[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8704-8706]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4694]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 three year clearance with no changes 
to the forms EIA-800-804, 807, 810-814, 816, 817, 819M, and 820 of 
EIA's Petroleum Supply Reporting System.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 28, 1997. 
If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it 
difficult to do so within the period of

[[Page 8705]]

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 Conner, Energy Information 
Administration, EI-421, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586-1795, e-mail [email protected], and 
FAX (202) 586-5846.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Requests for additional information or copies 
of the form and instructions should be directed to Michael Conner 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 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. No. 104-13, Title 44, U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    The Petroleum Supply Reporting System collects data necessary for 
determining the supply and disposition of crude oil, finished petroleum 
products, and natural gas liquids. These data are published by the 
Energy Information Administration in the Weekly Petroleum Status 
Report, Petroleum Supply Monthly, and the Petroleum Supply Annual. 
Respondents to the surveys are producers of oxygenates, operators of 
petroleum refining facilities, blending plants, bulk terminals, crude 
oil and product pipelines, natural gas plant facilities, tanker and 
barge operators, and oil importers.

II. Current Actions

    The Energy Information Administration will request a three year 
clearance with no changes to the existing collection forms.

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. (If the notice 
covers more than one form, add ``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. EIA allows for respondents to report manually or by using the 
Petroleum Electronic Data Reporting Option (PEDRO) for all forms except 
the EIA-807, EIA-819M, and EIA-820. EIA believes that reporting using 
PEDRO takes less time than manual reporting. Estimated public reporting 
burden for the collections are listed below. For those forms that 
utilize PEDRO, two estimates are provided: the first is for an average 
report prepared manually and the second is for an average report 
submitted using PEDRO. The burden estimates are: EIA-800, 1 hour 15 
minutes (manual submission) and 1 hour (PEDRO submission); EIA-801, 45 
minutes and 30 minutes; EIA-802, 45 minutes and 30 minutes; EIA-803, 30 
minutes and 15 minutes; EIA-804, 1 hour 15 minutes and 1 hour; EIA-807, 
1 hour for weekly reports from October through March, and 30 minutes 
for monthly reports from April through September; EIA-810, 3 hours 45 
minutes and 2 hours; EIA-811, 1 hour 45 minutes and 1 hour; EIA-812, 2 
hours 15 minutes and 1 hour 30 minutes; EIA-813, 1 hour 30 minutes and 
45 minutes; EIA-814, 2 hours and 1 hour 15 minutes; EIA-816, 45 minutes 
and 30 minutes; EIA-817, 1 hour 45 minutes and 1 hour; EIA-819M, 30 
minutes; and EIA-820, 2 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 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?
    B. For what purpose would you use the data? Be specific.

[[Page 8706]]

    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. No. 104-13).

    Issued in Washington, D.C. February 20, 1997.
Lynda T. Carlson,
Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-4694 Filed 2-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P