Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request,

[Federal Register: June 25, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 122)]

[Notices]

[Page 34638-34639]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr25jn98-78]

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[IC98-73-000 FERC Form No. 73]

Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

June 19, 1998. AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

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

SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of Section 3506(c)(2)(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13), the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

DATES: Consideration will be given to comments submitted on or before August 24, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained from and written comments may be submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael Miller, Office of the Chief Information Officer, CI-1, 888 First Street N.E., Washington, D.C. 20426.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by telephone at (202) 208-1415, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at michael.miller@ferc.fed.us.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the requirements of FERC Form No. 73 ``Oil Pipelines Service Life Data'' (OMB No. 1902-0019) is used by the Commission to implement the statutory provisions of Sections 306 and 402 of the Department of Energy Organization Act 42 U.S.C. Sec. 7155 and 7172, and Executive Order No. 12009, 42 FR 46277 (September 13, 1977). From these statutory sections the Commission assumed jurisdictional responsibility for oil pipelines from the Interstate Commerce Act, 49 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et. al. As part of the information necessary for the subsequent investigation and review of the oil pipeline company's proposed depreciation rates, the pipeline companies are required to provide service life data as part of their data submission if the proposed depreciation rates are based on remaining physical life calculations. This service life data is collected and submitted on FERC Form No. 73.

Data submitted by an oil pipeline company during an investigation may be either initial data or it may be an update to existing data already on file. These data are then used by the Commission as input to several computer programs know collectively as the Depreciation Life Analysis System (DLAS) to assist in the selection of appropriate service lives and book depreciation rates.

Book depreciation rates are used by oil pipeline companies to compute the depreciation portion of their operating

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expense which is a component of their cost of service which in turn is used to determine the transportation rate to assess customers. Staff's recommended book depreciation rates become legally binding when issued in an order by the Commission. These rates remain in effect until a subsequent review is requested and the outcome indicates that a modification is justified. The Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR Parts 347 and 357.

Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the current expiration date.

Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated as:

Number of

Number of Average burden Total annual respondents responses per

hours per burden hours annually (1) respondent (2) response (3) (1)x(2)x(3)

5................

1

40

200

Estimated cost burden to respondents: 200 hours divided by 2,088 hours per year times $110,000 per year equals $11,000. The cost per respondent is equal to $2,200.

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 acitivites 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. David P. Boergers, Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 98-16878Filed6-24-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-M