[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 35166]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17017]


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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 FE-781R, ``Annual 
Report of International Electrical Export/Import Data.''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 29, 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 Steven Mintz, Office of Coal and Power 
Imports and Exports, FE-27, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Washington, DC 20585 (Phone 202-586-9506; e-mail address_
[email protected], and FAX (202-586-6050)).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Steven Mintz 
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 (EIA) 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 EIA, 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: prepare data requests in the desired format, minimize 
reporting burden, develop clearly understandable reporting forms, and 
assess the impact of collection requirements on respondents. 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 Office of Coal and Power Imports and Exports (Fossil Energy) 
will monitor the levels of electricity imports and exports and issue 
summary tabulations in a staff Annual Report. The Office will also 
provide monthly tabulations of these data for use in the Energy 
Information Administration's Monthly Energy Review and Annual Energy 
Review. This information will be kept in the public docket files and 
will be available for public inspection and copying.

II. Current Actions

    A clearance package will be submitted to the Office of Management 
and Budget requesting approval of a three-year extension with no change 
of the currently-approved collection.

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 10 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 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. June 24, 1997.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-17017 Filed 6-27-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P