In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
07/31/2018
36 Months From Approved
07/31/2015
458
0
674
66,868
0
100,242
0
0
0
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.
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 â Annual Reports & NGPA Sec. 311 Construction - annual reports: we found better data sorting in ATMS to find that Blanket Certificates â 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.
$6,161,914
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Sheila Lampitoc 202 502-6193
No
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 537 Supporting Statement.docx
IC14-16 Consolidated 60-day notice.pdf
Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, Acquisition and Abandonment