[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 169 (Thursday, September 1, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53740-53741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18946]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. IC22-16-000]


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

AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy.

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). 
The Commission published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register on 
June 15, 2022, and received no comments.

DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due October 3, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments on FERC 542 to OMB through 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission Desk Officer. Please identify the OMB Control Number 1902-
0070 (Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Tracking) 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 (identified by Docket No. 
IC22-16-000 and the form) to the Commission as noted below. Electronic 
filing through https://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 to: Federal Energy 
Regulatory Commission, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852.
    Please reference the specific collection number(s) and/or title(s) 
in your comments.
    Instructions: OMB submissions must be formatted and filed in 
accordance

[[Page 53741]]

with submission guidelines at: 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: https://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] and telephone at (202) 502-8663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title: FERC-542 (Gas Pipeline 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 or rejected; (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.

                                                       FERC 542--Gas Pipeline Rates: Rate Tracking
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                                                       Annual number                                               Total annual burden       Cost per
          Type of response             Annual number   of responses    Total number    Average burden hours &     hours & total annual      respondent
                                      of respondents  per respondent   of responses      cost per respondent         cost (rounded)          (rounded)
                                                 (1)             (2)     (1) * (2) =  (4) \2\.................   (3) * (4) = (5)........       (5) / (1)
                                                                                 (3)
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Request to Recover Costs from                     94               2             188  2 hrs; $174.............  376 hrs; $32,712........            $174
 Customers.
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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.

    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: August 26, 2022.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2022-18946 Filed 8-31-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


