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Please note that the OMB number and expiration date may not have been determined when this Information Collection Request and associated Information Collection forms were submitted to OMB. The approved OMB number and expiration date may be found by clicking on the Notice of Action link below.
View ICR - OIRA Conclusion
OMB Control No:
1902-0174
ICR Reference No:
202108-1902-002
Status:
Historical Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
202012-1902-003
Agency/Subagency:
FERC
Agency Tracking No:
FERC-549C
Title:
FERC-549C, (Final Rule in RM96-1-042) 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:
Approved with change
Conclusion Date:
11/19/2021
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
08/12/2021
Terms of Clearance:
In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved. Because the agency sought comments only on the changes associated with the regulation, the existing expiration date remains the same for this collection.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
02/28/2022
6 Months From Approved
02/28/2022
Responses
668
0
545
Time Burden (Hours)
52,973
0
48,250
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-717w), 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 as well as to improve the efficiency of the gas market and the means by which the gas industry conducts business across the interstate pipeline grid. In various orders since 1996 , FERC has adopted regulations to standardize the business practices and communication methodologies of interstate natural gas pipelines in order to create a more integrated and efficient pipeline industry. In general, when and if NAESB-proposed standards (e.g., consensus standards developed by the Wholesale Gas Quadrant (WGQ), an accredited standards organization under the auspices of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)) are approved by FERC, the Commission incorporates them by reference into its approval. The process of standardizing business practices in the natural gas industry began with a Commission initiative to standardize electronic communication of capacity release transactions. The outgrowth of the initial Commission standardization efforts produced working groups composed of all segments of the gas industry and ultimately, the Gas Industry Standards Board (GISB), a consensus organization open to all members of the gas industry was created. GISB was succeeded by the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB). NAESB is a voluntary non-profit organization comprised of members from the retail and wholesale natural gas and electric industries. NAESB’s mission is to take the lead in developing standards across these industries to simplify and expand electronic communication, and to streamline business practices. Core to its objective is to lead to a seamless North American marketplace for natural gas, as recognized by its customers, the business community, industry participants and regulatory bodies. NAESB has divided its efforts among four quadrants, including two retail quadrants, a wholesale electric quadrant, and the WGQ. The NAESB WGQ standards are a product of this effort. Industry participants seeking additional or amended standards (including principles, definitions, standards, data elements, process descriptions, technical implementation instructions) submit a request to the NAESB office, detailing the change, so that the appropriate process may take place to amend the standards. The Final Rule in RM96-1-041 requires interstate natural gas pipelines to make a one-time tariff filing to reflect the changes in the updated NAESB standards in FERC-545. The Commission reviews the FERC-549C materials to determine whether proposed transportation and sales rates and terms and conditions of service are just and reasonable. The Commission uses the information to monitor rates and terms and conditions of service related to jurisdictional transportation, natural gas storage, and unbundled sales activities of jurisdictional companies. In addition to fulfilling the Commission’s obligations under the NGA, the information enables the Commission to monitor the activities and evaluate transactions of the natural gas industry to ensure competitiveness and improved efficiency of the industry’s operations.
Authorizing Statute(s):
US Code:
15 USC 717-717z
Name of Law: Natural Gas Act
US Code:
15 USC 3301-3432
Name of Law: Natural Gas Policy Act
Citations for New Statutory Requirements:
None
Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:
Stage of Rulemaking:
Federal Register Citation:
Date:
1902-AF80
Final or interim final rulemaking
86 FR 43590
08/10/2021
Federal Register Notices & Comments
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR?
No
Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR:
3
IC Title
Form No.
Form Name
RM14-2-000 Final Rule (Implementation of New Standards)
RM96-1-041 Final Rule (Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines) averaged Years 1-3
RM96-1-042 Final Rule (Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines) One-time burden averaged Years 1-3
Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines
ICR Summary of Burden
Total Approved
Previously Approved
Change Due to New Statute
Change Due to Agency Discretion
Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses
668
545
0
123
0
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
52,973
48,250
0
4,723
0
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
0
0
0
0
0
0
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:
Yes
Burden Reduction Due to:
Changing Regulations
Short Statement:
The additional burden is being implemented due to the Final Rule in RM96-1-042 and is being averaged over Years 1-3.The Final Rule in RM96-1-042 amends the Commission’s regulations at 18 CFR 284.12(a) to incorporate by reference the latest version (Version 3.2) of seven business practice standards applicable to interstate natural gas pipelines adopted by NAESB’s WGQ. The Final Rule requires interstate natural gas pipelines to file compliance filings with the Commission by November 12, 2021 and to comply with the standards incorporated by reference in this rule on and after June 1, 2022. By incorporating these standards by reference into the Commission’s regulations the Commission has made compliance mandatory and enforceable. Non-compliance, absent a specific waiver, violates the Commission’s regulations as well as the terms of each pipeline’s tariff.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$49,557
Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?
No
Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see
OMB Circular No. A-130
for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.
No
Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see
5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3)
)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.
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?
No
Agency Contact:
Kayla Williams 410 786-5887 kayla.williams@cms.hhs.gov
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:
08/12/2021
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