
[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 65 (Tuesday, April 5, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18743-18744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-7991]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC11-603-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-603); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A) (2006) 
(Pub. L. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission 
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the proposed information 
collection described below.

DATES: Comments in consideration of the collection of information are 
due June 3, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be filed either electronically (eFiled) or in 
paper format, and should refer to Docket No. IC11-603-000. Documents 
must be prepared in an acceptable filing format and in compliance with 
Commission submission guidelines at http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. eFiling instructions are available at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp. First time users must follow 
eRegister instructions at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/eregistration.asp, to establish a user name and password before 
eFiling. The Commission will send an automatic acknowledgement to the 
sender's e-mail address upon receipt of eFiled comments. Commenters 
making an

[[Page 18744]]

eFiling should not make a paper filing. Commenters that are not able to 
file electronically must send an original and two (2) paper copies of 
their comments to: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of 
the Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426.
    Users interested in receiving automatic notification of activity in 
this docket may do so through eSubscription at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp. All comments and FERC issuances may be 
viewed, printed or downloaded remotely through FERC's eLibrary at 
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/elibrary.asp, by searching on Docket 
No. IC11-603. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support by e-
mail at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 
(toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Ellen Brown may be reached by e-mail at 
DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 
273-0873.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the 
requirements of FERC-603 ``Critical Energy Infrastructure Information'' 
(OMB No. 1902-0197) is used by the Commission to implement procedures 
for gaining access to critical energy infrastructure information (CEII) 
that would not otherwise be available under the Freedom of Information 
Act (5 USC 552). On February, 21, 2003, the Commission issued Order No. 
630 (66 FR 52917) to address the appropriate treatment of CEII in the 
aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and to restrict 
unrestrained general access due to the ongoing terrorism threat. These 
steps enable the Commission to keep sensitive infrastructure 
information out of the public domain, decreasing the likelihood that 
such information could be used to plan or execute terrorist attacks. 
The process adopted in Order No. 630 is a more efficient alternative 
for handling requests for previously public documents than FOIA The 
Commission has defined CEII to include information about ``existing or 
proposed critical infrastructure that (i) relates to the production, 
generation, transportation, transmission, or distribution of energy; 
(ii) could be useful to a person planning an attack on critical 
infrastructure; (iii) is exempt from mandatory disclosure under the 
Freedom of Information Act, and (iv) does not simply give the location 
of the critical infrastructure. Critical infrastructure means existing 
and proposed systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, the 
incapacity or destruction of which would negatively affect security, 
economic security, public health or safety, or any combination of those 
matters. A person seeking access to CEII may file a request for that 
information by providing information about their identity and reason as 
to the need for the information. Through this process, the Commission 
is able to review the requester's need for the information against the 
sensitivity of the information. The compliance with these requirements 
is mandatory.
    Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the 
current expiration date, with changes to the existing collection of 
data.
    Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is 
estimated as:

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                                                 Number of        Number of     Average  burden
               Data collection                  respondents     responses per      hours  per      Total annual
                                                annually \1\      respondent        response       burden hours
                                                         (1)              (2)              (3)      (1)x(2)x(3)
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FERC-603....................................             200                1              .30               60
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\1\ The number of respondents corresponds to the number of requests received annually while recognizing that
  some CEII requests are filed by multiple parties.

    The estimated total cost to respondents is $4,080. The cost per 
respondent = $20.40. (60 hours @ $68 hourly rate (rounded off)).
    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, and utilizing 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 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.
    The estimate of cost 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 collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the Commission, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology e.g. permitting electronic submission of 
responses.

    Dated: March 17, 2011.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2011-7991 Filed 4-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


