Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
RM96-1-030 NOPR OMB Just.doc Supporting Statement A	2009-08-03
ferc090308_order_698_filing.pdf Supplementary Document	2009-08-03
1bklet0906_mc121306_012908_052908.pdf Supplementary Document	2008-09-30

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: 200908-1902-001
Status: Historical Inactive	Previous ICR Reference No: 200905-1902-001
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: Comment filed on proposed rule and continue	Conclusion Date: 01/20/2010
	Date Received in OIRA: 08/03/2009
Terms of Clearance: The agency has received multiple comments in response to this NPRM. The agency will address these comments at the final rule stage.

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

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Abstract: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) is amending 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. Specifically the adoption would be for standards concerning (1) Index-Based Capacity Release and (2) Flexible Delivery and Receipt Points. The implementation of these standards is necessary to increase the efficiency of the natural gas pipeline grid. 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. 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-AD83	Proposed rulemaking	74 FR 36633	07/24/2009

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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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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 proposed rule, if implemented, would upgrade the Commission's current business practice and communication standards to provide for greater accessibility to fuel in times of scarcity and rules to allow for alternative indices to establish rates for capacity release to better reflect the value of that capacity. The implementation of these standards will permit greater flexibility by providing a reasonable choice of available indices to use while simultaneously providing a greater equalization of costs for their use. Incorporation of the standard for use of flexible receipt and delivery points allows for the efficient redirection of gas when it may be needed by gas-fired generators or other shippers thereby improving the reliability in both the electric and gas industries.

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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: 08/03/2009

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