In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for two years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2012
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2012
62,244
0
65,884
44,033
0
47,683
0
0
0
In Docket No. RM08-2-000 ÂPipeline Posting Requirements under Section 23 of the Natural Gas Act (Order No.720 FERC adopted new regulations requiring major non-interstate pipelines to post certain data on publicly-accessible Internet websites. Order No. 720 implemented the CommissionÂs authority under section 23 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), as added by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005). Order No. 720 required major non-interstate pipelines, defined as those natural gas pipelines that are not natural gas companies under the NGA and deliver more than 50 million MMBtu per year, to post scheduled flow information and to post information for each receipt or delivery point with a design capacity greater than 15,000 MMBtu per day.
In Order No. 720-A (RM08-2-001) FERC is modifying its regulations requiring major non-interstate pipelines to post daily scheduled volume information and other data for certain points. These modifications include a requirement that major non-interstate pipelines post information for receipt and delivery points at which design capacity is unknown. The Commission denies requests to revise its regulations requiring interstate natural gas pipelines to post information regarding the provision of no-notice service. The posting requirements will facilitate price transparency in markets for the sale or transportation of physical natural gas in interstate commerce to implement section 23 of the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. 717t-2 (2000 & Supp. V 2005).
The daily posting of additional flow information by interstate and major non-interstate pipelines is necessary to provide information regarding the price and availability of natural gas to market participants, state commissions, the FERC and the public. The posting would contribute to market transparency by aiding the understanding of the volumetric/availability drivers behind price movements; it would provide a better picture of disruptions in natural gas flows in the case of disturbances to the pipeline system; and it would allow the monitoring of potentially manipulative or unduly discriminatory activity. As noted above, the Commission exempted some major non-interstate pipelines with certain operational characteristics from the posting requirements and otherwise modifying the requirements to lessen the burden on posting pipelines. For example, the Commission is directing major non-interstate pipelines to review points with no known design capacity annually, rather on a rolling basis, to determine whether information for the point must be posted. Further, major non-interstate pipelines are exempt from posting scheduled natural gas volumes at points that have scheduled flows less than 5,000 MMBtu per day on each day within the prior three calendar years.
In response to the comments on rehearing and the supplemental comments, FERC is also exercising an additional regulatory alternative by exempting some major non-interstate pipelines with certain operational characteristics from the posting requirements and otherwise modifying the requirements to lessen the burden on posting pipelines.
The Commission is also exempting: major non-interstate pipelines that have stub lines incidental to a processing plant and that deliver all of their transported gas directly into a single pipeline; major non-interstate pipelines that deliver more than 95 percent of their annual flows to end-users as measured by average deliveries over the preceding three calendar years; major non-interstate pipelines that deliver to on-system storage facilities (including deliveries to on-system LNG storage); and pipelines that transport all of their natural gas directly to an end-user that owns or operates the pipeline. This will reduce the number of non-major interstate pipelines that will have to comply with these regulations.
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:
(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;
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.
RM08-2-001(B) Supp OMBjust.wpdshort.doc
Reporting of Flow Volume and Capacity by Interstate and Non-major Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines