Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
FERC-549C Justification & Reduction.doc Supporting Statement A	2010-08-06
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.mht Supplementary Document	2010-04-01
NAESB Revised Standards for Pipelines Clear Regulatory Hurdle.mht Supplementary Document	2010-04-01
20100318-Norris Comments).doc Supplementary Document	2010-04-01
1bklet0906_mc121306_012908_052908.pdf Supplementary Document	2008-09-30

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
23211	Standards for Business Practices of Interstate Natural Gas Pipelines	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1902-0174	ICR Reference No: 201008-1902-002
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201004-1902-002
Agency/Subagency: FERC	Agency Tracking No: FERC-549C
Title: 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 without change	Conclusion Date: 09/21/2010
	Date Received in OIRA: 08/06/2010
Terms of Clearance: In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for 3 years.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	09/30/2013	06/30/2013	06/30/2013
Responses	630	0	630
Time Burden (Hours)	922,660	0	1,071,466
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

---

Abstract: In RM96-1-029 (See ICR 200905-1902-001) the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) amended its regulations governing standards for business practices and electronic communications with interstate natural gas pipelines. The FERC incorporated by reference standards promulgated by the Wholesale Gas Quadrant (WGQ) that would upgrade the Commission’s current business practice and communications standards to the then latest version 1.8 as approved by the North American Energy Standards Board (NAESB) Wholesale Gas Quadrant (WGQ) group. The implementation of these standards was necessary to increase the efficiency of the natural gas pipeline grid, make pipelines’ electronic communications more secure, and consistent with the mandate agencies have to provide for electronic disclosure of information. Requiring such information ensured both a common means of communication and common business practices in order to provide participants engaged in transactions with interstate pipelines the ability to have timely information and also ensure uniform business procedures across multiple pipelines. The new set of standards were for Internet Electronic Transport as applicable to the retail gas and electric markets as well as the wholesale gas market; changes to the Electronic Delivery Mechanism Related Standards, an additional standard related to reporting on gas quality, and maintenance changes to the Nomination Related Standards and Flowing Gas Related Standards. The standards updated and refined the standards adopted by the Commission in its Order No. 587-S. Compliance with these standards required certain changes in interstate pipeline day-to-day business operations. This was a one-time implementation which has been completed and FERC is now seeking to reduce the inventory burden by the hours associated with Order No. 587-T.

---

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-AD21	Final or interim final rulemaking	74 FR 9162	03/03/2009

---

Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

---

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

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
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	630	630	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	922,660	1,071,466	0	-148,806	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to: Using Information Technology

Short Statement: This Final Rule upgraded the Commission's current business practice and communication standards to the latest edition approved by the NAESB WGQ (i.e., the Version 1.8 Standards). The implementation of these standards was necessary to increase the efficiency of the pipeline grid, make pipelines’ electronic communications more secure. Requiring such information ensures both a common means of communication and common business practices that provide participants engaged in transactions with interstate pipelines with timely information and uniform business procedures across multiple pipelines. The Commission required that natural gas pipelines implement the Version 1.8 Standards on the first day of the month three months after the final rule was issued or July 2, 2009. Based on past practice, the Commission proposed this implementation schedule in order to give the natural gas pipelines subject to these standards adequate time to prepare for these changes. Natural gas pipelines have now updated their websites to reflect these changes.

---

Annual Cost to Federal Government: $255,641

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]? Uncollected

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: 08/06/2010

---