83 FR 55155 - Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-546); Comment Request; Extension
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 213 (November 2, 2018)
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 213 (November 2, 2018)
| Page Range | 55155-55156 | |
| FR Document | 2018-23994 |
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 213 (Friday, November 2, 2018)] [Notices] [Pages 55155-55156] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2018-23994] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. IC19-3-000] Commission Information Collection Activities (FERC-546); Comment Request; Extension AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of information collection and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 collection, FERC-546 (Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates). DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due January 2, 2019. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments (identified by Docket No. IC19-3- 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, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. Instructions: All 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 [email protected], or by phone at: (866) 208-3676 (toll-free), or (202) 502-8659 for TTY. 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 [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 273-0873. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: FERC-546, Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates. OMB Control No.: 1902-0155. Type of Request: Three-year extension of the FERC-546 information collection requirements with no changes to the current reporting requirements. Abstract: The requirements of the FERC-546 information collection are contained within the Commission's regulations in 18 CFR parts 154.7, 154.202, 154.204-154.208, 154.602-154.603, 284.501-284.505, and 154.4. The Commission reviews the FERC-546 materials to decide whether to approve rates and tariff changes associated with an application for a certificate under Natural Gas Act (NGA) section 7(c). Additionally, FERC reviews FERC-546 materials in NGA section 4(f), storage applications, to evaluate an applicant's market power and determine whether to grant market-based rate authority to the applicant. The Commission uses the information in FERC-546 to monitor jurisdictional transportation, natural gas storage, and unbundled sales activities of interstate natural gas pipelines and Hinshaw \1\ pipelines. In addition to fulfilling the Commission's obligations under the NGA, the FERC-546 enables the Commission to monitor the activities and evaluate transactions of the natural gas industry, ensure competitiveness, and improve efficiency of the industry's operations. In summary, the Commission uses the information to: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \1\ Hinshaw pipelines are those that receive all out-of-state gas from entities within or at the boundary of a state if all the natural gas so received is ultimately consumed within the state in which it is received, 15 U.S.C. 717(c). Congress concluded that Hinshaw pipelines are ``matters primarily of local concern,'' and so are more appropriately regulated by pertinent state agencies rather than by FERC. The Natural Gas Act section 1(c) exempts Hinshaw pipelines from FERC jurisdiction. A Hinshaw pipeline, however, may apply for a FERC certificate to transport gas outside of state lines. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ensure adequate customer protections under NGA section 4(f); Review rate and tariff changes filed under NGA section 7(c) for certification of natural gas pipeline transportation and storage services; Provide general industry oversight; and Supplement documentation during the pipeline audits process. Failure to collect this information would prevent the Commission from monitoring and evaluating transactions and operations of jurisdictional pipelines and performing its regulatory functions. Type of Respondents: Jurisdictional pipeline companies and storage operators. Estimate of Annual Burden: \2\ The Commission estimates the annual reporting burden and cost for the information collection as: --------------------------------------------------------------------------- \2\ ``Burden'' is defined as 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, reference 5 Code of Federal Regulations 1320.3. \3\ The hourly cost (for salary plus benefits) uses the figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2017, for positions involved in the reporting and recordkeeping requirements. These figures include salary (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_22.htm) and benefits (http://www.bls.gov/news.release/ecec.nr0.htm) and are: Electrical Engineer (Occupation Code: 17-2071; $66.90/hour) Management Analyst (Occupation Code: 13-1111; $63.32/hour) Accounting (Occupation Code: 13-2011; $56.59/hours) Computer and Mathematical (Occupation Code: 15-0000; $63.25/ hour) Legal (Occupation Code: 23-0000; $143.68/hour) The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is calculated weighting each of the previously mentioned wage categories as follows: $66.90/hour (0.4) + $63.32/hour (0.2) + $56.59/hour (0.1) + $63.25/hour (0.1) + $143.68/hour (0.2) = $80.14/hour. The Commission rounds this figure to $80/hour. \4\ This figure was calculated by dividing the total number of responses (75) by the total number of respondents (51). The resulting figure was then rounded to the nearest thousandth place. \5\ Rounded from $58,823.53. FERC-546 (Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Annual Annual number of Total number Cost per number of responses of responses Average burden and cost per Total annual burden hours and total respondent respondents per (rounded) response \3\ (rounded) annual cost (rounded) ($) respondent (rounded) (1) (2) (1) * (2) = (4)......................... (3) * (4) = (5).................... (5) / (1) (3) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pipeline Certificate Filings 51 \4\ 1.471 75 500 hrs.; $40,000........... 37,500 hrs.; $3,000,000............ \5\ $58,824 and Storage Applications. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 55156]] The Commission is revising the burden hours per response for rate and tariff changes associated with certificate applications, from the current estimated averages of 40 hours per pipeline certificate project and 350 hours per storage application, to an overall average of 500 hours per project for all FERC-546 filings. The increase in the average hours per project is due to the complexity and length of time required in the planning and monitoring jurisdictional transportation of pipeline certificate and storage projects and that these additional hours need to be properly accounted for in FERC-546 filings. 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: October 29, 2018. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2018-23994 Filed 11-1-18; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P
![Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 213 / Friday, November 2, 2018 / Notices 55155
Issued in Lexington, KY, this 11th day of Secretary of the Commission, 888 First materials in NGA section 4(f), storage
October 2018. Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. applications, to evaluate an applicant’s
Robert E. Edwards, III, Instructions: All submissions must be market power and determine whether to
Manager, Portsmouth/Paducah Project Office. formatted and filed in accordance with grant market-based rate authority to the
[FR Doc. 2018–24029 Filed 11–1–18; 8:45 am] submission guidelines at: http:// applicant. The Commission uses the
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P www.ferc.gov/help/submission- information in FERC–546 to monitor
guide.asp. For user assistance contact jurisdictional transportation, natural gas
FERC Online Support by email at storage, and unbundled sales activities
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov, or by phone of interstate natural gas pipelines and
at: (866) 208–3676 (toll-free), or (202) Hinshaw 1 pipelines. In addition to
Federal Energy Regulatory 502–8659 for TTY. fulfilling the Commission’s obligations
Commission Docket: Users interested in receiving under the NGA, the FERC–546 enables
automatic notification of activity in this the Commission to monitor the
[Docket No. IC19–3–000]
docket or in viewing/downloading activities and evaluate transactions of
Commission Information Collection comments and issuances in this docket the natural gas industry, ensure
Activities (FERC–546); Comment may do so at http://www.ferc.gov/docs- competitiveness, and improve efficiency
Request; Extension filing/docs-filing.asp. of the industry’s operations. In
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: summary, the Commission uses the
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Ellen Brown may be reached by email information to:
Commission. at DataClearance@FERC.gov, telephone • Ensure adequate customer
ACTION: Notice of information collection at (202) 502–8663, and fax at (202) 273– protections under NGA section 4(f);
and request for comments. 0873. • Review rate and tariff changes filed
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: under NGA section 7(c) for certification
SUMMARY: In compliance with the of natural gas pipeline transportation
Title: FERC–546, Certificated Rate
requirements of the Paperwork and storage services;
Filings: Gas Pipeline Rates.
Reduction Act of 1995, the Federal OMB Control No.: 1902–0155. • Provide general industry oversight;
Energy Regulatory Commission Type of Request: Three-year extension and
(Commission or FERC) is soliciting of the FERC–546 information collection • Supplement documentation during
public comment on the currently requirements with no changes to the the pipeline audits process.
approved information collection, FERC– current reporting requirements. Failure to collect this information
546 (Certificated Rate Filings: Gas Abstract: The requirements of the would prevent the Commission from
Pipeline Rates). FERC–546 information collection are monitoring and evaluating transactions
DATES: Comments on the collection of contained within the Commission’s and operations of jurisdictional
information are due January 2, 2019. regulations in 18 CFR parts 154.7, pipelines and performing its regulatory
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 154.202, 154.204–154.208, 154.602– functions.
(identified by Docket No. IC19–3–000) 154.603, 284.501–284.505, and 154.4. Type of Respondents: Jurisdictional
by either of the following methods: The Commission reviews the FERC–546 pipeline companies and storage
• eFiling at Commission’s website: materials to decide whether to approve operators.
http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/ rates and tariff changes associated with Estimate of Annual Burden: 2 The
efiling.asp. an application for a certificate under Commission estimates the annual
• Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier: Natural Gas Act (NGA) section 7(c). reporting burden and cost for the
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Additionally, FERC reviews FERC–546 information collection as:
FERC–546 (CERTIFICATED RATE FILINGS: GAS PIPELINE RATES)
Annual Cost per
Annual number of Total number Average burden and Total annual burden hours respondent
number of responses of responses cost per response 3 and total annual cost ($)
respondents per (rounded) (rounded) (rounded) (rounded)
respondent
(1) (2) (1) * (2) = (3) (4) (3) * (4) = (5) (5) ÷ (1)
Pipeline Certificate Filings 51 4 1.471 75 500 hrs.; $40,000 ...... 37,500 hrs.; $3,000,000 ..... 5 $58,824
and Storage Applications.
1 Hinshaw pipelines are those that receive all out- explanation of what is included in the information Computer and Mathematical (Occupation Code:
of-state gas from entities within or at the boundary collection burden, reference 5 Code of Federal 15–0000; $63.25/hour)
of a state if all the natural gas so received is Regulations 1320.3. Legal (Occupation Code: 23–0000; $143.68/hour)
ultimately consumed within the state in which it is 3 The hourly cost (for salary plus benefits) uses
The average hourly cost (salary plus benefits) is
received, 15 U.S.C. 717(c). Congress concluded that the figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, May calculated weighting each of the previously
Hinshaw pipelines are ‘‘matters primarily of local 2017, for positions involved in the reporting and
mentioned wage categories as follows: $66.90/hour
concern,’’ and so are more appropriately regulated recordkeeping requirements. These figures include
salary (https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/naics2_ (0.4) + $63.32/hour (0.2) + $56.59/hour (0.1) +
by pertinent state agencies rather than by FERC.
The Natural Gas Act section 1(c) exempts Hinshaw 22.htm) and benefits (http://www.bls.gov/ $63.25/hour (0.1) + $143.68/hour (0.2) = $80.14/
pipelines from FERC jurisdiction. A Hinshaw news.release/ecec.nr0.htm) and are: hour. The Commission rounds this figure to $80/
pipeline, however, may apply for a FERC certificate Electrical Engineer (Occupation Code: 17–2071; hour.
4 This figure was calculated by dividing the total
to transport gas outside of state lines. $66.90/hour)
2 ‘‘Burden’’ is defined as the total time, effort, or Management Analyst (Occupation Code: 13–1111; number of responses (75) by the total number of
financial resources expended by persons to $63.32/hour) respondents (51). The resulting figure was then
generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide Accounting (Occupation Code: 13–2011; $56.59/ rounded to the nearest thousandth place.
information to or for a Federal agency. For further hours) 5 Rounded from $58,823.53.
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![55156 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 213 / Friday, November 2, 2018 / Notices
The Commission is revising the would receive natural gas to the export • Gas gate station and interconnect
burden hours per response for rate and facilities from a third-party intrastate facility;
tariff changes associated with certificate pipeline. • pretreatment facility for carbon
applications, from the current estimated The draft EIS assesses the potential dioxide removal and dehydration;
averages of 40 hours per pipeline environmental effects of the • turbo-expander for pentane plus
certificate project and 350 hours per construction and operation of the Texas heavy carbon removal;
storage application, to an overall LNG Project in accordance with the • a Liquefaction Plant consisting of two
average of 500 hours per project for all requirements of the National liquefaction trains and ancillary
FERC–546 filings. The increase in the Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The support facilities;
average hours per project is due to the FERC staff concludes that approval of • two approximately 210,000 m3
complexity and length of time required the Texas LNG Project would result in aboveground full containment LNG
in the planning and monitoring adverse environmental impacts. storage tanks with cryogenic pipeline
jurisdictional transportation of pipeline However, with the mitigation measures connections to the Liquefaction Plant
certificate and storage projects and that recommended in the EIS, impacts in the and berthing dock;
these additional hours need to be project area would be avoided or • an LNG carrier berthing dock capable
properly accounted for in FERC–546 of receiving LNG carriers between
minimized and would not be
filings. approximately 130,000 m3 and
significant, with the exception of visual
Comments: Comments are invited on: 180,000 m3 in capacity;
resources when viewed from the Laguna
(1) Whether the collection of • a permanent material offloading
Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. In
information is necessary for the proper facility to allow waterborne deliveries
addition, the Texas LNG Project,
performance of the functions of the of equipment and materials during
combined with other projects in the
Commission, including whether the construction and mooring of tug boats
geographic scope, including the Rio
information will have practical utility; while an LNG carrier is at the berth;
Grande LNG and Annova LNG Projects,
(2) the accuracy of the agency’s estimate • thermal oxidizer, warm wet flare, cold
would result in significant cumulative
of the burden and cost of the collection dry flare, spare flare, acid gas flare,
impacts from sediment/turbidity and
of information, including the validity of and marine flare; and
the methodology and assumptions used; shoreline erosions within the • administration, control, maintenance,
(3) ways to enhance the quality, utility Brownsville Ship Channel during and warehouse buildings and related
and clarity of the information collection; operations from vessel transits; on the parking lots; electrical transmission
and (4) ways to minimize the burden of federally listed ocelot and jaguarundi line and substation, water pipeline,
the collection of information on those from habitat loss and potential for septic system, natural gas pipeline,
who are to respond, including the use increased vehicular strikes during and stormwater facilities/outfalls.
of automated collection techniques or construction; and on visual resources
from the presence of aboveground The Commission mailed a copy of the
other forms of information technology. Notice of Availability to federal, state,
structures. Construction and operation
Dated: October 29, 2018. of the Texas LNG Project would result and local government representatives
Kimberly D. Bose, in mostly temporary or short-term and agencies; elected officials;
Secretary. environmental impacts; however, some environmental and public interest
[FR Doc. 2018–23994 Filed 11–1–18; 8:45 am] long-term and permanent environmental groups; Native American tribes;
impacts would occur. potentially affected landowners and
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
other interested individuals and groups;
The U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. and newspapers and libraries in the
Coast Guard, U.S. Army Corps of project area. The draft EIS is only
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Engineers, U.S. Department of available in electronic format. It may be
Transportation’s Pipeline and viewed and downloaded from the
Federal Energy Regulatory
Hazardous Materials Safety FERC’s website (www.ferc.gov), on the
Commission
Administration and Federal Aviation Environmental Documents page (https://
[Docket No. CP16–116–000] Administration, U.S. Fish and Wildlife www.ferc.gov/industries/gas/enviro/
Service, U.S. Environmental Protection eis.asp). In addition, the draft EIS may
Texas LNG Brownsville, LLC; Notice of Agency, National Park Service, and
Availability of the Draft Environmental be accessed by using the eLibrary link
National Oceanic and Atmospheric on the FERC’s website. Click on the
Impact Statement for the Proposed Administration’s National Marine
Texas LNG Project eLibrary link (https://www.ferc.gov/
Fisheries Service participated as docs-filing/elibrary.asp), click on
The staff of the Federal Energy cooperating agencies in the preparation General Search, and enter the docket
Regulatory Commission (FERC or of the EIS. Cooperating agencies have number in the Docket Number field,
Commission) has prepared a draft jurisdiction by law or special expertise excluding the last three digits (i.e.,
environmental impact statement (EIS) with respect to resources potentially CP16–116). Be sure you have selected
for the Texas LNG Project, proposed by affected by the proposal and participate an appropriate date range. For
Texas LNG Brownsville, LLC (Texas in the NEPA analysis. Although the assistance, please contact FERC Online
LNG) in the above-referenced docket. cooperating agencies provided input to Support at FercOnlineSupport@ferc.gov
Texas LNG requests authorization to the conclusions and recommendations or toll free at (866) 208–3676, or for
site, construct, modify, and operate presented in the draft EIS, the agencies TTY, contact (202) 502–8659.
liquefied natural gas (LNG) export will present their own conclusions and Any person wishing to comment on
facilities on the Brownsville Ship recommendations in their respective the draft EIS may do so. Your comments
Channel in Cameron County, Texas. The Records of Decision for the project. should focus on draft EIS’s disclosure
Texas LNG Project would include a new The draft EIS addresses the potential and discussion of potential
LNG export terminal capable of environmental effects of the environmental effects, reasonable
producing up to 4 million tonnes per construction and operation of the alternatives, and measures to avoid or
annum of LNG for export. The terminal following project facilities: lessen environmental impacts. To
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Document Created: 2018-11-02 01:10:20
Document Modified: 2018-11-02 01:10:20
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of information collection and request for comments. | |
| Dates | Comments on the collection of information are due January 2, 2019. | |
| Contact | Ellen Brown may be reached by email at [email protected], telephone at (202) 502-8663, and fax at (202) 273-0873. | |
| FR Citation | 83 FR 55155 |
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