FERC-549B, Gas Pipeline Rates: Capacity Reports and Index of Customers

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
549B OMBJUST 2011 v1.doc Supporting Statement A	2011-09-07
Capacity Report Sample (2011).csv Supplementary Document	2011-09-07
IOC Sample (2011).pdf Supplementary Document	2011-09-07
Peak day sample (2011).pdf Supplementary Document	2011-09-07

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
23182	FERC-549B, Gas Pipeline Rates: Capacity Reports and Index of Customers	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0169	ICR Reference No: 201109-1902-003
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200806-1902-005
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-549B
Title: FERC-549B, Gas Pipeline Rates: Capacity Reports and Index of Customers
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 11/01/2011
	Date Received in OIRA: 09/14/2011
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	11/30/2014	36 Months From Approved	10/31/2011
Responses	1,419	0	1,020
Time Burden (Hours)	115,068	0	180,336
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The information collected under the requirements of FERC-549B includes both the Index of Customers (IOC) report under 18 CFR 284.13(c) and capacity reporting requirements under 18 CFR 284.13(b), 284.13(d)(1) and 284.13(d)(2) (Attachment 2). The requirements have not changed for these collections since the last OMB renewal. FERC-549B is required to implement the statutory provisions of sections 4, 5, and 16 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), 15 USC 717c, 717d and 717o, PL 75-688,52 Stat. 822 and 830 (Attachment 1). Under Section 4, of the NGA, rates are established by the pipeline filing for rate changes. The rate thus established continues in effect until the pipeline makes a subsequent rate case filing or the Commission takes action under Section 5 of the NGA and determines that the existing rates are not just and reasonable. Section 16 authorizes the Commission to prescribe the rules and regulations necessary to administer its rates mandates.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 15 USC 717c, 717d, and 717o 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:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	76 FR 36909	06/23/2011
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	76 FR 55370	09/07/2011
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
FERC-549B, Gas Pipeline Rates: Capacity Reports and Index of Customers

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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	1,419	1,020	0	0	399	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	115,068	180,336	0	0	-65,268	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: FERC Staff have determined that the estimated burden associated with the capacity reports under 284.13(b) and 284.13(d)(1) was too high for existing industry practices. Pipelines are now complying with reporting requirements using information technology to automate posting on websites, resulting in an estimated 50% reduction in hours per response (approximately 90,000 hour/year reduction). Other changes in the burden are an inclusion of an estimate of the peak day capacity reporting requirement (determined to be covered under FERC-549B, an increase of 1,290 hours/year), and an increase in the total number of respondents from 102 to 129 (resulting in an increase of approximately 24,000 hours/year). Incorporating all the adjustments to the burden results in a net 65,268 hour/year reduction. While the estimated burden is reduced substantially, the cost per staff employee has increased, resulting in a higher total annualized cost per hour on respondents than previously reported (however, the net cost is lower than it was previously due to the burden hour reduction).

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $321,912

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]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

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: 09/14/2011

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