[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 208 (Wednesday, October 28, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65996-65997]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27398]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

[Docket No. CP15-552-000]

Northern Natural Gas Company; Notice of Intent to Prepare an
Environmental Assessment for the Proposed Gaines County Crossover
Compressor Station and Request for Comments on Environmental Issues

    The staff of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC or
Commission) will prepare an environmental assessment (EA) that will
discuss the environmental impacts of the Gaines County Crossover
Compressor Station (Project) involving construction and operation of
facilities by Northern Natural Gas Company (Northern) in Gaines County,
Texas. The Commission will use this EA in its decision-making process
to determine whether the Project is in the public convenience and
necessity.
    This notice announces the opening of the scoping process the
Commission will use to gather input from the public and interested
agencies on the Project. You can make a difference by providing us with
your specific comments or concerns about the Project. Your comments
should focus on the potential environmental effects, reasonable
alternatives, and measures to avoid or lessen environmental impacts.
Your input will help the Commission staff determine what issues they
need to evaluate in the EA. To ensure that your comments are timely and
properly recorded, please send your comments so that the Commission
receives them in Washington, DC on or before November 23, 2015.
    If you sent comments on this Project to the Commission before the
opening of this docket on September 9, 2015, you will need to file
those comments in Docket No. CP15-552-000 to ensure they are considered
as part of this proceeding.
    This notice is being sent to the Commission's current environmental
mailing list for this Project. State and local government
representatives should notify their constituents of this proposed
Project and encourage them to comment on their areas of concern.
    If you are a landowner receiving this notice, a Northern
representative may contact you about the acquisition of an easement to
construct, operate, and maintain the proposed facilities. The company
would seek to negotiate a mutually acceptable agreement. However, if
the Commission approves the Project, that approval conveys with it the
right of eminent domain. Therefore, if easement negotiations fail to
produce an agreement, the pipeline company could initiate condemnation
proceedings where compensation would be determined in accordance with
state law.
    Northern has provided landowners with a fact sheet prepared by the
FERC entitled ``An Interstate Natural Gas Facility On My Land? What Do
I Need To Know?'' This fact sheet addresses a number of typically asked
questions, including the use of eminent domain and how to participate
in the Commission's proceedings. It is also available for viewing on
the FERC Web site (www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/gas/gas.pdf).

Public Participation

    For your convenience, there are three methods you can use to submit
your comments to the Commission. The Commission encourages electronic
filing of comments and has expert staff available to assist you at
(202) 502-8258 or<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Please carefully follow these
instructions so that your comments are properly recorded.
    (1) You can file your comments electronically using the eComment
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. This is an easy method for submitting brief,
text-only comments on a project;
    (2) You can file your comments electronically by using the eFiling
feature on the Commission's Web site (www.ferc.gov) under the link to
Documents and Filings. With eFiling, you can provide comments in a
variety of formats by attaching them as a file with your submission.
New eFiling users must first create an account by clicking on
``eRegister.'' If you are filing a comment on a particular project,
please select ``Comment on a Filing'' as the filing type; or
    (3) You can file a paper copy of your comments by mailing them to
the following address. Be sure to reference the Project docket number
(CP15-552-000) with your submission:
Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888
First Street NE., Room 1A, Washington, DC 20426.

Summary of the Proposed Project

    Northern proposes to construct and operate a new compressor station
in Gaines County, Texas. The Project would include two new natural gas-
fired turbine compressor units rated at approximately 18,089 horsepower
(HP) and would deliver about 210 million standard cubic feet of natural
gas per day to supply natural gas for electrical power plants.
    If approved as proposed, the Project would include installation of
two units: (1) Solar Taurus 70-10802S with approximately 11,152 HP; and
(2) Solar Taurus 60-7302S with approximately 6,937 HP. The suction side
of the compressor station would be connected to the existing 30-inch-
diameter Spraberry to Plains pipeline. The station would discharge to
the existing 30-inch-diameter Kermit to Beaver pipeline. The proposed
Project would also include the installation of two compressor
buildings, a control building, an auxiliary building, a septic system
and associated above-grade and below-grade piping, and valves and
instrumentation.
    The general location of the proposed Project facilities is shown in
appendix 1.\1\
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    \1\ The appendices referenced in this notice will not appear in
the Federal Register. Copies of appendices were sent to all those
receiving this notice in the mail and are available at www.ferc.gov
using the link called ``eLibrary'' or from the Commission's Public
Reference Room, 888 First Street NE., Washington, DC 20426, or call
(202) 502-8371. For instructions on connecting to eLibrary, refer to
the last page of this notice.
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Land Requirements for Construction

    Construction of the proposed Project facilities and temporary
workspace would disturb approximately 27.8 acres of land. The total
acreage maintained for permanent operation of the compressor station
would be approximately 20 acres of land. Northern would acquire an
approximately 20-acre site for the new compressor station and access
road. The predominant land use that would be impacted by the proposed
Project is agricultural and fallow cropland.

The EA Process

    The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the
Commission to take into account the environmental impacts that could
result from an action whenever it considers the issuance of a
Certificate of Public Convenience and

Necessity. NEPA also requires us \2\ to discover and address concerns
the public may have about proposals. This process is referred to as
``scoping.'' The main goal of the scoping process is to focus the
analysis in the EA on the important environmental issues. By this
notice, the Commission requests public comments on the scope of the
issues to address in the EA. We will consider all filed comments during
the preparation of the EA.
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    \2\ ``We,'' ``us,'' and ``our'' refer to the environmental staff
of the Commission's Office of Energy Projects.
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    In the EA we will discuss impacts that could occur as a result of
the construction and operation of the proposed Project under these
general headings:
     geology and soils;
     land use;
     water resources, fisheries, and wetlands;
     cultural resources;
     vegetation and wildlife;
     air quality and noise;
     endangered and threatened species;
     public safety; and
     cumulative impacts
    We will also evaluate reasonable alternatives to the proposed
Project or portions of the Project, and make recommendations on how to
lessen or avoid impacts on the various resource areas.
    The EA will present our independent analysis of the issues. The EA
will be available in the public record through eLibrary. Depending on
the comments received during the scoping process, we may also publish
and distribute the EA to the public for an allotted comment period. We
will consider all comments on the EA before making our recommendations
to the Commission. To ensure we have the opportunity to consider and
address your comments, please carefully follow the instructions in the
Public Participation section, beginning on page 2.
    With this notice, we are asking agencies with jurisdiction by law
and/or special expertise with respect to the environmental issues of
this Project to formally cooperate with us in the preparation of the
EA.\3\ Agencies that would like to request cooperating agency status
should follow the instructions for filing comments provided under the
Public Participation section of this notice.
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    \3\ The Council on Environmental Quality regulations addressing
cooperating agency responsibilities are at Title 40, Code of Federal
Regulations, Part 1501.6.
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Consultations Under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation
Act

    In accordance with the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's
implementing regulations for section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act, we are using this notice to initiate consultation
with the applicable State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), and to
solicit their views and those of other government agencies, interested
Indian tribes, and the public on the Project's potential effects on
historic properties.\4\ We will define the Project-specific Area of
Potential Effects (APE) in consultation with the SHPO as the Project
develops. On natural gas facility projects, the APE at a minimum
encompasses all areas subject to ground disturbance (examples include
construction right-of-way, contractor/pipe storage yards, compressor
stations, and access roads). Our EA for this Project will document our
findings on the impacts on historic properties and summarize the status
of consultations under section 106.
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    \4\ The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation's regulations
are at Title 36, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 800. Those
regulations define historic properties as any prehistoric or
historic district, site, building, structure, or object included in
or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic
Places.
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Environmental Mailing List

    The environmental mailing list includes: Federal, state, and local
government representatives and agencies; elected officials;
environmental and public interest groups; Native American Tribes; other
interested parties; and local libraries and newspapers. This list also
includes all affected landowners (as defined in the Commission's
regulations) who are potential right-of-way grantors, whose property
may be used temporarily for Project purposes, or who own homes within
certain distances of aboveground facilities, and anyone who submits
comments on the Project. We will update the environmental mailing list
as the analysis proceeds to ensure that we send the information related
to this environmental review to all individuals, organizations, and
government entities interested in and/or potentially affected by the
proposed Project.
    If we publish and distribute the EA, copies will be sent to the
environmental mailing list for public review and comment. If you would
prefer to receive a paper copy of the document instead of the CD
version or would like to remove your name from the mailing list, please
return the attached Information Request (Appendix 2).

Becoming an Intervenor

    In addition to involvement in the EA scoping process, you may want
to become an ``intervenor'' which is an official party to the
Commission's proceeding. Intervenors play a more formal role in the
process and are able to file briefs, appear at hearings, and be heard
by the courts if they choose to appeal the Commission's final ruling.
An intervenor formally participates in the proceeding by filing a
request to intervene. Instructions for becoming an intervenor are in
the ``Document-less Intervention Guide'' under the ``e-filing'' link on
the Commission's Web site. Motions to intervene are more fully
described at http://www.ferc.gov/resources/guides/how-to/intervene.asp.

Additional Information

    Additional information about the Project is available from the
Commission's Office of External Affairs, at (866) 208-FERC, or on the
FERC Web site at www.ferc.gov using the ``eLibrary'' link. Click on the
eLibrary link, click on ``General Search'' and enter the docket number,
excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., CP15-
552). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For
assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>or toll free at<PHONE_NUMBER>, or for TTY,
contact<PHONE_NUMBER>. The eLibrary link also provides access to the
texts of formal documents issued by the Commission, such as orders,
notices, and rulemakings.
    In addition, the Commission offers a free service called
eSubscription which allows you to keep track of all formal issuances
and submittals in specific dockets. This can reduce the amount of time
you spend researching proceedings by automatically providing you with
notification of these filings, document summaries, and direct links to
the documents. Go to www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/esubscription.asp.
    Finally, public meetings or site visits will be posted on the
Commission's calendar located at www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/EventsList.aspx along with other related information.

    Dated: October 22, 2015.
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2015-27398 Filed 10-27-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 189 (Friday, September 28, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59599-59601]
[FR Doc No: 2012-23943]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

Combined Notice of Filings 1

    Take notice that the Commission received the following electric
rate filings:
    Docket Numbers: ER10-1720-003; ER10-2285-003; ER10-2404-002; ER10-
2423-002; ER10-2942-003; ER10-2994-007; ER10-3158-003; ER10-3159-002;
ER10-3161-003; ER10-3162-003; ER11-2112-004; ER11-2196-004; ER11-2462-
003; ER11-2463-003; ER11-2464-003; ER11-2465-003; ER11-2466-003; ER11-
2467-003; ER11-2468-003; ER11-2469-003; ER11-2470-003; ER11-2471-003;
ER11-2472-003; ER11-2473-003; ER11-2474-005; ER11-2475-003; ER11-2482-
004; ER11-2483-003; ER11-2484-003; ER11-2485-004; ER11-2486-003; ER11-
2487-004; ER11-2488-003; ER11-2507-003; ER11-2514-003; ER11-2563-004;
ER11-2564-004; ER12-2075-002; ER12-2076-002; ER12-2077-002; ER12-2078-
002; ER12-2081-002; ER12-2083-002; ER12-2084-002; ER12-2086-002; ER12-
2097-002; ER12-2101-002; ER12-2102-002; ER12-2106-002; ER12-2107-002;
ER12-2108-002; ER12-2109-002; ER12-308-003; ER12-422-002; ER12-96-002.
    Applicants: Dry Lake Wind Power II LLC, Central Maine Power
Company, Flat Rock Windpower II LLC, Flat Rock Windpower LLC, Elk River
Windfarm, LLC, Iberdrola Renewables, LLC, Dillion Wind LLC, Dry Lake
Wind Power, LLC, Shiloh I Wind Project, LLC, Mountain View Power
Partners III, LLC, Blue

Creek Wind Farm LLC, San Luis Solar LLC, Big Horn Wind Project LLC, Big
Horn II Wind Project LLC, Colorado Green Holdings LLC, Hay Canyon Wind
LLC, Juniper Canyon Wind Power LLC, Klamath Energy LLC, Klamath
Generation LLC, Klondike Wind Power, LLC, Klondike Wind Power II LLC,
Klondike Wind Power III LLC, Leaning Juniper Wind Power II LLC, Pebble
Springs Wind LLC, Star Point Wind Project LLC, Twin Buttes Wind LLC,
Casselman Windpower LLC, Hardscrabble Wind Power LLC, Lempster Wind,
LLC, Locust Ridge Wind Farm, LLC, Locust Ridge Wind Farm II, LLC,
Providence Heights Wind, LLC, Streator-Cayuga Ridge Wind Power LLC,
Carthage Energy, LLC, PEI Power II, LLC, New York State Electric & Gas
Corporation, Rochester Gas & Electric Corporation, Atlantic Renewable
Projects II LLC, Barton Windpower LLC, Buffalo Ridge I LLC, Buffalo
Ridge II LLC, Elm Creek Wind, LLC, Elm Creek Wind II LLC, Farmers City
Wind, LLC, Flying Cloud Power Partners, LLC, Moraine Wind LLC, Moraine
Wind II LLC, New Harvest Wind Project LLC, Rugby Wind LLC, Trimont Wind
I LLC, MinnDakota Wind LLC, Northern Iowa Windpower II LLC, Manzana
Wind LLC, New England Wind, LLC, South Chestnut LLC.
    Description: Notice of Change in Status of the Iberdrola MBR
Sellers, et al.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5164.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER10-1997-001.
    Applicants: Midwest Independent Transmission System.
    Description: 9-20-12 Baseline Clean-Up to be effective 7/28/2010.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5001.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER11-4711-001.
    Applicants: R&R Energy, Inc.
    Description: R&R Energy Compliance Filing to be effective 10/29/
2012.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5008.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-1986-001.
    Applicants: Tucson Electric Power Company.
    Description: TEP Compliance Filing--Amended and Restated Balancing
Authority Agreement to be effective 8/7/2012.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5003.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-2104-001.
    Applicants: Michigan Electric Transmission Company.
    Description: Michigan Electric Transmission Company, LLC submits
tariff filing per 35: METC Compliance Filing to be effective 8/27/2012.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5100.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-2132-001.
    Applicants: ITC Midwest LLC.
    Description: ITC Midwest LLC submits tariff filing per 35:
Compliance Filing of ITC Midwest to be effective 8/28/2012.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5141.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-2263-001.
    Applicants: Arizona Public Service Company.
    Description: Arizona Public Service Company submits tariff filing
per 35: REFILE Rate Schedule No. 217 Compliance Filing to be effective
10/1/2012.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5106.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-2297-002.
    Applicants: BFE Scheduling, LLC.
    Description: Inquiry Response to be effective 9/24/2012.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5004.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-2661-000.
    Applicants: PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.
    Description: Original Service Agreement No. 3397; Queue No. W2-030
to be effective 8/23/2012.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5032.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-2662-000.
    Applicants: Park Power LLC.
    Description: Application for Market-Based Rate Authorization to be
effective 11/19/2012.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5074.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-2663-000.
    Applicants: PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.
    Description: Queue Position V3-045; Original Service Agreement Nos.
3398 & 3399 to be effective 8/20/2012.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5079.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-2664-000.
    Applicants: PJM Interconnection, L.L.C.
    Description: Notice of Cancellation of Service Agreement 3197 in
Docket No. ER12-1000-000 to be effective 8/20/2012.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5087.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-2665-000.
    Applicants: El Paso Electric Company.
    Description: Concurrence of EPE to TEP Rate Schedule No. 321 to be
effective 12/28/2011.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5094.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-2666-000.
    Applicants: Bangor Hydro Electric Company.
    Description: Bangor Hydro Electric Company submits tariff filing
per 35.13(a)(2)(iii: Filing of E&P Agreement with Passadumkeag Windpark
to be effective 9/13/2012.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5103.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-2668-000.
    Applicants: Arizona Public Service Company.
    Description: Arizona Public Service Company submits tariff filing
per 35.13(a)(2)(iii: Southwest Reserve Sharing Group Certificate of
Concurrence to be effective 12/28/2011.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5143.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    Docket Numbers: ER12-2669-000.
    Applicants: California Independent System Operator C.
    Description: California Independent System Operator Corporation
submits tariff filing per 35.13(a)(2)(iii: 2012-09-20 Replacement
Requirement for RA Maintenance Outages Amendment to be effective 11/20/
2012.
    Filed Date: 9/20/12.
    Accession Number: 20120920-5148.
    Comments Due: 5 p.m. ET 10/11/12.

    The filings are accessible in the Commission's eLibrary system by
clicking on the links or querying the docket number.
    Any person desiring to intervene or protest in any of the above
proceedings must file in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the
Commission's Regulations (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214) on or before 5
p.m. Eastern time on the specified comment date. Protests may be
considered, but intervention is necessary to become a party to the
proceeding.
    eFiling is encouraged. More detailed information relating to filing
requirements, interventions, protests, service, and qualifying
facilities filings can be found at: http://www.ferc.gov/docs-filing/efiling/filing-req.pdf. For other information, call<PHONE_NUMBER>
(toll free). For TTY, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.

    Dated: September 21, 2012.
Nathaniel J. Davis, Sr.,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-23943 Filed 9-27-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717-01-P


[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 7 (Wednesday, January 11, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1775-1777]
[FR Doc No: 2012-305]

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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

[Release No. 34-66102; File No. SR-CME-2011-22]

Self-Regulatory Organizations; Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Inc.;
Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness of Proposed Rule Change To
Establish Certain Fee Programs in Connection With Its OTC Interest Rate
Swap Clearing Offering

January 5, 2012.
    Pursuant to Section 19(b)(1) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(``Act''),\1\ and Rule 19b-4 thereunder,\2\ notice is hereby given that
on December 22, 2011, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (``CME'') filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (``Commission'') the
proposed rule change described in Items I, II and III below, which
items have been prepared primarily by CME. CME filed the proposed rule
change pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A) \3\ of the Act and Rule 19b-
4(f)(2) \4\ thereunder.
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    \1\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(1).
    \2\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4.
    \3\ 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
    \4\ 17 CFR 240.19b-4(f)(2).
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I. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of Terms of Substance of
the Proposed Rule Change

    CME is proposing to make certain fee-related changes that would
apply to its OTC Interest Rate Swap clearing offering. The text of the
proposed changes is as follows: \5\
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    \5\ The text of the proposed changes does not appear in CME's
rulebook but is available on CME's Web site at http://www.cmegroup.com/market-regulation/rule-filings.html. Telephone
conference between Tim Elliot, Director and Associate General
Counsel, CME, and Doyle Horn, Special Counsel, Securities and
Exchange Commission Division of Trading and Markets on January 4,
2012.
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CME Incentive Program for Over-the-Counter Interest Rate Swaps

Program Purpose

    The purpose of the Program is to incentivize participants to
increase the volume in CME over-the-counter (``OTC'') interest rate
swaps which will improve market liquidity. The resulting addition of
liquidity for these Products (as defined below) benefits all
participants in the market.

Product Scope

    CME OTC Interest Rate Swaps cleared by the Clearing House
(``Products'').

Eligible Participants

    CME may designate up to five (5) participants in the Program based
on their level of expertise and experience with the Products.
Participants may be CME members and/or non-members.
    CME will also take potential participants' experience in the
Products and historical volume in the Products with the Clearing House
when making its selections.

Program Term

Non-Asset Managers
    Qualification Period: January 6, 2012 through December 31, 2012.
    Earned Incentive Period: January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2016.
Asset Managers
    Qualification Period: January 6, 2012 through December 31, 2012.
    Earned Incentive Period: January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2021.

Hours

    N/A.

Obligations

    Participants must provide designated accounts to CME in order for
the account to receive consideration for the incentives described
below.

Incentives

    1. Fee Discounts. Once accepted into the Program, participants will
be eligible to receive predetermined discounts for transaction fees and
maintenance fees in the Products during the Term.
    2. Volume Discount Incentives. Additionally, once accepted into the
Program, participants may qualify for predetermined fee discounts based
on the overall fees charged for transactions in the Products submitted
to the Clearing House during the Qualification Period.

Monitoring and Termination of Status

    The Clearing House shall monitor participants' activity and
performance and shall retain the right to revoke Program participant
status if they conclude from review that a Program participant no
longer meets the eligibility requirements of the Program.
* * * * *

Founding Member Over-the-Counter Interest Rate Swap Incentive Program

Program Purpose

    The purpose of the Program is to provide more liquid markets in OTC

Interest Rate Swap products. By incentivizing large market participants
CME expects to bring in increased volume. The resulting addition of
liquidity of these products benefits all participants in the market.

Product Scope

    CME OTC Interest Rate Swaps that are cleared by the Clearing House
(``Products'').

Eligible Participants

    CME selected the participants based on their ability to provide
liquidity, client clearing and risk management expertise as well as
their willingness to design and test the offering on an on-going basis.

Program Term

    Start date is January 6, 2012. End date is December 31, 2012.

Hours

    N/A.

Incentives

    Discounted Fees. Participants will be eligible to receive
predetermined discounts for transaction fees regarding the Products.
* * * * *
    The text of the proposed changes is also available at the
Exchange's Web site at http://www.cmegroup.com, at the principal office
of the Exchange, and at the Commission's Public Reference Room.

II. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    In its filing with the Commission, CME included statements
concerning the purpose and basis for the proposed rule change and
discussed any comments it received on the proposed rule change. The
text of these statements may be examined at the places specified in
Item IV below. CME has prepared summaries, set forth in sections A, B,
and C below, of the most significant aspects of such statements.

A. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement of Purpose of, and
Statutory Basis for, the Proposed Rule Change

    CME currently offers clearing for certain OTC Interest Rate Swap
products. The filing proposes to establish two new fee programs (the
``Programs'') that will apply to CME's OTC Interest Rate Swap (``IRS'')
clearing offering.\6\ The proposed changes that are the subject of this
filing are related to the fees CME charges for clearing and therefore
will become effective upon filing. However, the Programs will become
operative on January 6, 2012.
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    \6\ The staff notes that CME's general fee schedule for OTC
Interest Rate Swap clearing offering was previously filed with the
Commission and became effective on December 20, 2011. See Exchange
Act Release No. 34-66029 (Dec. 22, 2011), 76 FR 82005 (Dec. 29,
2011) (SR-CME-2011-20).
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    The Programs include two separate fee programs. The first is a
volume incentive program that is designed to incentivize participants
to increase their volume in CME OTC IRS through predetermined fee
discounts for transaction fees and maintenance fees. The volume
incentive program may include up to five participants (including CME
members and/or non-members) designated by CME based on factors
including potential participants' experience in IRS activities and
historical volumes in IRS with CME. The second program will feature
certain predetermined discounts for transaction fees. Eligible
participants will include participants selected by CME based on their
ability to provide liquidity, client clearing and risk management
expertise, as well as their willingness to assist CME in designing and
testing its IRS clearing offering.
    Pursuant to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (``CFTC'')
regulations, the Programs have been interpreted by CME as an incentive
program subject to CFTC Regulation 40.6(d), requiring a self
certification filing to the CFTC, although no change to text of the CME
rulebook is required. CME notes that it has already certified the
proposed changes that are the subject of this filing to its primary
regulator, the CFTC. The text of the CME proposed changes is attached.
(b) Statutory Basis
    The proposed changes establish or change a member due, fee or other
charge imposed by CME under Section 19(b)(3)(A)(ii) of the Exchange Act
and Rule 19b-4(f)(2) thereunder. CME believes that the proposed changes
are consistent with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder and, in particular, to
Section 17A(b)(3)(iv), in that it provides for the equitable allocation
of reasonable dues, fees and other charges among participants. CME
notes that it operates in a highly competitive market in which market
participants can readily direct business to competing venues.

B. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Burden on Competition

    CME does not believe that the proposed rule change will have any
impact, or impose any burden, on competition.

C. Self-Regulatory Organization's Statement on Comments on the Proposed
Rule Change Received From Members, Participants, or Others

    CME has not solicited, and does not intend to solicit, comments
regarding this proposed rule change. CME has not received any
unsolicited written comments from interested parties.

III. Date of Effectiveness of the Proposed Rule Change and Timing for
Commission Action

    The foregoing rule change was filed pursuant to Section 19(b)(3)(A)
of the Act and paragraph (f)(2) of Rule 19b-4 and became effective on
filing. At any time within sixty days of the filing of such rule
change, the Commission summarily may temporarily suspend such rule
change if it appears to the Commission that such action is necessary or
appropriate in the public interest, for the protection of investors, or
otherwise in furtherance of the purposes of the Act.

IV. Solicitation of Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit written data, views and
arguments concerning the foregoing, including whether the proposed rule
change is consistent with the Act. Comments may be submitted by any of
the following methods:
     Electronic comments may be submitted by using the
Commission's Internet comment form (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml), or send an email to<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Please include
File No. SR-CME-2011-22 on the subject line.
     Paper comments should be sent in triplicate to Elizabeth
M. Murphy, Secretary, Securities and Exchange Commission, 100 F Street
NE., Washington, DC 20549-1090.

All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CME-2011-22. This file
number should be included on the subject line if email is used. To help
the Commission process and review your comments more efficiently,
please use only one method. The Commission will post all comments on
the Commission's Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the submission, all subsequent amendments, all
written statements with respect to the proposed rule change that are
filed with the Commission, and all written communications relating to
the proposed rule change between the Commission and any person, other
than those that may be withheld from the

public in accordance with the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
available for Web site viewing and printing in the Commission's Public
Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., Washington, DC 20549 on official
business days between the hours of 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Copies of such
filing also will be available for inspection and copying at the
principal office of CME. All comments received will be posted without
change; the Commission does not edit personal identifying information
from submissions. You should submit only information that you wish to
make available publicly.
    All submissions should refer to File Number SR-CME-2011-22 and
should be submitted on or before February 1, 2012.

    For the Commission by the Division of Trading and Markets,
pursuant to delegated authority.\7\
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    \7\ 17 CFR 200.30-3(a)(12).
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Kevin M. O'Neill,
Deputy Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-305 Filed 1-10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 8011-01-P