FERC-537, Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, Acquisition and Abandonment

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
FERC 537 Supporting Statement.docx Supporting Statement A	2015-07-02
IC14-16 Consolidated 60-day notice.pdf Supplementary Document	2015-02-09
IC14-16 30-day notice.pdf Supplementary Document	2015-02-09
USCODE-2013-title15-chap60-subchapIII-partB-sec3371.pdf Supplementary Document	2015-02-06
USCODE-2013-title15-chap15B-sec717f.pdf Supplementary Document	2015-02-06
18 CFR 284.pdf Supplementary Document	2015-02-06
18 CFR 157.pdf Supplementary Document	2015-02-06

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
43998	Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, Acquisition and Abandonment	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0060	ICR Reference No: 201501-1902-008
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201201-1902-001
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-537
Title: FERC-537, Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, Acquisition and Abandonment
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 with change	Conclusion Date: 07/02/2015
	Date Received in OIRA: 02/24/2015
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	07/31/2018	36 Months From Approved	07/31/2015
Responses	458	0	674
Time Burden (Hours)	66,868	0	100,242
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Under the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (Public Law 75-688) (15 U.S.C. 717-717w) a natural gas company must obtain FERC authorization to engage in the transportation of natural gas in interstate commerce, to undertake the construction or extension of any facilities, or to acquire or operate any such facilities or extensions in accordance with Section 7(c) of the NGA. A natural gas company must also obtain FERC approval under Section 7(b) of the NGA prior to abandoning any jurisdictional facility or service. Under the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA) (Public Law 96-621), interstate pipelines must also obtain FERC authorization for certain transportation arrangements. If a certificate is granted, the natural gas company can engage in the interstate transportation of natural gas and construct, acquire, or operate facilities. Conversely, approval of an abandonment application permits the pipeline to cease service and discontinue the operation of such facilities. Authorization under NGPA Section 311(a) allows the interstate or intrastate pipeline applicants to render certain transportation services.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 15 USC 717-717w Name of Law: Natural Gas Act
   US Code: 15 USC 3301-3432 Name of Law: Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978
  

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:
	79 FR 61068	10/09/2014
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	80 FR 6067	02/04/2015
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
Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, Acquisition and Abandonment

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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	458	674	0	0	-216	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	66,868	100,242	0	0	-33,374	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: Over the past three years the great expansion of the natural gas market and infrastructure has caused more companies to come under our data collection regime, both interstate and intrastate. However, FERC has reworked the way in which the number of respondents is derived. This new method has reduced the amount of duplicate counting of respondents and ultimately led to fewer respondents (225 to 204) and fewer responses per respondent (3.44 to 1.2) estimated for this collection. The revised estimates are based on the number of actual filings received. FERC staff received fewer filings due to some reporting eliminations and reclassifications: • 284.126(c) eliminated: Order No. 757 Issued January 19, 2012. A resulting less burden analysis was shown in that order. • 284.4 eliminated: this is not a facilities burden. This is only company record keeping for ongoing transportation contacts. Thus, 168 responses and filings were removed from 2011 to 2014. • Blanket Certificates – Annual Reports & NGPA Sec. 311 Construction - annual reports: we found better data sorting in ATMS to find that Blanket Certificates – Annual Reports and NGPA Sec. 311 Construction - annual reports should both experience reductions from the previous clearance period. This is due to the elimination of duplicate counting. In short, eliminated information collection requirements and the elimination of duplicate counting resulted in fewer filings for the collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $6,161,914

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: 02/24/2015

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