FERC-549C, (RM96-1-037 NOPR) Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
RM96-1-037 NOPR SS v4.doc Supporting Statement A	2012-03-15
NAESB report v2-0 of standards.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-02-14
CFR-2011-title18-vol1-sec284-12.pdf Supplementary Document	2012-02-14

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
23211	Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines	Modified
201238	RM96-1-037 ONE-TIME Burden for Implementation	New

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0174	ICR Reference No: 201202-1902-002
Status: Historical Inactive	Previous ICR Reference No: 201008-1902-002
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-549C
Title: FERC-549C, (RM96-1-037 NOPR) Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Comment filed on proposed rule and continue	Conclusion Date: 04/23/2012
	Date Received in OIRA: 03/15/2012
Terms of Clearance: Pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.11(c), OMB files this comment on this information collection request (ICR) associated with the RM 96-1-037 proposed rule. In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is withholding approval at this time. The agency shall examine public comment in response to the proposed rule and will include in the supporting statement of the ICR, to be submitted to OMB at the final rule stage, a description of how the agency has responded to any public comments received on the ICR.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	09/30/2013	36 Months From Approved	09/30/2013
Responses	630	0	630
Time Burden (Hours)	922,660	0	922,660
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

---

Abstract: The business practice standards under FERC-549C are required to carry out the Commission's policies in accordance with the general authority in Sections 4, 5, 7, 8, 10, 14, 16, and 20 of the Natural Gas Act (NGA) (15 U.S.C. 717c-717o), and sections 311, 501, and 504 of the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978 (NGPA) (15 U.S.C. 3301-3432). The Commission adopted these business practice standards in order to update and standardize the natural gas industry's business practices and procedures to improve the efficiency of the gas market and the means by which the gas industry conducts business across the interstate pipeline grid.

---

Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 15 USC 717, Sections Name of Law: Natural Gas Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

---

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1902-AE46	Proposed rulemaking	77 FR 10415	02/22/2012

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines
RM96-1-037 ONE-TIME Burden for Implementation

---

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Changing Regulations

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The proposals in the NOPR would, if implemented, upgrade the Commission's current business practices and communication standards by specifically: (1) adding and revising standards allowing the elimination of EDI requirements for Capacity Release Upload information; (2) creating and modifying existing information posting requirements for websites and browsers; (3) requiring pipelines to provide security information; (4) providing for the posting of information on waste heat recovery feasibility on the Internet; (5) modifying pipeline notice content and creating new pipeline notice types; and (6) creating standards to ensure NAESB data format is consistent with other data reporting via the Internet by using CSV. The implementation of these data requirements will provide additional transparency to informational posting web sites and will improve communication standards, including gas-electric communications. The implementation of these standards and regulations will promote the additional efficiency and reliability of the gas industries' operations thereby helping the Commission to carry out its responsibilities under the Natural Gas Act of promoting the efficiency and reliability of the gas industries' operations. In addition, the Commission's Office of Enforcement will use the data for general industry oversight. In addition to the program changes in the burden due to the NOPR, the Commission is making adjustments for changes in the number of respondents.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $109,243

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

---

Common Form ICR:  No

---

On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 03/15/2012

---