In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three
years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
05/31/2019
36 Months From Approved
05/31/2016
1
0
1
240
0
240
0
0
0
Under the Natural Gas Act (NGA)
(Public Law 75-688) (15 USC. 717-717w), upon application by a local
distribution company or municipality, a natural gas pipeline
company may be ordered by the Commission to extend or improve
transportation facilities, to establish physical connections to
serve, and sell natural gas to the applicant. As stated in Section
156 (18 CFR 156), filings pursuant to the provisions of Section
7(a) of the NGA are to contain all information necessary to advise
the Commission fully concerning the service which the applicant has
requested the Commission to direct the natural gas pipeline company
to render. Included in the information to be provided as stated in
18 CFR 156.5 (1-16) are included (but not limited to): • A
description of any improvement or extension of facilities which the
natural gas pipeline company will be required to make in connection
with the requested rendition of the service; • The applicant's
present and proposed operations, construction, service, and sales,
together with a description of any extension or improvement of
facilities by the applicant which will be required in order to
enable applicant to engage in the local distribution of natural
gas. If the request is granted, the natural gas pipeline company
must extend or improve transportation facilities and establish
physical connection to serve the local distribution companies. The
Commission uses the FERC-538 data to perform its regulatory
functions. The Commission must determine whether the distributor
applicant can economically construct and manage its facilities. A
request is made by a person or municipality to have the Commission,
by order, direct a natural gas company to extend or improve its
transportation facilities, and sell natural gas to the municipality
or person and, for such purpose, to extend its transportation
facilities to communities immediately adjacent to such facilities
or to territories served by the natural gas pipeline company. In
addition, the Commission uses the flow data and market data to
evaluate existing and future customer requirements on the system in
order to determine if sufficient capacity will be available.
Likewise, the Commission uses the cost of facilities and the rate
data to evaluate the financial impact of the project to both the
pipeline company and its customers. The information collection
cannot be discontinued nor collected less frequently because of
statutory requirements. The Commission is required to review
applications concerning improvement or extensions of facilities and
services for local distributors of natural gas. The consequences of
not collecting this information are that the Commission would be
unable to fulfill its statutory mandate under the NGA and its Rules
of Practice and Procedure, and the distribution companies would be
unable to request the Commission to direct pipelines to serve
them.
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-538 supporting statement (updated 5-19-2016).doc
18 CFR 156.pdf
FERC-538, Gas Pipeline Certificates: Section 7(a) Mandatory Initial Service