
[Federal Register: April 15, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 73)]
[Notices]               
[Page 20267-20269]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr15ap08-54]                         

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC08-520-000; FERC-520]

 
Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed 
Collection; Comment Request; Extension

April 8, 2008.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection and request for 
comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(a) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment 
on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

DATES: Comments in consideration of the collection of information are 
due June 9, 2008.

ADDRESSES: An example of this collection of information may be obtained 
from the Commission's Documents & Filing Web site (http://www.ferc.gov/
docs-filing/elibrary.asp) or by contacting the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael Miller, Office of the Executive 
Director, ED-34 Rm. 42-39, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. 
Comments may be filed either in paper format or electronically. Those 
parties filing electronically do not need to make a paper filing. For 
paper filing, the original and 14 copies of such comments should be 
submitted to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426 and refer to 
Docket No. IC08-520-000.

[[Page 20268]]

Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared in an 
acceptable filing format and in compliance with the Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission submission guidelines. Complete filing 
instructions and acceptable filing formats are available at (http://
www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide/electronic-media.asp). To file the 
document electronically, access the Commission's website and click on 
Documents & Filing, E-Filing (http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/
efiling.asp), and then follow the instructions for each screen. First 
time users will have to establish a user name and password. The 
Commission will send an automatic acknowledgement to the sender's e-
mail address upon receipt of comments.
    All comments may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely via the 
Internet through FERC's homepage using the ``eLibrary'' link. For user 
assistance, contact fercolinesupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at (866) 
208-3676 or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by 
telephone at (202) 502-8415, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at 
michael.miller@ferc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-520 ``Application for Authority to Hold 
Interlocking Directorate Positions'' (OMB No. 1902-0083) is used by the 
Commission to implement the statutory provisions of section 305 of the 
Federal Power Act (FPA) as amended by Title II, section 211 of the 
Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 (PURPA) (16 U.S.C. 
825d). Section 305(b) makes the holding of certain defined interlocking 
corporate positions unlawful unless the Commission has authorized the 
interlocks to be held and, requires the applicant to show in a form and 
manner as prescribed by the Commission, that neither public nor private 
interests will be adversely affected by the holding of the position.
    The Commission implements these provisions through its filing 
requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 18 CFR part 45. 
The information required under part 45 generally identifies the 
applicant, describes the various interlocking positions the applicant 
seeks authorization to hold, provides information on the applicant's 
financial interests, other officers and directors of the firms 
involved, and the nature of the business relationships among the firms.
    Two types of FERC-520 applications are provided for, that which is 
described in 18 CFR 45.8 as a ``full'' application and that which is 
described in 18 CFR 45.9 as an ``informational'' application for 
automatic authorization. Section 45.8 ``full'' applications are made by 
(1) An officer or director of more than one public utility; (2) an 
officer or director of a public utility and of a public utility 
securities underwriter; or (3) an officer or director of a public 
utility and of an electrical equipment supplier to that utility. 
Section 45.9 ``informational applications'' are made by (1) An officer 
or director of two or more public utilities where the same holding 
company owns, directly or indirectly, wholly or in part, the other 
public utility; (2) an officer or director of two public utilities, if 
one utility is owned, wholly or in part, by the other; or (3) an 
officer or director of more than one public utility, if such person is 
already authorized under Part 45 to hold different positions where the 
interlock involves affiliated public utilities.
    Without this information collection, the Commission and the public 
would not be able to inquire into and determine whether public or 
private interests will be adversely affected by the holding of such 
positions.
    Under the current OMB authorization, the Commission was allowing 
the filing of FERC-520 in hardcopy and/or diskette/CD. However, through 
RM07-16-000, implemented March 1, 2008, the electronic filing of FERC-
520 filings is also accepted through the Commission's eFiling system.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
current expiration date.
    Burden Statement: The two types of interlocking directorate 
applications, a ``full application'' pursuant to 18 CFR 45.8 and the 
much more abbreviated ``informational application'' pursuant to 18 CFR 
45.9 are represented separately here. Public reporting burden for each 
is estimated as:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Number of         Number of      Average  burden
   Type of application filed annually        respondents      responses per      hours  per       Total annual
                                              annually         respondent         response        burden hours
                                                       (1)               (2)               (3)       (1)x(2)x(3)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Full....................................                17                 1              51.8               881
Informational...........................               911                 1              29.5            23,595
                                         -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total...............................  ................  ................  ................            24,476
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The estimated total cost to respondents is $1,487,199 [24,476 hours 
divided by 2080 hours \1\ per year, times $126,384 \2\ which equals 
$1,487,199]. The cost per respondent is $1,603. The increase in the 
estimated total cost over what was reported in 2005 is due to the 
informational filings not being included in earlier estimates. The 
reporting burden includes the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide 
the information including: (1) Reviewing instructions; (2) developing, 
acquiring, installing, using technology and systems for the purposes of 
collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, disclosing 
and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways to comply 
with any previously applicable filing instructions and requirements; 
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) 
searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of 
information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the 
information.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Number of hours an employee works each year.
    \2\ Average annual salary per employee.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The cost estimate for respondents is based upon salaries for 
professional and clerical support, as well as direct and indirect 
overhead costs. Direct costs include all costs directly attributable to 
providing this information, such as administrative costs and the cost 
for information technology. Indirect or overhead costs are costs 
incurred by an organization in support of its mission. These costs 
apply to activities which benefit the whole organization rather than 
any one particular function or activity.
    Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the proposed information 
collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Commission, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of

[[Page 20269]]

the agency's burden estimate of the proposed information collection, 
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used to 
calculate the reporting burden; and (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected.

Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E8-7919 Filed 4-14-08; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
