Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[FERC-577]

Proposed Information Collection and Request for Comments

August 15, 1997.

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. 104-13), the Federal

Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) is soliciting public comment

on the specific aspects of the information collection described below.

DATES: Comments are due October 20, 1997.

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, Information

Services Division, ED-12.4, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 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

[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the

requirements of FERC-577 ``Gas Pipeline Certificates: Environmental

Impact Statement'' (OMB No. 1902-0128) is a filing requirement

pertaining to environmental assessment of pipeline and Liquefied

Natural Gas (LNG) facility construction projects. The filing collects

data from all Natural Gas Act (NGA) jurisdictional pipeline companies

as well as companies whose Natural Gas Policy Act projects are reviewed

by the Commission. The Commission implements these filing requirements

in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR Parts 2; 157;

284; 375 and 380. The information collected under the requirements of

FERC-577 is used by the Commission to implement the statutory

provisions of Section 102(2)(C) of the National Environmental Policy

Act of 1969 (NEPA) (Pub. L. 91-190) (1969). NEPA requires that all

Federal agencies must include in every recommendation or report on

proposals for legislation and other major Federal actions significantly

affecting the quality of human environment, a detail statement on: the

environmental impact of the proposed actions; any adverse environmental

effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented;

alternatives to the proposed action; the relationship between local

short-term uses of man's environment and the maintenance and

enhancement of long term productivity; and any irreversible and

irretrievable commitment of resources which would be involved in the

proposed action should it be implemented. The Commission uses the

pipeline's data to evaluate the environmental aspects of construction

proposals and may be used in the Commission staff's independent

preparation of Environmental Assessments or Environmental Impact

[[Page 44465]]

Statements. The staff examines and projects potential effects on soils,

geology, water resources, land use, recreation, aesthetics, air and

noise quality, vegetation, wildlife, cultural resources and pipeline

and liquefied natural gas (LNG) safety.

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:

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

Total annual

Number of Number of Average burden burden hours

respondents responses per hours per (1) x (2) x

annually (1) respondent (2) response (3) (3)

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

70............... 16.9 154 182,182

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

Estimated cost burden to respondents: 182,182 hours divided by

2,087 hours per year times $110,000 per year equals $9,602,310. The

cost per respondent is equal to $137,176.

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 activities 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.

Linwood A. Watson, Jr.,

Acting Secretary.

[FR Doc. 97-22204 Filed 8-20-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6717-01-M