[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 114 (Tuesday, June 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32032-32033]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15127]


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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 on the proposed extension to the ``Recordkeeping Requirements 
of DOE's General Allocation and Price Rules,'' ERA-766R.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 16, 1999. 
If you anticipate difficulty in submitting

[[Page 32033]]

comments within that period, contact the person identified below as 
soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Mr. John D. Bullington, Office of General 
Counsel, GC-90, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW, 
Washington, DC 20585-0103. Alternatively, he may be reached by phone at 
(202) 586-7364, by e-mail, [email protected], or by FAX at 
(202) 586-6191.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Mr. Bullington at the address listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background
II. Current Actions
III. Request for Comments

I. Background

    The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93-275, 
15 U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the Department of Energy Organization (DOE) 
Act (Pub. L. No. 95-91, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), require the Energy 
Information Administration (EIA) to carry out a centralized, 
comprehensive, and unified energy data information program. This 
program collects, evaluates, assembles, analyzes, and disseminates 
information on energy resource reserves, production, demand, 
technology, and related economic and statistical information. This 
information is used to assess the adequacy of energy resources to meet 
near and longer term domestic demands.
    The EIA, as part of its effort to comply with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), 
provides the general public and other Federal agencies with 
opportunities to comment on collections of energy information conducted 
by or in conjunction with the EIA. Any comments received help the EIA 
to prepare data requests that maximize the utility of the information 
collected, and to assess the impact of collection requirements on the 
public. Also, the EIA will later seek approval by the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) of the collections under Section 3507(h) of 
the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
    The recordkeeping requirements are authorized by section 203(a)(1) 
of the Economic Stabilization Act (ESA) of 1970, as amended (Pub. L. 
92-210, 85 State. 743) and by section 13(g) of the Federal Energy 
Administration Act (FEAA) of 1974, as amended (Pub. L. 93-275). DOE 
proposes to extend for three years the limited recordkeeping 
requirements presently contained in 10 CFR 210.1. The antecedent 
regulation was narrowed by amendment in January 1985.
    The record retention requirements of 10 CFR 210.1 do not mandate 
the creation or retention of any new records. Instead, they require 
firms to preserve only historical records relating to compliance with 
the petroleum regulations.
    The proposed extension of 10 CFR 210.1 will enable DOE to continue 
its efforts to complete the enforcement program with respect to prior 
petroleum price and allocation regulations.

II. Current Actions

    This is an extension with no change of the existing requirements. 
The requirements are proposed to be extended for a period of three 
years, from December 31, 1999 to December 31, 2002.

III. Request for Comments

    Prospective respondents and other interested persons are invited to 
comment on the actions discussed in item II. The following guidelines 
are provided to assist in the preparation of comments.

General Issues

    A. EIA is interested in receiving comments from persons regarding 
whether the proposed recordkeeping requirements are 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 be made to the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information to be collected?

As a Potential Respondent

    A. Are the instructions regarding the recordkeeping requirements 
clear and sufficient? If not, which instructions require clarification?
    B. Can information be maintained as specified in the recordkeeping 
requirements?
    C. Public reporting burden for the recordkeeping requirements are 
estimated to average 4 hours per respondent. The estimated burden 
includes the total time, effort, or financial resources expended to 
generate, maintain, retain, disclose and provide the information.
    Please comment on (1) The accuracy of the agency's estimate and (2) 
how the agency could minimize the burden of this requirement, including 
the use of information technology.
    D. The agency estimates respondents will incur no additional costs 
other than the hours required to maintain the records. 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 these recordkeeping requirements?
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized 
and/or included in the request for OMB approval. 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, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

    Issued in Washington, DC, June 8, 1999.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-15127 Filed 6-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P