In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three
years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
01/31/2023
36 Months From Approved
04/30/2020
25,232
0
25,232
359,957
0
332,378
0
0
0
Environmental concerns play a
significant role in the review of certificate construction
applications. Pipelines are facing increased opposition from
landowners as new projects are proposed, especially in more heavily
populated areas. FERC has to balance the benefits of alternative
supplies of natural gas with the environmental impact of a project.
Critical to the Commission’s efforts to balance benefits and
environmental impacts are the general and project-specific
environmental conditions the Commission applies to jurisdictional
facilities. Applicants have to conduct appropriate studies which
are necessary to evaluate the impact of the construction and/or
operation of the proposed jurisdictional facilities on human and
natural resources and the measures which may be necessary to
protect the values of the affected area. In 2013 , FERC added new
sections in its regulations (18 CFR) under Sections 2.55(c) and
380.15(b)(1) whereby a natural gas company must notify affected
landowners at least five days prior to coming onto their property.
The notifications were to include: (1) a brief description of the
activity to be conducted or facilities to be constructed/replaced
and the effects that the activities are expected to have on the
landowner’s property; (2) the name and phone number of the company
representative that is knowledgeable about the project; and (3) a
description of the Commission’s Dispute Resolution Service
Helpline, as explained in Section 1b.21(g) of the Commission’s
regulations, and the Dispute Resolution Service Helpline number.
FERC defined “affected landowners” as owners of property interests,
as noted in their most recent tax notice, whose property is
directly affected (i.e. crossed or used) by the proposed activity,
including all rights-of-way, facility sites, access roads, pipe and
contractor yards, and temporary workspace. The Commission collects
the bulk of the information under the FERC-577 in order to comply
with applicable environmental statutes. The Commission needs to
know about the consequences of companies’ activities to be able to
ensure that FERC is complying with NEPA requirements. In
particular, FERC wants to ensure that construction and operation
activities are done in a manner that does not violate FERC’s
findings that there are no significant adverse impacts. The
FERC-577 cannot be discontinued or conducted less
frequently.
US Code:
42
USC 4321 Name of Law: National Environmental Policy Act of 1969
(NEPA)
US Code:
15 USC 717 to 717w Name of Law: Natural Gas Act
The Commission has updated the
total annual burden hours based on the number of applications filed
in FY 2019; the updated figures reflect recently proposed Projects.
The reasons for changes in the total burden are: • the increase in
the number of respondents from 92 respondents in 2016 to 101
respondents in 2020 for the IC for Gas Pipeline Certificates:
Environmental Impact Statement (triggering +144 responses and
+27,867 hours) the decrease in the number of respondents from 165
in 2016 to 164 in 2020, triggering -144 responses and -288
hours.For FERC-577, the net change in no. of responses is 0; the
net change in burden hours is +27,579.
$5,685,926
No
No
No
No
No
No
Uncollected
Sheila Simmonds 202
502-6193
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:
(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;
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.
577_18cfr157.203_380_4-3-2020.docx
42 USC 4321.pdf
Gas Pipeline Certificates: Environmental Impact Statement