FERC-555, (Final Policy Statement in PL15-3) Preservation of Records for Public Utilities and Licensees, Natural Gas and Oil Pipeline Companies.

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
PL15-3_516_519_555_FRpub_2016-12426.pdf Supplementary Document	2016-05-26
555_STATUTES.docx Supplementary Document	2016-05-25
CFR-2015-title18-vol1-part356.pdf Supplementary Document	2016-05-25
CFR-2015-title18-vol1-part225.pdf Supplementary Document	2016-05-25
CFR-2015-title18-vol1-part125.pdf Supplementary Document	2016-05-25
PL15-3 final supp state_516_519_555_PRA_8-16-2016.docx Supporting Statement A	2016-08-16
PL15-3_proposed policy_20150122-3018.docx Supplementary Document	2016-05-23
PL15-3_FinalPolicy Statement_5-19-16_20160519-3056.docx Supplementary Document	2016-05-23
PL15-3_proposed policy_news release_20150122-3054.pdf Supplementary Document	2016-05-23

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
23079	FERC-555, Preservation of Records for Public Utilities and Licensees, Natural Gas and Oil Pipeline Companies.	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0098	ICR Reference No: 201604-1902-004
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201312-1902-003
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-555
Title: FERC-555, (Final Policy Statement in PL15-3) Preservation of Records for Public Utilities and Licensees, Natural Gas and Oil Pipeline Companies.
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 08/16/2016
	Date Received in OIRA: 05/26/2016
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for 3 years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	08/31/2019	36 Months From Approved	05/31/2017
Responses	509	0	509
Time Burden (Hours)	2,656,034	0	2,655,962
Cost Burden (Dollars)	78,242,971	0	78,242,971

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Abstract: FERC's records retention regulations cover records maintained by public utilities and licensees, natural gas and oil pipeline companies. These records serve as the basis for required rate filings and reports submitted to FERC. The records are retained in order to be reviewed by FERC staff during compliance reviews, audits, special analyses performed as deemed necessary by FERC, and serve as a basis in complaint proceedings. FERC issues this Policy Statement (in Docket PL15-3) to provide guidance regarding future implementation of hold harmless commitments offered by applicants as ratepayer protection mechanisms to mitigate adverse effects on rates that may result from transactions that are subject to section 203 of the Federal Power Act (FPA).

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 15 USC 717-717w, Sec. 8, 10, 16 Name of Law: Natural Gas Act
   US Code: 49 USC 60502 Name of Law: Interstate Commerce Act
   US Code: 16 USC 792-828o, Sec. 301, 304, 309 Name of Law: Federal Power 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:
	80 FR 4231	01/27/2015
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	81 FR 33502	05/26/2016
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-555, Preservation of Records for Public Utilities and Licensees, Natural Gas and Oil Pipeline Companies.

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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	509	509	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	2,656,034	2,655,962	0	72	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	78,242,971	78,242,971	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The Commission adopts the following policies regarding future implementation of hold harmless commitments offered by applicants as ratepayer protection mechanisms to mitigate adverse effects on rates that may result from transactions subject to section 203 of the Federal Power Act (FPA). First, the Commission clarifies the scope and definition of the costs that should be subject to hold harmless commitments. Second, the Commission adopts the proposal that applicants offering hold harmless commitments should implement controls and procedures to track the costs from which customers will be held harmless. The Commission identifies the types of controls and procedures that applicants offering hold harmless commitments should implement. Third, the Commission declines to adopt its proposal to no longer accept hold harmless commitments that are limited in duration. Fourth, the Commission clarifies that, in connection with certain types of FPA section 203 transactions, an applicant may be able to demonstrate that the transaction will not have an adverse effect on rates without the need to make any hold harmless commitment. The majority of the current estimated OMB-approved burdens for FERC-516, -519, and -555 are not affected by the Policy Statement in PL15-3.FERC-555. We estimate an additional 4 hours of burden per year related to FERC-555 records retention requirements for 18 of the respondents. The number of responses and respondents are not changing.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $10,765,411

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: 05/26/2016

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