[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7442-7443]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4017]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 changes and extensions to Forms EIA-
851, ``Domestic Uranium Mining Production Report,'' and EIA-858, 
``Uranium Industry Annual Survey,'' for the collection of 1997 data. 
The Form EIA-254, ``Annual Report on Status of Reactor Construction,'' 
will be discontinued.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted within 60 days of the 
publication of this notice. 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 Charles Johnson, Energy Information 
Administration, EI-531, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Washington, DC 20585, (phone number (202) 426-1178; e-mail address 
[email protected], and FAX number (202) 426-1280).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Charles 
Johnson 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. 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 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. Also, EIA will 
later seek approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
the collections under Section 3507(h) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, Title 44, U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    The Form EIA-254 (discontinued with this notice) collects data on 
nuclear power plants planned or under construction, including plant 
ownership, design capacity, status, cost, and construction schedules 
and milestone dates.
    The Form EIA-851 collects data on uranium production at 
conventional mills and nonconventional plants (byproduct recovery and 
in-situ leach plants).
    The Form EIA-858 collects data on uranium raw materials activities 
(Schedule A) and uranium marketing (Schedule B).
    Data collected on these forms provide a comprehensive statistical 
characterization of the domestic nuclear industry in these areas: 
uranium reserves, potential future requirements for uranium production 
and enrichment facilities, uranium concentrate production, status of 
industry's annual activities, and information about industry plans and 
commitments.
    Published data from these surveys are used by Congress, Federal and 
State agencies, the uranium and electric-utility industries, and the 
general public. Published data appear in the EIA publications, 
``Nuclear Power Generation and Fuel Cycle Report,'' ``Uranium Industry 
Annual,'' and the ``Annual Energy Review.'

II. Current Actions

    The EIA-254 will be discontinued for 1997.
    There are no changes to the data elements collected on the Form 
EIA-851; however, a 3-year extension of the approved OMB expiration 
date (12/31/97) is requested.
    The only change to the Form EIA-858 (Schedule A and Schedule B) is 
the elimination of the certification block on the cover sheet. A 
request to extend the approval expiration date (12/31/97) for 3 years 
will also be submitted to OMB.

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

    A. Is the proposed collection of information necessary, taking into 
account its accuracy, adequacy, and reliability, and the agency's 
ability to process the information it collects in a useful and timely 
fashion.
    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 these collections are estimated to 
average: Form EIA-851, 3 hours; and Form EIA-858, 25 hours. 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

[[Page 7443]]

or other forms of information technology.
    D. What are the estimated (1) Total dollar amount annualized for 
capital and start-up costs, and (2) recurring annual dollar amount of 
operation, maintenance, and purchase of service costs associated with 
this data collection? The estimates should take into account the costs 
associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing 
the information. Estimates should not include purchases of equipment or 
services made as part of customary and usual business practices, or the 
cost of any burden hours for completing the form. EIA estimates that 
there are no additional costs other than those that the respondent 
incurs in keeping the information for its own uses.
    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 
EIA-851 and EIA-858?
    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?
    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, DC, February 12, 1997.
Lynda T. Carlson,
Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-4017 Filed 2-18-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P