FERC-537, (Final Rule & Order on Clarification in Docket RM12-11-003) Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, Acquisition and Abandonment

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Order 790A_RM12-11_11-20-2014_20141120-3019.docx Supplementary Document	2015-07-28
RM12-11-003 Rehearing Supporting Statement9_29-15.docx Supporting Statement A	2015-09-29
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: 201507-1902-003
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201501-1902-008
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-537
Title: FERC-537, (Final Rule & Order on Clarification in Docket RM12-11-003) Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, Acquisition and Abandonment
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 09/29/2015
	Date Received in OIRA: 07/28/2015
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	09/30/2018	36 Months From Approved	07/31/2018
Responses	458	0	458
Time Burden (Hours)	66,538	0	66,868
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. Docket RM12-11-003. This is a Final Rule and Order on Clarification. In Order 790-B (Final Rule and Order on Clarification in Docket RM12-11-003, "Revisions to Auxiliary Installations, Replacement Facilities, and Siting and Maintenance Regulations"), FERC is amending its regulations to: (1) provide pre-granted authority under new subsection 2.55(a)(3) to abandon or replace auxiliary facilities, subject to certain conditions; (2) permit auxiliary facilities that cannot meet the conditions for the pre-granted abandonment authority in new subsection 2.55(a)(3) to be abandoned under section 157.216 of the blanket certificate regulations, subject to those regulations' requirements; and (3) permit replacement facilities constructed under section 2.55(b) of the regulations to be abandoned under section 157.216 of the Part 157, Subpart F, blanket certificate regulations, subject to those regulations' requirements. This ICR is a final rule and order on clarification in Docket RM12-11-003 (RIN 1902-AE62; published in the Federal Register at 80FR43944, on 7/24/15).

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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:
	80 FR 43944	07/24/2015
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	80 FR 43944	07/24/2015
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	458	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	66,538	66,868	0	-330	0	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: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Changing Regulations

Short Statement: Docket RM12-11-003. This is a Final Rule and Order on Clarification. In RM12-11-003, FERC amends: (1) section 2.55(a) to provide pre-granted authorization to retire auxiliary facilities that are being replaced or permanently abandon the auxiliary facilities if there will be no need to go outside an authorized right-of-way, facility site, or work space, and (2) Part 157, Subpart F, to permit the use of blanket certificate authority, subject to the blanket program's conditions, to abandon section 2.55(a) auxiliary facilities if a company is unable to exercise the new pre-granted abandonment authority in section 2.55(a)(3) and to abandon section 2.55(b) replacement facilities.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $6,270,276

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: 07/28/2015

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