[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 213 (Friday, November 4, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-27409]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 4, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
 

Form EIA-1605, Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases

AGENCY: Energy Information Administration.

ACTION: Notice of proposed new Form EIA-1605, ``Voluntary Reporting of 
Greenhouse Gases,'' and its short version, Form EIA-1605EZ, ``Short 
Form for Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases,'' and Solicitation of 
Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA), as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden (required 
by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Public Law No. 96-511, 44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), conducts a presurvey consultation program to 
provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an 
opportunity to comment on proposed reporting forms. This program helps 
to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format, 
reporting burden is minimized, reporting forms are clearly understood, 
and the effect of collection requirements on respondents can be 
properly assessed.
    Currently, EIA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed Form 
EIA-1605, ``Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases'' and its short 
version Form EIA-1605EZ, ``Short Form for Voluntary Reporting of 
Greenhouse Gases.''

DATES: Written comments should be received by December 5, 1994. EIA 
will endeavor to consider any comments submitted after this deadline to 
the extent possible prior to submission of the forms and instructions 
to the Office of Management and Budget for clearance.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Mr. Arthur Rypinski, Greenhouse Gases 
Voluntary Reporting Program, Office of Integrated Analysis and 
Forecasting, Energy Information Administration, EI-81, U.S. Department 
of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585, or 
via e-mail (internet) to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the draft form and 
instructions have been sent to all those parties who commented on the 
Department of Energy's DRAFT--Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases 
under Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992: General 
Guidelines and Supporting Documents. In addition, copies will be 
provided to the administrative heads of the ``Green'' programs 
(voluntary emission reduction programs) sponsored by the Department of 
Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. To determine if you 
will be receiving a copy or to request a copy of the proposed form and 
instructions, please call 1-800-308-1898. You may also send your 
request via fax to 1-800-542-1956, or via internet to: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
II. Current Actions
III. Request for Comments

I. Background

    In order to fulfill its responsibilities under the Federal Energy 
Administration Act of 1974 (Public Law No. 93-275) and the Department 
of Energy Organization Act (Public Law No. 95-91), EIA is obliged to 
carry out a central, comprehensive, and unified energy data and 
information program. As part of this program, EIA collects, evaluates, 
assembles, analyzes, and disseminates data and information related to 
energy.

Legislative authority

    The legislative authority for this voluntary program is section 
1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Public Law 92-486) which 
states:
    (b) VOLUNTARY REPORTING--
    (1) ISSUANCE OF GUIDELINES. Not later than 18 months after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, after opportunity 
for public comment, issue guidelines for the voluntary collection and 
reporting of information on sources of greenhouse gases. Such 
guidelines shall establish procedures for the accurate voluntary 
reporting of information on--
    (A) greenhouse gas emissions--
    (i) for the baseline period of 1987 through 1990; and
    (ii) for subsequent calendar years on an annual basis;
    (B) annual reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon 
fixation achieved through any measures, including fuel switching, 
forest management practices, tree planting, use of renewable energy, 
manufacture or use of vehicles with reduced greenhouse gas emissions, 
appliance efficiency, methane recovery, cogeneration, 
chlorofluorocarbon capture and replacement, and power plant heat rate 
improvement;
    (C) reductions in greenhouse gas emissions achieved as a result 
of--
    (i) voluntary reductions;
    (ii) plant or facility closings; and
    (iii) State or Federal requirements; and
    (D) an aggregate calculation of greenhouse gas emissions by each 
reporting entity.
    Such guidelines shall also establish procedures for taking into 
account the differential radiative activity and atmospheric lifetimes 
of each greenhouse gas.
    (2) REPORTING PROCEDURES. The Administrator of the Energy 
Information Administration shall develop forms for voluntary reporting 
under the guidelines established under paragraph (1), and shall make 
such forms available to entities wishing to report such information. 
Persons reporting under this subsection shall certify the accuracy of 
the information reported.
    (3) CONFIDENTIALITY. Trade secret and commercial or financial 
information that is privileged or confidential shall be protected as 
provided in section 552 (b)(4) of title 5, United States Code.
    (4) ESTABLISHMENT OF DATABASE. Not later than 18 months after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary through the 
Administrator of the Energy Information Administration shall establish 
a database comprised of information voluntarily reported under this 
subsection. Such information may be used by the reporting entity to 
demonstrate achieved reductions of greenhouse gases.

II. Current Actions

    Form EIA-1605 and its shorter version Form EIA-1605EZ are 
consistent with the Guidelines established by the Secretary of Energy 
under Section 1605(b), entitled Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases 
under Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992: General 
Guidelines and Supporting Documents.

III. Request for Comments

    Prospective reporters and other interested parties should comment 
on the actions discussed in Items I and II above. The following general 
questions are provided to assist in the preparation of responses.
    As a potential respondent:
    A. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If 
not, which instructions require clarification?
    B. Can the data be submitted using the definitions included in the 
instructions?
    C. Assuming the typical long-form reporter files only domestic data 
and uses Schedules I, III, IV and three sections of Schedule II, the 
reporting burden for Form EIA-1605 is estimated to average 20 hours per 
response. The estimate for the typical EZ reporter is 2 hours per 
response. How much time, including time for reviewing instructions, 
searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data 
needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information, do 
you estimate it will require you and/or the typical reporter described 
above to complete and submit Form EIA-1605? Please answer this same 
question for the typical reporter using Form EIA-1605EZ.
    D. What is the estimated cost of completing this form, including 
the direct and indirect costs associated with the data collection? 
Direct costs should include all costs, such as administrative costs, 
directly attributable to providing this information. Please provide 
separate cost estimates for Form EIA-1605, ``Voluntary Reporting of 
Greenhouse Gases,'' and Form EIA-1605EZ, ``Short Form for Voluntary 
Reporting of Greenhouse Gases.''
    E. How can the forms be improved?
    F. Do you know of any other Federal, state, or local agency that 
collects similar data? If you do, specify the agency, the data 
element(s), and the means of collection.
    As a potential user:
    A. Can you use data at the levels of detail indicated on the 
form(s)?
    B. For what purpose would you use the data? Be specific.
    C. How could the form(s) be improved to better meet your specific 
needs?
    D. Are there alternate sources of data and do you use them? What 
are their deficiencies and/or strengths?
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget 
approval of the form. Written comments received in response to this 
notice will be available for public inspection in the Department of 
Energy's Freedom of Information Office.

    Statutory Authority: Section 2(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act 
of 1980 (Public Law No. 96-511), which amended Chapter 35 of Title 
44 of the United States Code (See 44 U.S.C. 3506(a) and (c)(1)).

    Issued in Washington, D.C., October 31, 1994.
Yvonne M. Bishop,
Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 94-27409; Filed 11-3-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P