[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53903-53905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26421]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed renewal of form EIA-457A-H, 
Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 16, 
1996. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find 
it difficult to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, 
you should advise the contact listed below of your intention to do so 
as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Michael T. Laurence, Office of Energy 
Markets and End Use, EI-631, Forrestal

[[Page 53904]]

Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. 20585, telephone 
(202) 586-2453, or INTERNET address, [email protected], or fax 202/
586-0018.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Requests for additional information or copies 
of the forms and instructions should be directed to Michael T. Laurence 
at the address listed above.

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 (Pub. L. No. 93-275) and the Department of 
Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 95-91), the Energy Information 
Administration 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 resource reserves, production, demand, 
and technology, and related economic and statistical information 
relevant to the adequacy of energy resources to meet demands in the 
near and longer term future for the Nation's economic and social needs.
    The data collection included, herein, was approved by the Director 
of the Office of Management and Budget for a one-year extension through 
June 30, 1997. EIA seeks an extension of this collection by the 
Director with some modifications under Section 3507(h) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, Title 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    The Energy Information Administration, as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden (required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)), conducts a presurvey 
consultation program to provide the general public and other Federal 
agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing 
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 impact of collection 
requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The RECS is a 
periodic survey of U.S. households to estimate energy consumption and 
expenditures and track changes over time. The data are widely used 
throughout the government and the private sector for policy analysis 
and are made available to the public in a variety of publications and 
electronic data files.

II. Current Actions

    A three-year extension with changes to an existing collection that 
expires June 30, 1997, will be submitted to OMB. Due to funding 
constraints, the RECS, with this effort, will move from a triennial to 
a quadrennial schedule. Accordingly, the next RECS will be in 1997 and 
then 2001. The scope and length of the survey is being substantially 
reduced and Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) procedures 
are being introduced which will result in a substantial reduction in 
respondent burden. Form EIA-457H, Household Lighting Usage Supplement, 
is being dropped as well as portions of Form EIA-457A, Household 
Questionnaire, including conservation measures, demand-side management, 
new home supplement, detailed questions about vehicles, and housing 
measurements. Some new questions regarding the frequency that 
appliances are used are being added.

III. Request for Comments

    Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment 
on the actions discussed in item II. The following guidelines are 
provided to assist in the preparation of responses. Please indicate to 
which form(s) your comments apply.

General Issues

    EIA is interested in receiving comments from persons regarding: A. 
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether 
the information will have practical utility. Practical utility is the 
actual usefulness of information to or for an agency, taking into 
account its accuracy, adequacy, reliability, timeliness, and the 
agency's ability to process the information it collects.
    B. What enhancements can EIA make to the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected?

As a potential respondent

    A. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If 
not, which instructions require clarification?
    B. Can data be submitted in accordance with the due date specified 
in the instructions?
    C. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to 
average 30 minutes for Form EIA-457A, Household Questionnaire; 20 
minutes for Form EIA-457B, Mail version of the Household Questionnaire; 
15 minutes for Form EIA-457C, Rental Agents, Landlords, and Apartment 
Managers; 30 minutes for Form EIA-457D, Household Bottle Gas (LPG or 
Propane) Usage; 30 minutes for Form EIA-457D, Household Bottled Gas 
(LPG or Propane) Usage; 30 minutes for Form EIA-457E, Household 
Electricity Usage; 30 minutes for Form EIA-457F, Household Natural Gas 
Usage; and 30 minutes for Form EIA-457G, Household Fuel Oil or Kerosene 
Usage. Burden includes the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide the 
information including: (1) reviewing instructions; (2) developing, 
acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the 
purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining, 
disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways 
to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; 
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5) 
searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of 
information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the 
information.
    Please comment on (1) the accuracy of our estimate and (2) how the 
agency could minimize the burden of the collection of information, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    D. What is the estimated (1) total dollar amount annualized for 
capital and start-up costs and (2) recurring annual dollar amount of 
operation and maintenance and purchase of services costs associated 
with this data collection? The estimates should take into account the 
costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or 
providing the information.
    E. 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 methods of collection.

As a potential user

    A. Can you use data at the levels of detail indicated on the form?
    B. For what purpose would you use the data? Be specific.
    C. Are there alternate sources of data and do you use them? If so, 
what are their deficiencies and/or strengths?
    D. For the most part, information is published by EIA in U.S. 
customary units, e.g., cubic feet of natural gas, short tons of coal, 
and barrels of oil. Would you prefer to see EIA publish more 
information in metric units, e.g., cubic meters, metric tons, and

[[Page 53905]]

kilograms? If yes, please specify what information (e.g., coal 
production, natural gas consumption, and crude oil imports), the metric 
unit(s) of measurement preferred, and in which EIA publication(s) you 
would like to see such information.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the form. They also 
will become a matter of public record.

    Statutory Authority: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13).

    Issued in Washington, DC, October 8, 1996.
John Gross,
Acting Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-26421 Filed 10-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P