FERC-549, NGPA Title III Transactions and NGA Blanket Certificate Transactions

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
FERC-549 supporting statement 3-2-2020.docx Supporting Statement A	2020-03-04
IC20-1_549_30day_20191226-3015.docx Supplementary Document	2019-12-26
549 regs12-18-19.docx Supplementary Document	2019-12-18
549_60day_FR2019-23095b.pdf Supplementary Document	2019-12-18
549_60day issued_20191017-3101.docx Supplementary Document	2019-12-18
NGA Section 4(f).pdf Supplementary Document	2016-09-15
NGPA Section 312.pdf Supplementary Document	2016-09-15
NGPA Section 311.pdf Supplementary Document	2016-09-15
NGA Section 7.pdf Supplementary Document	2016-09-15

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
200420	Market Based Rates (18 CFR 284.501-505)	Modified
200419	Code of Conduct (18 CFR 284.288 & 284.403)	Modified
200418	Transportation by Pipeline [Interstate & Intrastate] (18 CFR 284.123(b),(e),(g),(h), 284.102(e)))	Modified
200417	Transportation by Interstate Pipelines (18 CFR 284.102(e))	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0086	ICR Reference No: 201911-1902-009
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201609-1902-001
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-549
Title: FERC-549, NGPA Title III Transactions and NGA Blanket Certificate Transactions
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: 03/04/2020
	Date Received in OIRA: 12/26/2019
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	03/31/2023	36 Months From Approved	03/31/2020
Responses	427	0	426
Time Burden (Hours)	5,970	0	4,572
Cost Burden (Dollars)	26,774	0	0

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Abstract: FERC-549 is required to implement the statutory provisions governed by Sections 311 and 312 of the NGPA and Section 7 of the NGA . The Commission uses the data in the FERC-549 to examine the costs, rates, and service and tariff provisions for the transportation and/or sale of natural gas in interstate commerce filed in compliance with Commission orders. Specifically, the Commission uses the data to ensure compliance with Sections 311 and 312 of the NGPA, Section 7 of the NGA and Part 284 of the Commission’s regulations. The information collected or maintained is used by the Commission to monitor jurisdictional transportation activities of intrastate and Hinshaw pipelines and the unbundled sales activities of interstate natural gas pipelines and to ensure the integrity of the gas sales market that remains subject to the Commission’s jurisdiction.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 15 USC 717f Name of Law: Natural Gas Act
   US Code: 15 USC 717c Name of Law: Natural Gas Act
   US Code: 15 USC 3371-3372 Name of Law: Natural Gas Policy 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:
	84 FR 56805	10/23/2019
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 99999	01/01/2019
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 4

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Transportation by Pipeline [Interstate & Intrastate] (18 CFR 284.123(b),(e),(g),(h), 284.102(e)))
Code of Conduct (18 CFR 284.288 & 284.403)
Market Based Rates (18 CFR 284.501-505)
Transportation by Interstate Pipelines (18 CFR 284.102(e))

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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	427	426	0	0	1	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	5,970	4,572	0	0	1,398	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	26,774	0	0	0	26,774	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: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Program changes. No program changes are being made to the reporting or recordkeeping requirements at this time. Adjustments in Estimates. The following adjustments are being made to estimates due to normal fluctuations in industry (e.g., companies entering or leaving the field, or merging or splitting). • The number of market-based rates being submitted annually is being reduced to 1 (rather than 4). Correspondingly, the burden is being decreased to 350 hours (rather than 1400). • The number of respondents for the Code of Conduct has increased to 319 (rather than 222), increasing burden by 97 hours (from 222 to 319 hours). • The number of responses for Hinshaw pipelines providing interstate service being submitted annually is being reduced to 0.33 annually (rather than 150). The Commission has not received any Hinshaw Blanket Certificate filings since 2016 because they are filed for unique and irregular circumstances under 18 CFR 284.102(e). However, the Commission does note that while we are providing an estimate of 0.33 (rounded to one) responses, there is a possibility that the Commission may receive one to three Hinshaw Blanket Certificate filings in the next three years. The reason for the decline in Hinshaw Blanket Certificate filings can be attributed to the maturity of the Hinshaw pipeline market and the lack of demand for the certification of new Hinshaw facilities. [Placeholders of 1 response and 1 hour annually are retained.] • The number of responses for intrastate pipelines providing interstate service pursuant to section 311 of the NGPA submitted annually is being increased to 106 (rather than 50). Correspondingly, the burden is being increased to 5,300 hours (rather than 2,500 hours). This increase reflects the expansion of NGPA 311 services in the southern region of the country.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,508,651

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     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: 12/26/2019

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