[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 140 (Tuesday, July 21, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44064-44065]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-15737]


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

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC20-19-000]


Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-561); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, DOE.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (PRA), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission 
or FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved 
information collection, FERC-561, (Annual Report of Interlocking 
Positions) and submitting the information collection to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review. Any interested person may file 
comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments 
to the Commission as explained below.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due August 20, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC-561 to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB control number (1902-
0099) in the subject line. Your comments should be sent within 30 days 
of publication of this notice in the Federal Register.
    Please submit copies of your comments to the Commission (identified 
by Docket No. IC20-19-000) by either of the following methods:
     eFiling at Commission's Website: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp.
     Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, Secretary of the Commission, at Health and Human Services, 
12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852.
    Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at:

[[Page 44065]]

www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain; Using the search function under the 
Currently Under Review field, select Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission; click submit and select comment to the right of the subject 
collection.
    FERC submissions must be formatted and filed in accordance with 
submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide.asp. For user assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at 
ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 (toll-free).
    Docket: Users interested in receiving automatic notification of 
activity in this docket or in viewing/downloading comments and 
issuances in this docket may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/docs-filing.asp.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at 
DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone at (202) 502-8663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-561, Annual Report of Interlocking Positions.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0099.
    Abstract: The FERC Form 561 responds to the FPA requirements for 
annual reporting of similar types of positions which public utility 
officers and directors hold with financial institutions, insurance 
companies, utility equipment and fuel providers, and with any of an 
electric utility's 20 largest purchasers of electric energy (i.e., the 
20 entities with high expenditures of electricity). The FPA 
specifically defines most of the information elements in the Form 561 
including the information that must be filed, the required filers, the 
directive to make the information available to the public, and the 
filing deadline.
    The Commission uses the information required by 18 CFR 131.31 and 
collected by the Form 561 to implement the FPA requirement that those 
who are authorized to hold interlocked directorates annually disclose 
all the interlocked positions held within the prior year. The Form 561 
data identifies persons holding interlocking positions between public 
utilities and other entities, allows the Commission to review these 
interlocking positions, and allows identification of possible conflicts 
of interest. The Commission received no comments in response to the 
Notice of Information and Request for Comments published on May 13, 
2020 (85 FR 28623).
    Type of Respondents: Public utility officers and directors holding 
financial positions, insurance companies, security underwriters, 
electrical equipment suppliers, fuel provider, and any entity which is 
controlled by these.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \1\ The Commission estimates the total 
annual burden and cost \2\ for this information collection as follows:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Burden is the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or 
provide information to or for a Federal agency. For further 
explanation of what is included in the information collection 
burden, refer to Title 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3.
    \2\ Commission staff estimates that the industry's skill set and 
cost (for wages and benefits) for FERC-561 are approximately the 
same as the Commission's average cost. The FERC 2019 average salary 
plus benefits for one FERC full-time equivalent (FTE) is $167,091/
year (or $80.00/hour).

                                                FERC Form 561, (Annual Report of Interlocking Positions)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Annual number
   Number of       of responses     Total number of     Average burden & cost per response       Total annual burden hours & total         Cost per
  respondents     per respondent       responses                                                            annual cost                 respondent ($)
(1)                         (2)     (1) * (2) = (3)   (4)...................................  (3) * (4) = (5).......................          (5) / (1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         2,700                1               2,700   0.25 hrs.; $20.00.....................  675.00 hrs.; $54,000..................             $20.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Comments: Comments are invited on: (1) Whether the 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 and 
cost of the collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility and clarity of the information collection; and (4) ways to 
minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are 
to respond, including the use of automated collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology.

    Dated: July 15, 2020.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2020-15737 Filed 7-20-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


