[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 155 (Tuesday, August 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43148-43149]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21263]


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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 revision of the Form EIA-886, 
``Alternative Fuel Vehicle Annual Report''.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 14, 
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 Jorge Luna-Camara, Energy Information 
Administration, EI-525, Renewable Energy Branch, Forrestal Building, 
U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585-0650, Telephone (202) 
426-1170; e-mail [email protected]; FAX (202) 426-1308.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Jorge Luna-
Camara 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. 93-275) and the Department of 
Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 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. 104-13, Title 44, U.S.C. Chapter 35).

II. Current Actions

    The EIA requests a three-year extension through January 31, 2001, 
and

[[Page 43149]]

modifications to the form. The name of the form will be changed from 
``Alternative Fuel Vehicles Supplier's Annual Report'' to ``Alternative 
Fuel Vehicle Annual Report.''
    This form currently is used to gather information on the supply of 
``alternative fueled vehicles'' (AFV's). Specifically, the Form EIA-886 
collects data annually on the number of AFV's which suppliers ``made 
available'' in the previous calendar year, and the number of AFV's 
which suppliers plan to ``make available'' in the following calendar 
year. The EIA proposes to continue collecting this information. 
Additionally, the EIA intends to begin collecting data on the number of 
AFV's in use and their ``alternate transportation fuel'' (ATF) 
consumption. In addition, the EIA intends to ask respondents three 
voluntary questions regarding refueling facilities. These data will be 
published annually in the Alternative to Traditional Transportation 
Fuel publication. The data will also be available through the EIA home 
page at WWW.EIA.DOE.GOV.

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 and 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 approximately four hours for the AFV providers part of the form 
or the AFV users part of the form. However, there may be some 
respondents which would be both (AFV providers as well as AFV users). 
For these respondents the EIA estimates an average of approximately six 
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?
    D. For the most part, information is published by EIA in U.S. 
customary units, e.g., cubic feet of natural gas, short tons of coal, 
and barrels of oil. Would you prefer to see EIA publish more 
information in metric units, e.g., cubic meters, metric tons, and 
kilograms? If yes, please specify what information (e.g., coal 
production, natural gas consumption, and crude oil imports), the metric 
unit(s) of measurement preferred, and in which EIA publication(s) you 
would like to see such information.
    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. July 29, 1997.
Lynda T. Carlson,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-21263 Filed 8-11-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P