Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-577); Comment Request

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Federal RegisterOct 26, 2016
81 Fed. Reg. 74424 (Oct. 26, 2016)

AGENCY:

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION:

Comment request.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507(a)(1)(D), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or FERC) is submitting its information collection [FERC-577, Gas Pipeline Certificates: Environmental Impact Statement] to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of the information collection requirements. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. The Commission previously issued a Notice in the Federal Register (81 FR 55456, 8/19/2016) requesting public comments. The Commission received no comments on the FERC-577 and is making this notation in its submittal to OMB.

DATES:

Comments on the collection of information are due by November 25, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Comments filed with OMB, identified by the OMB Control No. 1902-0128, should be sent via email to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs: oira_submission@omb.gov. Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. The Desk Officer may also be reached via telephone at 202-395-4718.

A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Commission, in Docket No. IC16-16-000, by either of the following methods:

  • eFiling at Commission's Web site: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
  • Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426.

Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance contact FERC Online Support by email at 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 http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ellen Brown may be reached by email at DataClearance@FERC.gov, by telephone at (202) 502-8663, and by fax at (202) 273-0873.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: FERC-577, Gas Pipeline Certificates: Environmental Impact Statement.

OMB Control No.: 1902-0128.

Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-577 information collection requirements with no changes to the reporting requirements.

Abstract: The FERC-577 information collection contains the Commission's information collections pertaining to 18 CFR Parts: 2, 157, 284, and 380. These regulations implement National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and include the environmental compliance conditions portions of the same regulations. The FERC-577 also includes the reporting requirements for landowner notifications. These requirements are contained within 18 CFR Parts: 2.55(b), 157.203(d), 380.15, and 2.55(a).

Type of Respondents: Gas pipelines.

Estimate of Annual Burden: The Commission estimates the annual public reporting burden for the information collection as:

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.

FERC-577 (Natural Gas Facilities: Environmental Review and Compliance)

Number of respondents Annual number of responses per respondent Total number of responses Average burden and cost per response Total annual burden hours and total annual cost Cost per respondent ($)
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) (3) * (4) = (5) (5) ÷ (1)
Gas Pipeline Certificates 92 16 1,472 193.518 hrs.; $14,417 284,858 hrs.; $21,221,824 $230,672
Landowner Notification 165 144 23,760 2 hrs.; $149 47,520 hrs.; $3,540,240 21,456
Total 25,232 332,378 hrs.; $24,762,064

The estimates for cost per response are derived using the following formula: Average Burden Hours per Response * $74.50 per Hour = Average Cost per Response. The Commission staff believes that the industry's level and skill set are comparable to FERC, so the FERC 2016 average hourly cost (for salary plus benefits) of $74.50 per hour is used.

Requirements are found in 18 CFR Parts: 157, 284, 2, and 380.

Requirements are found in 18 CFR Parts: 2.55(b), 157.203(d), 380.15, and 2.55(a).

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: October 19, 2016.

Kimberly D. Bose,

Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2016-25791 Filed 10-25-16; 8:45 am]

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