[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 251 (Monday, December 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68728-68729]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-33197]


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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 new form EIA-902, ``Geothermal Heat 
Pump Manufacturers Survey.''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before February 28, 
1997. 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 James Holihan, Office of Coal, Nuclear, 
Electric, and Alternate Fuels, EI-522, Forrestal Building, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. 20585-0650, (202) 426-1147 
(telephone number), (202) 426-1308 (fax number), JH[email protected] 
(e-mail address).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to James Holihan 
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. 93-275) and the Department of 
Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 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.

[[Page 68729]]

    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.

II. Current Actions

    Form EIA-902 will be submitted in 1997 for approval by the Office 
of Management and Budget for a period not in excess of three years 
pursuant to Section 3507(d) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 
(Pub. L. 96-511). EIA is providing this opportunity for the public to 
review and comment on the draft survey form and instructions.
    This survey is a new collection. Data that would be collected on 
Form EIA-902 include the number of geothermal heat pumps shipped by 
type, regional destinations by type, type of customers, and 
distributions by market sector.

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.

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 two hours per response. 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 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. EIA estimates that respondents to this survey will not incur any 
reporting costs other than the reporting burden cited above. 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 
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. 104-13).

    Issued in Washington, D.C. December 24, 1996.
Yvonne Bishop,
Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-33197 Filed 12-27-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P