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OMB Control No: 1902-0128	ICR Reference No: 201307-1902-012
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201305-1902-007
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-577
Title: FERC-577 (Final Guidance in AD12-2), Natural Gas Projects: Environmental Review and Compliance
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR: No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 09/30/2013
	Date Received in OIRA: 07/12/2013
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	09/30/2016	36 Months From Approved	07/31/2016
Responses	1,472	0	1,472
Time Burden (Hours)	284,858	0	284,096
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

Abstract: The FERC-577 data is necessary for the Commission to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Pursuant to NEPA compliance the Commission requires applicants seeking authorization to construct and abandon natural gas facilities to provide a detailed environmental report with their application that describes the impact the project is likely to have and the measures the applicant will implement to mitigate those impacts. This environmental report consists of at least twelve separate reports, each addressing a particular resource area. Under authority of the Natural Gas Act the Commission requires some environmental information from applicants during pre-filing, in addition to the information that is part of the application review and any information necessary after the Commission's authorization. In Docket No. AD12-2-000 the Commission has revised two documents related to environmental review and compliance: • Upland Erosion Control, Revegetation, and Maintenance Plan (Plan) • Wetland and Waterbody Construction and Mitigation Procedures (Procedures) Total reporting burden under FERC-577 is expected to increase by 762 hours per year due to the changes to the Plan and Procedures.

Authorizing Statute(s): 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

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	77 FR 47063	08/07/2012
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	78 FR 34374	06/07/2013
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Gas Pipeline Certificates: Environmental Impact Statement

ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to Agency Discretion
Annual Number of Responses	1,472	1,472	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	284,858	284,096	762
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The FERC-577 burden is changing due to revisions to the Plan and Procedures. The revisions to the Plan and Procedures are primarily modifications and clarifications to the content of information collections required by the current versions. For example, revisions to Plan sections III.I and VII.B.2 clarify staff's expectations for the content of winter construction plans and quarterly activity reports. We estimate that certain revisions will reduce reporting burden on jurisdictional natural gas companies by providing guidance that is frequently requested during report preparations; directions to provide information that frequently results in data requests; and improved flexibility to reduce variance requests for construction practices the staff has determined are acceptable. For example, frequently requested guidance on beneficial reuse of construction materials is provided in revised Plan sections II.B.17 and III.E. We revised terminology to be inclusive of prior notice, advanced notice, and automatic authorization projects to address the wider net of project types subject to the Plan and Procedure requirements. The revisions clarify applicability for projects constructed under the Commission's blanket certificate program (18 CFR 157, Subpart F) and construction of facilities for transportation services under the Natural Gas Policy Act (NGPA) section 311 (18 CFR 284, Subpart A). We expect these clarifications to improve the efficiency of the environmental review process, and reduce labor hours required of jurisdictional natural gas companies to prepare reports. We implement a new record retention requirement regarding drainage system repairs or improvements (see revised Plan section VII.B.1.e). In addition, we also put in place a new annual report for affected wetlands that do not successfully revegetate within three years after construction (see revised Procedure section VI.D.6). We expect that the revisions will lead to additional filings for blanket certificate projects, subject to our prior notice regulations (see revised Applicability discussions in section I of the Plan and Procedures). Overall, in consideration of the revisions to reporting requirements and the increased efficiency that would be realized during the environmental review process, we expect the net effect of the revised Plan and Procedures to constitute a minor increase in information collection burden.

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $4,960,062

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

Agency Contact: Shannon Jones 202 502-6410

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