[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 57 (Tuesday, March 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14128-14129]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-7473]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, DOE

ACTION: Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; 
comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting 
comments concerning the proposed extension of form EIA-767, ``Steam-
Electric Plant Operation and Design Report.''

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 DOE contact 
listed below of your intention to do so as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to John G. Colligan, Energy Information 
Administration, Coal and Electric Data and Renewables Division, EI-524, 
U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585-0650; telephone (202) 
426-1174; e-mail [email protected]; and FAX (202) 426-1308).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to John Colligan 
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

[[Page 14129]]

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 EIA-767, ``Steam-Electric Plant Operation and Design 
Report,'' remains an annual form that collects data on the operation 
and design of steam-electric plants. The form collects data required by 
the following sponsors: the DOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE), and the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The data collected on the 
Form EIA-767 are used to:
     Develop, assess, reform, and enforce the regulations 
required by the Clean Air Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 
and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act
     Appraise the environmental impacts of electric energy 
plans and projections and the impact of environmental regulations on 
the generation of electric power
     Determine emission trends and appraisals
     Evaluate the inventory of pollution control technology and 
generation technologies
     Determine the expenditures of pollution abatement and 
control expenditures on operating costs and revenue.
    EIA is responsible for collecting and processing the data. Within 
EIA, the data are used to develop a comprehensive electric power data 
base that supports EIA models and publications. Other data users 
include Congress, Federal, and State agencies.

II. Current Actions

    The Energy Information Administration requests a 3-year extension 
with no change to the existing collection of the Form EIA-767, ``Steam-
Electric Plant Operation and Design Report.''

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

    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?
    C. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to 
average 84 hours per response. 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 automated collection techniques or other forms 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 operation and 
maintenance, and purchase of services 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 19, 1997.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-7473 Filed 3-24-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P