[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 11, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11162-11163]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-5994]


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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 changes and extension to Form NWPA-
830R A-G, ``Standard Contract for Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and/or 
High-Level Radioactive Waste.''

DATE: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 12, 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.

ADDRESS: Send comments to Kathy Gibbard, Energy Information 
Administration Survey Manager, EI-531, Forrestal Building, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. 20585, (phone number (202) 426-
1129; e-mail address [email protected], and FAX number (202)426-
1280).

    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Kathy Gibbard 
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 Form NWPA-830R A-G is designed to be as the service document 
for entries into the Department of Energy's accounting records. 
Electric utilities transmit data concerning payment of their 
contribution to the

[[Page 11163]]

Nuclear Waste Fund, and specific data on disposal of nuclear waste.

II. Current Actions

    In keeping with its mandated responsibilities, EIA proposes to 
extend the information collection aspects of NWPA-830R A-G, ``Standard 
Contract for Disposal of Spent Nuclear Fuel and/or High-Level 
Radioactive Waste,'' for three years from the current approved OMB 
expiration date (05/31/97).
    The proposed changes to the Form NWPA-830C, Appendix C--Delivery 
Commitment Schedule, are summarized below:
    Changes to Appendix C Form
    (1) Section 3.0 Certifications--The referenced Item 1.3 in the 
certification statement was replaced with Item 1.4.
    (2) ``Unites States'' was replaced with ``United States'' to 
correct a typographical error.
Changes to Appendix C Instructions
    (1) 4. Where to Submit--The address was changed to conform with the 
new DOE address for forms submission: Special Accounts Team, Office of 
Financial Control and Reporting, U.S. Department of Energy, 19901 
Germantown Road, Germantown, MD 20874-1290.
    (2) Questions on the DCS--
    The contact name was changed from Nancy Slater to Dave Zabransky.
Changes to Appendix G Form
    (1) The Zip Code 20875 was replaced with 20874-1290.
    (2) Section 2, Line 2.7--``Fee Date'' was replaced with ``Fee 
Data''.
Changes to Appendix G General Information
    (1) 3. Where to Submit--The forwarding address for remittance 
advice (RA) submittals was changed to conform with the new DOE address 
for submission of forms.
    (2) 4. When to Submit--
    The last sentence of this section: ``Payment is by electronic wire 
transfer only.''
    Was replaced with the following: ``Payment is by electronic wire 
transfer or automated clearing house (ACH) electronic funds transfer 
only.''
Changes to Appendix G Instructions
    (1) Section 2.4--
    ``Ten-Year Treasury Note rate on the date the payment is made, to 
be used if payments are being made using the 40 quarter option or if 
lump sum payment is made after June 30, 1985.''

was replaced with:

    ``Ten-Year Treasury Note rate in effect on the date of the first 
payment. To be used only if payments are being made using the 40 
quarter option (Option 1).''
Changes to Annex A Form
    (1) Section 2. Net Electricity Generated Calculation--Previously 
asterisked footnotes will be enumerated and modified as follows:
    (\1\) For a nuclear station with more than one reactor and 
different ownerships for each reactor, a separate Annex A will be 
required for each reactor.
    (\2\) Utilities unable to meter individual units' use shall report 
estimated unit use and shall explain in a footnote how the unit data 
were estimated.
    (2) The following footnote was added:
    (\3\) Complete this item only if the DOE has approved a methodology 
for calculating such offsets.
Changes to Annex A Instructions
    (1) 0.5 Where to submit--The address was changed to conform with 
the new DOE address for forms submission.

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 for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency? Does the information 
have practical utility. Practical utility is defined as 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 by the due date specified in the 
instructions?
    C. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to 
average 40 hours per respondent on Form NWPA-830G and Annex A; and 5 
hours of reporting burden on Form NWPA-830C. Burden includes the total 
time, effort, or financial resources expended to generate, maintain, 
retain, or disclose or provide 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 information technology.
    D. EIA estimates that respondents will incur no additional costs 
for reporting other than the hours required to complete the collection. 
What is the estimated: (1) total dollar amount annualized for capital 
and start-up costs and (2) recurring annual costs of operating and 
maintaining and purchasing service costs associated with this data 
collection?
    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?
    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. March 5, 1997.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer Office, of Statistical Standards, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-5994 Filed 3-10-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P