In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for 3
years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
09/30/2013
06/30/2013
06/30/2013
630
0
630
922,660
0
1,071,466
0
0
0
In RM96-1-029 (See ICR
200905-1902-001) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
amended its regulations governing standards for business practices
and electronic communications with interstate natural gas
pipelines. The FERC incorporated by reference standards promulgated
by the Wholesale Gas Quadrant (WGQ) that would upgrade the
Commissions current business practice and communications standards
to the then latest version 1.8 as approved by the North American
Energy Standards Board (NAESB) Wholesale Gas Quadrant (WGQ) group.
The implementation of these standards was necessary to increase the
efficiency of the natural gas pipeline grid, make pipelines
electronic communications more secure, and consistent with the
mandate agencies have to provide for electronic disclosure of
information. Requiring such information ensured 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 were
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 updated and refined the
standards adopted by the Commission in its Order No. 587-S.
Compliance with these standards required certain changes in
interstate pipeline day-to-day business operations. This was a
one-time implementation which has been completed and FERC is now
seeking to reduce the inventory burden by the hours associated with
Order No. 587-T.
This Final Rule upgraded 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 was 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. The Commission required that
natural gas pipelines implement the Version 1.8 Standards on the
first day of the month three months after the final rule was issued
or July 2, 2009. Based on past practice, the Commission proposed
this implementation schedule in order to give the natural gas
pipelines subject to these standards adequate time to prepare for
these changes. Natural gas pipelines have now updated their
websites to reflect these changes.
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.
FERC-549C Justification & Reduction.doc
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.mht
1bklet0906_mc121306_012908_052908.pdf
Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines