[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 148 (Monday, August 3, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41235-41237]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20625]


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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 proposed revisions to the Form EIA-846A/C, 
``Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey.''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 2, 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 do so 
as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Mr. Robert K. Adler, Energy Consumption 
Division, EI-63, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Washington, DC 20585-0660. Mr. Adler's telephone number is (202) 586-
1134, FAX number (202) 586-0018. His Internet address is: 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Robert K. 
Adler 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

[[Page 41236]]

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 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) is a mail survey 
designed to collect energy consumption and expenditures data from 
establishments in the manufacturing sector (Standard Industrial 
Classification (SIC) 20 through 39). There are 3 MECS data collection 
forms, depending on the establishment's SIC. Form EIA-846A collects 
information for SIC's 20 through 39 except for SIC's 24, 26, 28, 29, 
3312, 3321, 3331, and 3339. Form EIA-846B is for establishments 
operating primarily in the petroleum refining industry (SIC 2911). Form 
EIA-846C is for establishments in SIC's 24, 26, 28, 29 (excluding 
2911), 3312, 3321, 3331, and 3339.
    For the 1998 MECS, it is proposed to collect the following data 
from each MECS establishment: (1) For each energy source consumed--
consumption (total, fuel and nonfuel uses) and the expenditures for 
each energy source, energy storage (as applicable), and energy produced 
onsite; (2) energy end uses; (3) energy-saving technologies; (4) energy 
management activities; and (5) square footage and number of buildings 
in the establishment.
    The MECS has been conducted four times previously, covering the 
years 1985, 1988, 1991, and 1994. In all four survey years, the MECS 
has collected baseline data on manufacturers' energy consumption and 
fuel-switching capabilities. In the 1991 and 1994 surveys, the MECS 
also collected data on end-uses, energy management technologies, 
building square footage, and energy-saving technologies. The MECS forms 
the basis for a major publication on energy consumption, Manufacturing 
Consumption of Energy, 1994. Additionally, the MECS data and tables 
form the basis for an Internet site (http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mecs) 
in which are found numerous data tables, past publications, and 
articles. The 1998 MECS will also be used to update the changes in 
energy intensity data series.
    The proposed 1998 MECS uses experience gained from the 
administration and processing of the four previous surveys and past 
consultations with respondents, trade association representatives, and 
data users. EIA is continuing to pursue many avenues to obtain advice 
and needs for data from customers concerning manufacturing energy data. 
On the EIA site is a survey of user needs (found at http://
www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mecs/webque98.html). Past MECS customers from 
trade associations, government, private industry, academia, and other 
sectors have been contacted through the mail directly to give them an 
opportunity to express their needs. A few manufacturing establishments 
have participated in onsite cognitive interviews to test respondents' 
ability to answer certain proposed sections of the MECS. This notice 
serves as another opportunity for customers to express their needs for 
manufacturing energy data.

II. Current Actions

    EIA proposes making several changes to the 1998 MECS. Decreases in 
survey funding have necessitated certain actions to adjust to the 
reduced level of funding while still maintaining the usefulness of the 
core program. For that reason, the MECS cycle has changed from once 
every three years to once every four years. A second consequence of the 
reduced budget is that the designed sample size of the MECS must be 
reduced from approximately 23,000 to approximately 17,000 cases (a cut 
of 26 percent). The cut in sample size means that the finest geographic 
breakdown of the data available will be at the four Census Regions 
level, rather than at the nine Census Divisions level that were 
available from the 1994 survey. Finally, again for budgetary reasons, 
EIA is proposing to no collect fuel-switching data. Although minor 
changes have been discernable, data from the previous surveys has shown 
that the relationship between switchability and consumption has been 
relatively stable over the years covered by the MECS.
    The 1998 MECS will have a substantially altered appearance. It will 
take advantage of recent forms design research in order to make it 
easier for respondents to understand and respond to the survey. Prime 
among the changes is the replacing of the matrix or tabular format with 
a format that is sequential by energy source. Most of the necessary 
instructions are built into the questionnaire itself, rather than 
relying on separate instruction sheets. The questionnaire will be 
reformatted to fit a standard page (8.5 by 11 inches). The resulting 
questionnaire will contain more pages, but should be much easier for 
the respondent to complete.
    EIA, in conjunction with the Bureau of the Census, is exploring 
ways to have data presented in terms of the new North American Industry 
Classification System (NAICS) and the Standard Industrial 
Classification (SIC) system. In MECS cycles after 1998, all data will 
be presented in terms of NAICS.
    Other than the removal of fuel-switching, much of the content of 
the 1994 MECS data collection will remain for the 1998 MECS, with the 
following exceptions:
    1. The 1998 MECS will not contain questions relating to lists or 
other records of motors present at the establishment. This deletion is 
in keeping with the agreement EIA had with industry during the 1994 
questionnaire design process that this data collection would be a one-
time effort.
    2. Due to the importance of understanding the ongoing changes in 
the natural gas industry, the 1998 MECS will have some additional 
questions relating to the type of purchase made. Specifically, EIA is 
considering asking about purchases from the local utility and 
nonutility purchases; the type of rate schedule the purchaser uses; 
and, for some nonutility purchasers, the breakdown of costs associated 
with purchasing and transporting the gas from the point-of-purchase to 
the establishment.
    3. The list of energy-saving technologies will be updated. The DOE 
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has already reviewed 
the list and provided input to EIA.
    4. EIA is exploring ways to adapt the electricity section to fit 
the new deregulated environment. Because very few manufacturing 
establishments would be eligible to purchase electricity from other 
than their local utilities in 1998, the expectation is that any changes 
in the electricity section would be minor.
    5. The questions concerning participation in energy management 
activities will be changed: electric utility participation will no 
longer be asked about.

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.

[[Page 41237]]

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 9 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. Are there additional energy-savings technologies not already 
included on the MECS for which data on their penetration would be 
useful?
    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, DC, July 24, 1998.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-20625 Filed 7-31-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P