[Federal Register: September 17, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 180)] [Notices] [Page 50500-50501] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr17se99-51] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [IC99-582-001, FERC-582] Information Collection Submitted for Review and Request for Comments September 13, 1999. AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice of submission for review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and request for comments. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) has submitted the energy information collection listed in this notice to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review under provisions of Section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104- 13). Any interested person may file comments on the collection of information directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. The Commission received comments in response to an [[Page 50501]] earlier Federal Register notice of April 21, 1999 (64 FR 19522) and has responded in its submission to OMB. DATES: Comments regarding this collection of information are best assured of having their full effect if received on or before October 18, 1999. ADDRESSES: Address comments to Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Desk Officer, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503. A copy of the comments should also be sent to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of the Chief Information Officer, Attention: Mr. Michael Miller, 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 mike.miller@ferc.fed.us. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Description The energy information collection submitted to OMB for review contains: 1. Collection of Information: FERC-582 ``Oil, Gas and Electric Fees and Annual Charges''. 2. Sponsor: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 3. Control No.: OMB No. 1902-0132. The Commission is now requesting that OMB approve a three-year extension of the current expiration date, with no changes to the existing collection. There is a change in the reporting burden due an additional 63 entities who are now required to file. These are mandatory information collection requirements. 4. Necessity of Collection of Information: Submission of the information is necessary to enable the Commission to carry out its responsibilities in implementing the provisions of the Independent Offices Appropriation Act of 1952 (IOAA) (31 U.S.C. 9701) which authorizes the Commission to establish fees for services. In addition, the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 (OBRA) (42 U.S.C. 7178) authorizes the Commission ``to assess and collect fees and annual charges in any fiscal year in amounts equal to all the costs incurred by the Commission in that fiscal year.'' In calculating annual charges, the Commission first determines the total costs of its electric regulatory program and subtracts all electric regulatory program filing fee collections to determine total collectible electric regulatory program costs. It then uses the data submitted under FERC information collection requirement FERC-582 to determine the total volumes of long- term firm sales and transmission, and short-term sales and transmission and exchanges for all public utilities, including power marketers. The Commission divides those volumes into its collectible program costs to determine the unit charge per mega-watt hour for each category of sales. Finally, the Commission multiplies the sales volume in each category for public utility (including each power marketer) by the relevant unit charge per mega-watt hour to determine the annual charges for all public utilities and power marketers. Public utilities and power marketers subject to these annual charges must submit FERC-582 to the Commission's Office of the Secretary by April 30 of each year. The Commission issues bills for annual charges, and public utilities and power marketers then must pay the charges within 45 days of the date on which the Commission issues the bill. In addition, Commission staff uses companies' financial information filed under the waiver provisions to evaluate requests for a waiver or exemption of the obligation to pay a fee for an annual charge. The Commission implements these filing requirements in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) under 18 CFR part 381, sections 381.108 and 381.302 and part 382 section 382.201(b). 5. Respondent Description: The respondent universe currently comprises on average, 242 applicants. 6. Estimated Burden: 968 total burden hours, 242 respondents, 1 response annually, 4 hours per response (average). 7. Estimated Cost Burden to Respondents: 968 hours 2,080 hours per year x $109,889 per year = $51,139, average cost per respondent = $211.32. Statutory Authority: Section 3401 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986 42 U.S.C. 7178 (1998) and Independent Offices Appropriation Act of 1952 (31 U.S.C. 9701). Linwood A. Watson, Jr., Acting Secretary. [FR Doc. 99-24213 Filed 9-16-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-M