[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 115 (Wednesday, June 15, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Page 36113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-12910]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC22-16-000]


Commission Information Collection Activity (FERC-542); Comment 
Request; Extension

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission or 
FERC) is soliciting public comment on the currently approved 
information collections, FERC-542 (Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Tracking).

DATES: Comments on the collections of information are due August 15, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: You may submit your comments (identified by Docket No. IC22-
16-000) on FERC-542 by one of the following methods:
    Electronic filing through http://www.ferc.gov is preferred.
     Electronic Filing: Documents must be filed in acceptable 
native applications and print-to-PDF, but not in scanned or picture 
format.
     For those unable to file electronically, comments may be 
filed by USPS mail or by hand (including courier) delivery:
    [cir] Mail via U.S. Postal Service Only: Addressed to: Federal 
Energy Regulatory Commission, Secretary of the Commission, 888 First 
Street NE, Washington, DC 20426.
    [cir] Hand (Including Courier) Delivery: Deliver to: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Instructions: All submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance with submission guidelines at: http://www.ferc.gov. For user 
assistance, contact FERC Online Support by email at 
[email protected], 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Brown may be reached by email at 
[email protected], or by telephone at (202) 502-8663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-542, Gas Pipelines Rates: Rate Tracking.
    OMB Control No.: 1902-0070.
    Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-542 information 
collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting 
requirements.
    Abstract: The Commission uses FERC-542 filings to verify that costs 
which are passed through to pipeline customers as rate adjustments are 
consistent with the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA), 15 U.S.C. 3301-3432, 
and sections 4 and 5 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA), 15 U.S.C. 717c and 
717d. These statutory provisions require FERC to regulate the 
transmission and sale of natural gas for resale in interstate commerce 
at just and reasonable rates. This collection of information is also in 
accordance with section 16 of the NGA, 15 U.S.C. 717o, which authorizes 
FERC to implement the NGA through its rules and regulations.
    The regulations at 18 CFR part 154 include provisions that allow an 
interstate natural gas pipeline to submit filings seeking to:
     Recover research, development and demonstration 
expenditures (18 CFR 154.401);
     Recover annual charges assessed by the Commission under 18 
CFR part 382 (18 CFR 154.402); and
     Pass through, on a periodic basis, a single cost or 
revenue item such as fuel use and unaccounted-for natural gas in kind 
(18 CFR 154.403).
    FERC-542 filings may be submitted at any time or on a regularly 
scheduled basis in accordance with the pipeline company's tariff. 
Filings may be: (1) accepted; (2) suspended and set for hearing; (3) 
minimal suspension; or (4) suspended for further review, such as 
technical conference or some other type of Commission action. The 
Commission implements these filing requirements under 18 CFR part 154.
    Type of Respondents: Jurisdictional Natural Gas Pipelines.
    Estimate of Annual Burden: \1\ The Commission estimates the total 
burden and cost for this information collection as follows:
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    \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 5 CFR 1320.3.

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                                                    Average  annual
                                       Average         number of      Total number  of     Average  burden    Total annual  burden hours     Cost per
         Type of response           annual number    responses per       responses        hours & cost per        & total annual cost       respondent
                                   of respondents     respondent                             respondent                (rounded)             (rounded)
                                              (1)               (2)    (1) * (2) = (3)  (4) \2\.............  (3) * (4) = (5)...........       (5) / (1)
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Request to Recover Costs from                  94                 2                188  2 hrs; $174.........  324 hrs; $28,188..........            $174
 Customers.
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    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.
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    \2\ The Commission staff estimates that the industry's hourly 
cost for wages plus benefits is similar to the Commission's $87.00 
FY 2021 average hourly cost for wages and benefits.

    Dated: June 9, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-12910 Filed 6-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


