Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC Form Nos. 2 and 2-A); Comment Request; Extension, 6106-6107 [2024-01841]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
6106
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 21 / Wednesday, January 31, 2024 / Notices
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
For assistance, contact FERC Online
Support.
The Commission’s Office of Public
Participation (OPP) supports meaningful
public engagement and participation in
Commission proceedings. OPP can help
members of the public, including
landowners, environmental justice
communities, Tribal members, and
others, access publicly available
information and navigate Commission
processes. For public inquiries and
assistance with making filings such as
interventions, comments, or requests for
rehearing, the public is encouraged to
contact OPP at (202) 502–6595, or OPP@
ferc.gov.
n. Anyone may submit a protest or a
motion to intervene in accordance with
the requirements of Rules of Practice
and Procedure, 18 CFR 385.210,
385.211, and 385.214. In determining
the appropriate action to take, the
Commission will consider all protests
filed, but only those who file a motion
to intervene in accordance with the
Commission’s Rules may become a
party to the proceeding. Any protests or
motions to intervene must be received
on or before the specified deadline date
for the particular application.
All filings must (1) bear in all capital
letters the title ‘‘PROTEST’’ or
‘‘MOTION TO INTERVENE;’’ (2) set
forth in the heading the name of the
applicant and the project number of the
application to which the filing
responds; (3) furnish the name, address,
and telephone number of the person
protesting or intervening; and (4)
otherwise comply with the requirements
of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005.
Agencies may obtain copies of the
application directly from the applicant.
A copy of any protest or motion to
intervene must be served upon each
representative of the applicant specified
in the particular application.
o. Procedural schedule: The
application will be processed according
to the following schedule. Revisions to
the schedule will be made as
appropriate.
Issue Scoping Document 1 for
comments—March 2024
Hold Scoping Meeting—April 2024
Scoping Document 1 comments due—
May 2024
Request Additional Information (if
necessary)—June 2024
Issue Scoping Document 2 (if
necessary)—June 2024
Issue Notice of Ready for Environmental
Analysis—June 2024
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:00 Jan 30, 2024
Jkt 262001
Dated: January 24, 2024.
Debbie-Anne. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–01837 Filed 1–30–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. IC24–01–000]
Commission Information Collection
Activities (FERC Form Nos. 2 and 2–A);
Comment Request; Extension
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission.
ACTION: Notice of information collection
and request for comments.
AGENCY:
In compliance with the
requirements of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
(Commission or FERC) is soliciting
public comment on the currently
approved information collection, FERC
Form No. 2 (Annual Report for Major
Natural Gas Companies) and FERC Form
No. 2–A (Annual Report for Non-Major
Natural Gas Companies), which will be
submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review.
DATES: Comments on the collection of
information are due March 1, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on
FERC Form Nos. 2 and 2–A to OMB
through www.reginfo.gov/public/do/
PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission Desk Officer.
Please identify the OMB Control
Number (1902–0303) in the subject line
of your comments. Comments should be
sent within 30 days of publication of
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/
do/PRAMain.
Please submit copies of your
comments to the Commission. You may
submit copies of your comments
(identified by Docket No. IC24–01–000)
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.
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00019
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Æ Hand (including courier) delivery:
Deliver to: Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Secretary of the
Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue,
Rockville, MD 20852.
Instructions: OMB submissions must
be formatted and filed in accordance
with submission guidelines at
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Using the search function under the
‘‘Currently Under Review’’ field, select
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;
click ‘‘submit,’’ and select ‘‘comment’’
to the right of the subject collection.
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: Jean
Sonneman may be reached by email at
DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at
(202) 502–6362.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: No
comments were received on the 60-day
notice published on November 9, 2023
at 88 FR 77297.1
Title: FERC Form No. 2, Annual
Report for Major Natural Gas
Companies; OMB Control No. 1902–
0028.
FERC Form No. 2–A, Annual Report
for Non-Major Natural Gas Companies;
OMB Control No. 1902–0030.
OMB Control Nos.: 1902–0028, 1902–
0030.
Type of Request: Three-year extension
of the FERC Form Nos. 2 and 2–A
information collection requirements
without a change to the current
reporting and recordkeeping
requirements.
Abstract: Pursuant to sections 8, 10
and 14 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA),
(15 U.S.C. 717g, 717i, and 717m), the
Commission is authorized to conduct
investigations and collect and record
data, and to prescribe rules and
regulations concerning accounts,
records and memoranda as necessary or
appropriate for purposes of
administering the NGA. The
Commission may prescribe a system of
1 The 60-day notice published on November 9,
2023, inadvertently contained a burden table that
did not reflect 2023 updates. However, the
estimates contained in the instant 30-day notice
accurately reflect these updates. Parties should
inform the Commission should they need
additional time to respond to this notice beyond the
30 days provided.
E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM
31JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 21 / Wednesday, January 31, 2024 / Notices
accounts for jurisdictional companies
and, after notice and opportunity for
hearing, may determine the accounts in
which particular outlays and receipts
will be entered, charged or credited.
The Commission collects FERC Form
Nos. 2 and 2–A information as
prescribed in 18 CFR 260.1 and 18 CFR
260.2. These forms provide information
concerning a company’s current
performance, compiled using the
Commission’s Uniform System of
Account (USofA).2 FERC Form No. 2 is
filed by ‘‘Major’’ natural gas companies
that have combined natural gas
transported or stored for a fee that
exceeds 50 million Dekatherms in each
of the three previous calendar years.
FERC Form No. 2–A is filed by ‘‘NonMajor’’ natural gas companies that do
not meet the filing threshold for the
FERC Form No. 2 but have total gas
sales or volume transactions that exceed
200,000 Dekatherms in each of the three
previous calendar years.
The forms provide information
concerning a company’s financial and
operational information. The forms
contain schedules which include a basic
set of financial statements: Comparative
Balance Sheet, Statement of Income,
Statement of Retained Earnings,
Statement of Cash Flows, and the
Statement of Comprehensive Income
and Hedging Activities. Supporting
schedules containing supplementary
information are filed, including
revenues and the related quantities of
products sold or transported; account
balances for various operating and
maintenance expenses; selected plant
cost data; and other information.
The information collected assists the
Commission in the administration of its
jurisdictional responsibilities and is
used by Commission staff, state
regulatory agencies, customers, financial
analysts and others in the review of the
financial condition of regulated
companies. The information is also used
in various rate proceedings, industry
analyses and in the Commission’s, audit
programs and as appropriate, for the
computation of annual charges. The
information is made available to the
public, interveners and all interested
parties to assist in the proceedings
before the Commission. For financial
information to be useful to the
Commission, it must be understandable,
relevant, reliable, and timely. The Form
Nos. 2 and 2–A financial statements are
prepared in accordance with the
Commission’s USofA and related
regulations and provide data that
enables the Commission to develop and
6107
monitor cost-based rates, analyze costs
of different services and classes of
assets, and compare costs across lines of
business. The use of the USofA permits
natural gas companies to account for
similar transactions and events in a
consistent manner, and to communicate
those results to the Commission on a
periodic basis. Comparability of data
and financial statement analysis for a
particular entity from one period to the
next, or between entities, within the
same industry, would be difficult to
achieve if each company maintained its
own accounting records using dissimilar
accounting methods and classifications
to record similar transactions and
events.
In summary, without the information
collected in the forms, it would be
difficult for the Commission to ensure,
as required by the NGA, that a
pipeline’s rates remain just and
reasonable, respond to Congressional
and outside inquires, and make
decisions in a timely manner.
Type of Respondent: Major and NonMajor Natural Gas Companies.
Estimate of Annual Burden: 3 The
Commission estimates the annual public
reporting burden and cost 4 for the
information collection as shown in the
following table:
RENEWAL FOR FERC FORM NOS. 2 AND 2A
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1
Information
collection
(FERC form
No.)
Number of
respondents
Annual number
of responses
per respondent
Total number
of responses
Average burden
& cost
per response
Total annual burden
hours & cost
Annual cost
per respondent
($)
(1)
(2)
(1) * (2) = (3)
(4)
(3) * (4) = (5)
(5) ÷ (1) 5
2 ....................
106
1
106
1,643 hrs.; $157,728
2–A ................
78
1
78
267 hrs.; $25,632 .....
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.
The Commission’s Office of Public
Participation (OPP) supports meaningful
public engagement and participation in
Commission proceedings. OPP can help
members of the public, including
landowners, environmental justice
communities, Tribal members and
others, access publicly available
information and navigate Commission
processes. For public inquiries and
assistance with making filings such as
interventions, comments, or requests for
2 See 18 CFR part 201 (Uniform System of
Accounts Prescribed for Natural Gas Companies
Subject to the Provisions of the Natural Gas Act).
3 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, refer to 5 Code of Federal
Regulations 1320.3.
4 The Commission staff believes the FERC FTE
(full-time equivalent) average cost for wages plus
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:00 Jan 30, 2024
Jkt 262001
PO 00000
Frm 00020
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 9990
174,158 hrs.;
$16,719,168.
20,826 hrs.;
$1,999,296.
157,728
25,632
rehearing, the public is encouraged to
contact OPP at (202) 502–6595 or OPP@
ferc.gov.
Dated: January 24, 2024.
Debbie-Anne. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024–01841 Filed 1–30–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
benefits is representative of the corresponding cost
for the industry respondents. Based upon the
FERC’s 2023 average cost for salary plus benefits,
the average hourly cost is $96/hour.
5 Every figure in this column is rounded to the
nearest dollar.
E:\FR\FM\31JAN1.SGM
31JAN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 21 (Wednesday, January 31, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6106-6107]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01841]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC24-01-000]
Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC Form Nos. 2
and 2-A); Comment Request; Extension
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction
Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved
information collection, FERC Form No. 2 (Annual Report for Major
Natural Gas Companies) and FERC Form No. 2-A (Annual Report for Non-
Major Natural Gas Companies), which will be submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) for review.
DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due March 1, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC Form Nos. 2 and 2-A to OMB
through www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Attention: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control
Number (1902-0303) in the subject line of your comments. Comments
should be sent within 30 days of publication of this notice to
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain.
Please submit copies of your comments to the Commission. You may
submit copies of your comments (identified by Docket No. IC24-01-000)
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: Deliver to: Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 12225 Wilkins
Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
Instructions: OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in
accordance with submission guidelines at www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Using the search function under the ``Currently Under Review''
field, select Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; click ``submit,''
and select ``comment'' to the right of the subject collection.
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: Jean Sonneman may be reached by email
at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-6362.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: No comments were received on the 60-day
notice published on November 9, 2023 at 88 FR 77297.\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 60-day notice published on November 9, 2023,
inadvertently contained a burden table that did not reflect 2023
updates. However, the estimates contained in the instant 30-day
notice accurately reflect these updates. Parties should inform the
Commission should they need additional time to respond to this
notice beyond the 30 days provided.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title: FERC Form No. 2, Annual Report for Major Natural Gas
Companies; OMB Control No. 1902-0028.
FERC Form No. 2-A, Annual Report for Non-Major Natural Gas
Companies; OMB Control No. 1902-0030.
OMB Control Nos.: 1902-0028, 1902-0030.
Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC Form Nos. 2 and
2-A information collection requirements without a change to the current
reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Abstract: Pursuant to sections 8, 10 and 14 of the Natural Gas Act
(NGA), (15 U.S.C. 717g, 717i, and 717m), the Commission is authorized
to conduct investigations and collect and record data, and to prescribe
rules and regulations concerning accounts, records and memoranda as
necessary or appropriate for purposes of administering the NGA. The
Commission may prescribe a system of
[[Page 6107]]
accounts for jurisdictional companies and, after notice and opportunity
for hearing, may determine the accounts in which particular outlays and
receipts will be entered, charged or credited.
The Commission collects FERC Form Nos. 2 and 2-A information as
prescribed in 18 CFR 260.1 and 18 CFR 260.2. These forms provide
information concerning a company's current performance, compiled using
the Commission's Uniform System of Account (USofA).\2\ FERC Form No. 2
is filed by ``Major'' natural gas companies that have combined natural
gas transported or stored for a fee that exceeds 50 million Dekatherms
in each of the three previous calendar years. FERC Form No. 2-A is
filed by ``Non-Major'' natural gas companies that do not meet the
filing threshold for the FERC Form No. 2 but have total gas sales or
volume transactions that exceed 200,000 Dekatherms in each of the three
previous calendar years.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\2\ See 18 CFR part 201 (Uniform System of Accounts Prescribed
for Natural Gas Companies Subject to the Provisions of the Natural
Gas Act).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The forms provide information concerning a company's financial and
operational information. The forms contain schedules which include a
basic set of financial statements: Comparative Balance Sheet, Statement
of Income, Statement of Retained Earnings, Statement of Cash Flows, and
the Statement of Comprehensive Income and Hedging Activities.
Supporting schedules containing supplementary information are filed,
including revenues and the related quantities of products sold or
transported; account balances for various operating and maintenance
expenses; selected plant cost data; and other information.
The information collected assists the Commission in the
administration of its jurisdictional responsibilities and is used by
Commission staff, state regulatory agencies, customers, financial
analysts and others in the review of the financial condition of
regulated companies. The information is also used in various rate
proceedings, industry analyses and in the Commission's, audit programs
and as appropriate, for the computation of annual charges. The
information is made available to the public, interveners and all
interested parties to assist in the proceedings before the Commission.
For financial information to be useful to the Commission, it must be
understandable, relevant, reliable, and timely. The Form Nos. 2 and 2-A
financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Commission's
USofA and related regulations and provide data that enables the
Commission to develop and monitor cost-based rates, analyze costs of
different services and classes of assets, and compare costs across
lines of business. The use of the USofA permits natural gas companies
to account for similar transactions and events in a consistent manner,
and to communicate those results to the Commission on a periodic basis.
Comparability of data and financial statement analysis for a particular
entity from one period to the next, or between entities, within the
same industry, would be difficult to achieve if each company maintained
its own accounting records using dissimilar accounting methods and
classifications to record similar transactions and events.
In summary, without the information collected in the forms, it
would be difficult for the Commission to ensure, as required by the
NGA, that a pipeline's rates remain just and reasonable, respond to
Congressional and outside inquires, and make decisions in a timely
manner.
Type of Respondent: Major and Non-Major Natural Gas Companies.
Estimate of Annual Burden: \3\ The Commission estimates the annual
public reporting burden and cost \4\ for the information collection as
shown in the following table:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ 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, refer to 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
\4\ The Commission staff believes the FERC FTE (full-time
equivalent) average cost for wages plus benefits is representative
of the corresponding cost for the industry respondents. Based upon
the FERC's 2023 average cost for salary plus benefits, the average
hourly cost is $96/hour.
\5\ Every figure in this column is rounded to the nearest
dollar.
Renewal for FERC Form Nos. 2 and 2A
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Annual number of
Information collection Number of responses per Total number of Average burden & cost Total annual burden Annual cost per
(FERC form No.) respondents respondent responses per response hours & cost respondent ($)
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4)..................... (3) * (4) = (5)........ (5) / (1) \5\
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2......................... 106 1 106 1,643 hrs.; $157,728.... 174,158 hrs.; 157,728
$16,719,168.
2-A....................... 78 1 78 267 hrs.; $25,632....... 20,826 hrs.; $1,999,296 25,632
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
The Commission's Office of Public Participation (OPP) supports
meaningful public engagement and participation in Commission
proceedings. OPP can help members of the public, including landowners,
environmental justice communities, Tribal members and others, access
publicly available information and navigate Commission processes. For
public inquiries and assistance with making filings such as
interventions, comments, or requests for rehearing, the public is
encouraged to contact OPP at (202) 502-6595 or [email protected].
Dated: January 24, 2024.
Debbie-Anne. Reese,
Acting Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2024-01841 Filed 1-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
