Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
RM96-1-029 Final Rule OMB Just.doc Supporting Statement A	2009-05-01
1bklet0906_mc121306_012908_052908.pdf Supplementary Document	2008-09-30
NAESB Final Report.pdf Supplementary Document	2007-07-23

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
23211	Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0174	ICR Reference No: 200905-1902-001
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200809-1902-003
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-549C
Title: Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 08/02/2009
	Date Received in OIRA: 05/01/2009
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2012	36 Months From Approved	11/30/2010
Responses	611	0	451
Time Burden (Hours)	1,068,606	0	857,087
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: In the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) amends its regulations governing standards for business practices and electronic communications with interstate natural gas pipelines. The FERC is incorporating by reference certain standards promulgated by the Wholesale Gas Quadrant (WGQ) that would upgrade the Commission’s current business practice and communications standards to the latest version 1.8 as approved by the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) Wholesale Gas Quadrant (WGQ) group. The implementation of these standards is necessary to increase the efficiency of the natural gas pipeline grid, make pipelines’ electronic communications more secure, and is consistent with the mandate agencies have to provide for electronic disclosure of information. Requiring such information ensures both a common means of communication and common business practices in order to provide participants engaged in transactions with interstate pipelines the ability to have timely information and also ensure uniform business procedures across multiple pipelines. The new set of standards are for Internet Electronic Transport as applicable to the retail gas and electric markets as well as the wholesale gas market; changes to the Electronic Delivery Mechanism Related Standards, an additional standard related to reporting on gas quality, and maintenance changes to the Nomination Related Standards and Flowing Gas Related Standards. The standards update and refine the standards adopted by the Commission in its Order No. 587-S. Compliance with these standards will require certain changes in interstate pipeline day-to-day business operations.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 15 USC 717, Sections Name of Law: Natural Gas Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1902-AD21	Final or interim final rulemaking	74 FR 9162	03/03/2009

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	611	451	0	160	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	1,068,606	857,087	0	148,806	62,713	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This Final Rule will upgrade the Commission's current business practice and communication standards to the latest edition approved by the NAESB WGQ (i.e., the Version 1.8 Standards). The implementation of these standards is necessary to increase the efficiency of the pipeline grid, make pipelines’ electronic communications more secure. Requiring such information ensures both a common means of communication and common business practices that provide participants engaged in transactions with interstate pipelines with timely information and uniform business procedures across multiple pipelines.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $221,172

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 05/01/2009

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