[Federal Register: March 14, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 48)]
[Notices]
[Page 12461-12462]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14mr05-44]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
[Docket No. IC05-603-000; FERC-603]
Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed
Collection; Comment Request; Extension
March 4, 2005.
AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
ACTION: Notice of proposed information collection and request for
comments.
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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 on the collection of information are due by May 2,
2005.
ADDRESSES: Copies of the proposed collection of information can be
obtained from the Commission's Web site (http://www.ferc.gov/help/how-to/ceii-req-form.doc
) or click on ``Legal Resources'', ``CEII'',
``Help'' and then click on CEII Request form. Written comments may be
submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Attn: Michael
Miller, Office of the Executive Director, ED-33, 888 First Street, NE.,
Washington, DC 20426. Comments may be filed either in paper format or
electronically. Those parties filing electronically do not need to make
a paper filing. For paper filings, the original and 14 copies of such
comments should be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC
20426 and refer to Docket No. IC05-603-000.
Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared in
WordPerfect, MS Word, Portable Document Format, or ASCII format. To
file the document, access the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov
and click on ``Make an E-filing,'' and then follow the
instructions for each screen. First time users will have to establish a
user name and password. The Commission will send an automatic
acknowledgement to the sender's e-mail address upon receipt of
comments.
All comments may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely via the
Internet through FERC's home page using the eLibrary link. For user
assistance, contact FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or toll-free at (866)
208-3676 or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by
telephone at (202) 502-8415, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at
michael.miller@ferc.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The information collected under the
requirements of FERC-603 ``Critical Energy Infrastructure Information''
(OMB No. 1902-0197) is used by the Commission to implement procedures
for gaining access to critical energy infrastructure information (CEII)
that would not otherwise be available under the Freedom of Information
Act (5 U.S.C. 552). On February, 21, 2003, the Commission issued Order
No. 630 (66 FR 52917) to address the appropriate treatment of CEII in
the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and to
restrict unrestrained general access due to the ongoing terrorism
threat. These steps enable the Commission to keep sensitive
infrastructure information out of the public domain, decreasing the
likelihood that such information could be used to plan or execute
terrorist attacks. The process adopted in Order No. 630 is a more
efficient alternative for handling requests for previously public
documents than FOIA. The Commission has defined CEII to include
information about ``existing or proposed critical infrastructure that
(i) relates to the production, generation, transportation,
transmission, or distribution of energy; (ii) could be useful to a
person planning an attack on critical infrastructure; (iii) is exempt
from mandatory disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act; and
(iv) does not simply give the location of the critical infrastructure.
Critical infrastructure means existing and
[[Page 12462]]
proposed systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, the
incapacity or destruction of which would negatively affect security,
economic security, public health or safety, or any combination of those
matters. A person seeking access to CEII may file a request for that
information by providing information about their identity and reason as
to the need for the information. Through this process, the Commission
is able to review the requester's need for the information against the
sensitivity of the information. The compliance with these requirements
is mandatory.
Action: The Commission is requesting a three-year extension of the
current expiration date, with no changes to the existing collection of
data.
Burden Statement: Public reporting burden for this collection is
estimated as:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Average
Number of Number of burden hours Total annual
respondents responses per per response burden hours
annually (1) respondent (2) (3) (1) x (2) x (3)
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182 1 .25 46*
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*Rounded off.
The estimated total cost to respondents is $2,392. The cost per
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.
Magalie R. Salas,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E5-1047 Filed 3-11-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P