[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 90 (Thursday, May 8, 2008)] [Notices] [Pages 26087-26088] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: E8-10197] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. IC08-603-001, FERC-603] Commission Information Collection Activities, Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Submitted for OMB Review May 1, 2008. AGENCY: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: In compliance with the requirements of section 3507 of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 44 U.S.C. 3507, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (Commission) has submitted the information collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review of this information collection requirement. Any interested person may file comments directly with OMB and should address a copy of those comments to the Commission as explained below. The Commission received no comments in response to an earlier Federal Register notice of February 7, 2008 (73 FR 8651-52) and has made this notation in its submission to OMB. DATES: Comments on the collection of information are due by June 6, 2008. ADDRESSES: Address comments on the collection of information to the Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Desk Officer. Comments to OMB should be filed electronically, c/o [email protected] and include the OMB Control No. as a point of reference. The Desk Officer may be reached by telephone at 202-395- 4650. A copy of the comments should also be sent to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Office of the Executive Director, ED-34, Attention: Michael Miller, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426. Comments may be filed either in paper format or electronically. Those persons filing electronically do not need to make a paper filing. For paper filings, such comments should be submitted to the Office of the Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street, NE., Washington, DC 20426 and should refer to Docket No. IC08-603-001. Documents filed electronically via the Internet must be prepared in the acceptable filing format and in compliance with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's submission guidelines. Complete filing instructions and acceptable filing formats are available at (http://www.ferc.gov/help/submission-guide/electronic-media.asp). To file the document electronically, access the Commission's Web site at http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling.asp, and then follow the instructions for each screen. First time users will have to establish a user name and password. The Commission will send an automatic acknowledgement to the sender's e-mail address upon receipt of comments. All comments may be viewed, printed or downloaded remotely via the Internet through FERC's homepage using the eLibrary link. For user assistance, contact [email protected] or toll-free at (866) 208-3676 or for TTY, contact (202) 502-8659. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Miller may be reached by [[Page 26088]] telephone at (202) 502-8415, by fax at (202) 273-0873, and by e-mail at [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Description The information collection submitted for OMB review contains the following: 1. Collection of Information: FERC-603 ``Critical Energy Infrastructure Information.'' 2. Sponsor: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 3. Control No.: 1902-0197. The Commission is now requesting that OMB approve with a three-year extension of the expiration date, with no changes to the existing collection. The information filed with the Commission is mandatory. 4. Necessity of the Collection of Information: The information is used by the Commission to implement procedures for gaining access to critical energy infrastructure information (CEII) that would not otherwise be available under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552). On February 21, 2003, the Commission issued Order No. 630 (68 FR 9857-9873), and then issued subsequent Order Nos. 630-A (68 FR 46456-60), and 649 (69 FR 48386-91) to address the appropriate treatment of CEII in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks and to restrict unrestrained general access due to the ongoing terrorism threat. These steps enable the Commission to keep sensitive infrastructure information out of the public domain, decreasing the likelihood that such information could be used to plan or execute terrorist attacks. The process adopted in these orders is a more efficient alternative for handling request for previously public documents than FOIA. The Commission has defined CEII to include information about existing or proposed critical infrastructure that (i) Relates to the production, generation, transportation, transmission, or distribution of energy; (ii) could be useful to a person planning an attack on critical infrastructure, (iii) is exempt from mandatory disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, and (iv) does not simply give the location of the critical infrastructure. Critical infrastructure means existing and proposed systems and assets, whether physical or virtual, the incapacity or destruction of which would negatively affect security, economic security, public health or safety, or any combination of those matters. A person seeking access to CEII may file a request for that information by providing information about their identity and reason for the need for the information. Through this process, the Commission is able to review the requester's need for the information against the sensitivity of the information. The Commission implements these requirements in 18 CFR 388.113 of its regulations. 5. Respondent Description: The respondent universe currently comprises all entities requesting access to CEII information submitted to or issued by the Commission. 6. Estimated Burden: 46 total hours, 182 respondents (average per year), 1 response per respondent, and .25 hours per response (average). 7. Estimated Cost Burden to respondents: The estimated total cost to respondents is $3,646. The cost per respondent = $18. (60 hours @ $61 hourly rate / 200). Statutory Authority: 15 U.S.C. 717, et seq., 16 U.S.C. 791a, et seq., section 313(b) of the Federal Power Act, 16 U.S.C. 824 l(b) and section 19(b) of the Natural Gas Act, 15 U.S.C. 717r(b). Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. E8-10197 Filed 5-7-08; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717-01-P