In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three
years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
10/31/2021
36 Months From Approved
10/31/2018
335
0
458
50,935
0
66,538
0
0
0
Under the Natural Gas Act (NGA) 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. The natural
gas companies file the necessary information with FERC so that the
Commission can determine from the data if the requested certificate
should be authorized. The data required to be submitted in a normal
certificate filing may include (depending on the circumstances and
application): • identification of the company and responsible
officials • factors considered in the location of the facilities
and the impact on the area for environmental considerations • Flow
diagrams showing the design capacity for engineering design
verification and safety determination; • Cost of proposed
facilities, plans for financing, and estimated revenues and
expenses related to the proposed facility for accounting and
financial evaluation. • Existing and proposed storage capacity and
pressures and reservoir engineering studies for requests to
increase storage capacity; • Engineering drawings; • An affidavit
showing the consent of existing customers for abandonment of
service requests. In addition, requests for an increase of pipeline
capacity must include a statement that demonstrates compliance with
the Commission’s Certificate Policy Statement by making a showing
that the cost of the expansion will not be subsidized by existing
customers and that there will not be adverse economic impacts to
existing customers, competing pipelines or their customers, or to
landowners and surrounding communities.
Growth in the industry caused
the number of respondents to increase from 204 to 214. This
reflects the fact that more firms are doing business related to gas
pipeline construction, acquisition, and abandonment. However, there
was a reduction in number of responses annually from 458 to 335.
This reduction was due to the type, size and scope of projects
those firms initiated being different and/or less frequent because
of saturated market conditions and the major development of
infrastructure that had previously occurred in prior years.
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.
537_errata30day_IC18-13_20180905-3050.docx
18 CFR Part 2.pdf
Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, Acquisition and Abandonment