate commerce, the tariff
publication must state so. Whenever the tariff of a carrier on file
with the Commission is to be adopted by another carrier as a result of
an acquisition, merger, or name change, the succeeding company must
file with the Commission, and post within 30 days after such
succession, the tariff, or portion thereof, that has been adopted in
the electronic format required by Sec. 341.1 bearing the name of the
successor company.
Oil Pipeline Depreciation Studies
The Commission's regulation at 18 CFR 347.1 provides that oil
pipelines must file material to support requests for newly established
or changed property account depreciation studies. It requires an
applicant to file electronically, and the transmittal letter must give
a general description of the change in depreciation rates, certify that
the transmittal also has been sent to each shipper and to each
subscriber, and state if there are no subscribers. The proposed
depreciation rates being established must be used until they are either
accepted or modified by the Commission. Rates in effect at the time of
the proposed revision must continue to be used until the proposed
revised rates are approved or modified by the Commission. The oil
pipeline must provide information in sufficient detail to fully explain
and justify the proposed rates. Modifications, additions, and deletions
to data elements should be made to reflect the individual circumstances
of the carrier's properties and operations.
Type of Respondent: Oil Pipelines.
Estimate of Annual Burden: \2\ The burden related to this
collection now includes a new line item, Depreciation Studies, which is
currently approved by OMB under the FERC collection FERC-550 (1902-
0089), but historically was combined with other requirements outlined
in 18 CFR parts 341 through 348. Depreciation studies are required if
an oil pipeline seeks to modify the depreciation rates they have in
their existing tariffs. Since these filings are submitted only for
pipelines seeking modification, and are more rare (<10% of filings)
than other reporting requirements such as indexing. Staff is correcting
the estimates by adding a new line item specific to depreciation
studies. Based on recent experience with this collection, staff
estimates that 22 respondents will file a depreciation study each year.
By separating depreciation studies from tariff filings, this adjustment
will allocate 880 total
[[Page 54684]]
burden hours to the depreciation studies line item now being added.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ ``Burden'' is 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, refer to 5 CFR 1320.3.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
In another adjustment, the number of hours for Oil Rates and Tariff
Filings will decrease from 7.8 hours to 7 hours per respondent due to
the hour allocation going to the second line (Depreciation Studies) in
the table below. Additionally, since the previous renewal, the number
of respondents to Oil Rates and Tariff filings also increased from 219
to 258 based on the number of filings received by the Commission. The
overall revised burden estimates result to an increase to 280 (+61)
respondents, 796 (+86) responses, and 6,298 hours (+760).
The Commission estimates the annual public reporting burden and
cost \3\ for the FERC-550 information collection as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ The Commission staff thinks that the hourly cost (for wages
and benefits) for industry staff completing the FERC-550 is similar
to the cost of FERC employees. FERC staff estimates that industry
costs for salary plus benefits are similar to Commission costs. The
cost figure is the FY2022 FERC average annual salary plus benefits
($188,992/year or $91/hour).
FERC-550: Oil Pipeline Rates--Tariff Filings and Depreciation Studies
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual number Total number Total annual burden
Number of of responses of responses Average burden hrs. & hours & total annual Cost per
respondents per respondent \4\ cost ($) per response cost ($) respondent ($)
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)..................... (3) * (4) = (5)........ (5) / (1)
(3)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oil Rates and Tariff Filings......... 258 3 774 7 hrs.; $637............ 5,418 hrs.; $493,038... $1,911
Depreciation \5\ Studies............. 22 1 22 40 hrs.; $3,640......... 880 hrs.; $80,080...... $3,640
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................ 280 .............. 796 ........................ 6,298 hrs.; $573,118... ..............
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ This figure is rounded.
\5\ Depreciation Studies previously was included under Oil Rates and Tariff Filings in the OMB inventory under OMB Control No. 1902-0089. However, for a
more accurate estimate of burden a new row was added for Depreciation Studies (18 CFR 347.1). This new row will properly account for the differences
in burden hours and type of filing with the Oil Rates and Tariff filings (18 CFR parts 341 through 348).
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: August 31, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-19251 Filed 9-6-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
