[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50072-50073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24085]


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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 proposal to change the data collection frequency of the 
Form EIA-820, Biennial Refinery Report, from biennial to annual.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by November 15, 1999. If you 
anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, 
contact the person identified below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Stacey Ungerleider, Energy Information 
Administration, EI-42, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Washington, DC 20585. Alternatively, Stacey Ungerleider may be reached 
by phone at (202) 586-5130, by e-mail [email protected], 
or by FAX (202) 586-5846.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Stacey 
Ungerleider 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. 93-275, 15 
U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the Department of Energy Organization Act (Pub. 
L. 95-91, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) require the Energy Information 
Administration (EIA) to carry out a centralized, comprehensive, and 
unified energy 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. 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 Form EIA-820 is used to collect data on the following items: 
Fuels consumed for all purposes at the refinery; refinery receipts of 
crude oil by method of transportation; current and projected capacities 
for refineries, specifically operable atmospheric crude oil 
distillation capacity, downstream charge capacity, and production 
capacity; and working and shell storage capacities.
    Federal, State, and local governments as well as the private sector 
use these data to conduct research and to provide relevant and timely 
analysis on the refinery industry. Data from this survey is published 
by the Energy Information Administration in the Petroleum Supply Annual 
Volume I.

II. Current Actions

    The Energy Information Administration is requesting a change in the 
frequency of collection for the Form EIA-820, Biennial Refinery Report. 
EIA proposes to use the Form EIA-820 to collect data on an annual basis 
in order to maintain a more accurate, up-to-date database for refinery 
capacity activity. Annual collection of this data will provide internal 
and external customers with the data to perform more extensive and 
accurate trend and feasibility costs analysis. Also, pending new 
environmental standards for motor gasoline and distillate fuel oil will 
impact the capability of U.S. refineries to produce new quality 
products in sufficient volumes to meet consumer demand. EIA's ability 
to assess this impact requires the most timely data available on 
refinery capacity. Data on a biennial basis is inadequate to meet this 
need.

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. 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 be made 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 information be submitted by the due date?
    C. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to 
average 2 hours per response. 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 collecting this 
information, including the use of information technology.
    D. The agency estimates 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. Does any other Federal, State, or local agency collect similar 
information? If so, specify the agency, the data element(s), and the 
method(s) of collection.

As a Potential User

    A. Is the information useful at the levels of detail indicated on 
the form?
    B. For what purpose(s) would the information be used? Be specific.
    C. Are there alternate sources for the information and are they 
useful? If so, what are their weaknesses and/or strengths?
    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: Sec. 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).


[[Page 50073]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, September 9, 1999.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-24085 Filed 9-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P