[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 202 (Monday, October 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54447-54448]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27718]


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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 to the Form EIA-1605, 
``Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases,'' (long version) and the 
Form EIA-1605EZ, ``Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases,'' (short 
version).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 19, 
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 Stephen E. Calopedis, Energy Information 
Administration, Office of Integrated Analysis and Forecasting, EI-81, 
Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585, 
(202) 586-1156, e-mail: [email protected], and FAX: (202) 
586-3045.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Stephen E. 
Calopedis 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).
    The EIA developed these greenhouse gas forms pursuant to section 
1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-486, 42 U.S.C. 
13385) to reflect the guidelines set forth in Voluntary Reporting of 
Greenhouse Gases under section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 
1992: General Guidelines (DOE/PO-0028). These forms are designed to 
collect voluntarily reported data on greenhouse gas emissions, achieved 
reductions of these emissions, and increased carbon fixation. Further, 
the forms support the Climate Change Action Plan by collecting 
information on commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to 
sequester carbon in

[[Page 54448]]

future years, including the progress made toward meeting those 
commitments. The Office of Management and Budget approved these forms 
on May 26, 1995 (OMB No. 1905-0194).
    You may wish to participate in the program to: (1) Establish a 
public record of your emissions and reductions for any years from 1987 
onwards; (2) demonstrate progress toward meeting commitments made under 
voluntary programs to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases; (3) inform 
the public about greenhouse gas emissions and reduction strategies; and 
(4) contribute to educational exchanges on the most effective ways to 
reduce emissions of greenhouse gases. The EIA publishes an annual 
report/review of the 1605(b) voluntary reporting of greenhouse gases 
program. In addition, EIA has established a publicly available database 
of the information reported each year, which serves as a clearinghouse 
of information and case studies.

II. Current Actions

    This action represents a request for the extension of the 
expiration date with no other changes, of existing collections (Form 
EIA-1605 and Form EIA-1605EZ). The request will include an extension 
from the currently approved OMB expiration dates (May 31, 1998) to May 
31, 2001, i.e., 3-year extension of the Forms EIA-1605 and EIA-1605EZ.

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 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:
Form EIA-1605: 40 hours per response
Form EIA-1605EZ: 4 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 request for a 3-
year extension of the forms. 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. 104-13).

    Issued in Washington, DC, October 17, 1997.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 97-27718 Filed 10-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P