[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16254-16255]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-8668]


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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 FE-329R, ``Regulations 
Implementing the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978.''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by June 1, 1998. 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 make a submission 
as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Ms. Ellen Russell, Fossil Energy, FE-52, 
Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585, 
(Phone--(202) 586-9624) (e-mail [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 Ms. Russell 
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 documents. This program 
helps to prepare data requests in the desired format, minimize 
reporting burden, develop clearly understandable reporting documents, 
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).
    A three-year extension of OMB's approval for the information 
collection requirements contained in 10 CFR parts 500, 501, 503, and 
504 regulations (OMB No. 1901-0297) is being requested. The owners/
operators of powerplants may self-certify the alternate fuel capability 
of their powerplants. The Office of Fossil Energy uses the data to 
verify that the Powerplant and Industrial Fuel Use Act of 1978 
provisions are met.

II. Current Actions

    This request is for a three-year extension of the current OMB 
expiration date, with no changes to the regulations in 10 CFR 500, 501, 
503, and 504.

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 20 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

[[Page 16255]]

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 26, 1998.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-8668 Filed 4-1-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P