FERC-537, Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, Acquisition and Abandonment

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
FERC-537 supporting statement - RM25-12-000.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2026-05-27	Available
RM25-12-000 Notice of Inquiry Blanket Certification Cost Limitations.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-05-27	Available
18 CFR Part 2 (up to date as of 5-22-2026).pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-05-27	Available
18 CFR Part 284 (up to date as of 5-22-2026).pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-05-27	Available
18 CFR Part 157 (up to date as of 5-22-2026).pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-05-27	Available
18 CFR Part 380 (up to date as of 5-22-2026).pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-05-27	Available
18 CFR Part 153 (up to date as of 5-22-2026).pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-05-27	Available
42 USC 4332.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-05-27	Available
15 USC 717-717z.pdf	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2026-05-27	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
43998	Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, Acquisition and Abandonment		Removed
280616	Non-facility Certificate or Abandonment Applications		New
280615	Interstate and Intrastate Bypass Notice		New
280614	Request for Waiver of Capacity Release Regulations		New
280613	NGPA Section 311 Construction - Annual Reports		New
280612	Pipeline Purging/Testing Exemptions		New
280609	Blanket Certificate - Hinshaw Pipeline Blanket Certificates		New
280608	Blanket Certificates – Transportation by Interstate Pipelines on behalf of others		New
280607	Blanket Certificates – Annual Reports		New
280606	Blanket Certificates Prior Notice Filings		New
280605	Interstate Certificate and Abandonment Applications		New
266467	Project Area Labor Wage		Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0060	ICR Reference No: 202605-1902-007
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202409-1902-006
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-537
Title: FERC-537, Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, Acquisition and Abandonment
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 06/15/2026

table that charts list comparision

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	11/30/2027	11/30/2027
Responses	432	444
Time Burden (Hours)	42,835	49,091
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

---

Abstract: The NOPR seeks stakeholder perspectives on a Commission proposal to revise its part 157, subpart F blanket certificate regulations, 18 CFR sections 157.208(d) and 157.215(a)(5), to increase the cost limitations for projects that interstate natural gas pipelines may construct without a case-specific authorization order. The FERC 537 collection includes the requirements to obtain FERC approval for construction, acquisition, or abandonment of natural gas pipelines. 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.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 15 USC 717-717w Name of Law: Natural Gas Act
   US Code: 15 USC 3301-3432 Name of Law: Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1902-AG32	Proposed rulemaking	91 FR 31371	05/27/2026

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 11

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Blanket Certificate - Hinshaw Pipeline Blanket Certificates
Blanket Certificates Prior Notice Filings
Blanket Certificates – Annual Reports
Blanket Certificates – Transportation by Interstate Pipelines on behalf of others
Gas Pipeline Certificates: Construction, Acquisition and Abandonment
Interstate Certificate and Abandonment Applications
Interstate and Intrastate Bypass Notice
NGPA Section 311 Construction - Annual Reports
Non-facility Certificate or Abandonment Applications
Pipeline Purging/Testing Exemptions
Project Area Labor Wage
Request for Waiver of Capacity Release Regulations

---

ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list 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	432	444	0	32	-44	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	42,835	49,091	0	15,390	-21,646	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: This proposed rule would reduce the reporting burden because it expands exemptions to submitting a full application by natural gas pipelines pursuant to NGA section 7(c) permission to acquire, build, or abandon pipelines and / or state facilities. As a result, there would be more entities that would not need to submit full applications and they would either submit abbreviated fillings or only report activities on an annual report (already required). The other changes to the ICs are due to FERC revising our approach to documenting the reporting burden so that it more clearly matches to regulatory requirements.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $860,416

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

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

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: 06/15/2026

---