FERC-549B, Gas Pipeline Rates: Capacity Reports and Index of Customers

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form 549B FERC-549B, Gas Pipeline Rates: Capacity Reports and Index of Customers Form and Instruction	Modified
FERC-549B 60-day notice published 10 26 2020.pdf Supplementary Document	2020-12-29
20201020-3063_FERC-549B 60-day notice 10-19-20.docx Supplementary Document	2020-12-29
FERC-549B supporting statement 12 28 2020.docx Supporting Statement A	2020-12-29
FERC-549B 30 day notice issued 12 29 2020.pdf Supplementary Document	2020-12-29
15 USC 717.pdf Supplementary Document	2017-07-26
18 CFR 284.13.pdf Supplementary Document	2017-07-26

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
23182	FERC-549B, Gas Pipeline Rates: Capacity Reports and Index of Customers Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0169	ICR Reference No: 202011-1902-002
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201707-1902-007
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-549B
Title: FERC-549B, Gas Pipeline Rates: Capacity Reports and Index of Customers
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 12/29/2020

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	01/31/2021
Responses	1,848	2,035
Time Burden (Hours)	149,856	165,020
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The FERC-549B covers the various aspects of releasing and acquiring natural gas pipeline capacity that are needed for regulatory oversight and efficient business transactions to occur easily. There are three distinct reporting requirements under the FERC-549B information collection: (1) capacity reports related to firm, released and interruptible transportation service; (2) peak day annual capacity reports; and (3) Index of Customers. The Commission uses the information collected in the FERC-549B to analyze capacity held on pipelines and to ensure that rates for gas capacity are just and reasonable. The FERC-549B allows the Commission to monitor marketplace behavior as well as to detect and remedy anti-competitive behavior. Shippers of natural gas need to use all FERC-549B information about the capacity in pipeline corridors, especially the data related to the value of capacity. Shippers use this information to determine where capacity is available and when as well as to make informed decisions about the capacity they may want to purchase. (The FERC-issued 30-day notice is attached. When published in the Federal Register, we will add that file to supp. documents and the details to the metadata.)

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 15 USC 717c, 717d, and 717o Name of Law: Natural Gas 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:
	85 FR 67732	10/26/2020
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	85 FR 99999	12/22/2020
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-549B, Gas Pipeline Rates: Capacity Reports and Index of Customers	549B	Index of Customers

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	1,848	2,035	0	0	-187	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	149,856	165,020	0	0	-15,164	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: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The public reporting burden has decreased for this information collection. However, the Commission made no program changes regarding burden imposed upon respondents and the FERC-549B requirements remain unchanged from previously approved clearance packages. The estimated annual burden has been adjusted due to a decrease in the number of responses from pipeline abandonments, lack of firm shippers on the system, and/or leaving Commission jurisdiction.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $394,013

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? No

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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: 12/29/2020

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