[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 14 (Friday, January 21, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3438-3439]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1496]


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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 changes and extension to Form NWPA-830G, 
``Standard Remittance Advice for Payment of Fees.''

DATES:  Written comments must be submitted on or before March 21, 2000. 
If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, 
contact the person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:  Send comments to Jim Finucane, Office of Coal, Nuclear, 
Electric and Alternate Fuels, EI-52, Forrestal Building, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. 20585-0650. Alternatively, Mr. 
Finucane may be reached by phone at 202-426-1960, by e-mail 
[email protected], or by FAX 202-426-1280.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Requests for additional information 
or copies of the forms and instructions should be directed to Mr. 
Finucane 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 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 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 NWPA-830G is designed to be the service document for 
entries into the Department of Energy's accounting records. Electric 
utilities transmit data concerning payment of their contribution to the 
Nuclear Waste Fund, and specific data on disposal of nuclear waste.

II. Current Actions

    This action is an extension with a minor change proposed to the 
existing collection. In keeping with its mandated responsibilities, EIA 
proposes to extend the information collection aspects of NWPA-830G, 
``Standard Remittance Advice for Payment of Fees'' for three years from 
the current approved OMB expiration date (07/31/00).
    Proposed change:
    Where to Submit: The address is unchanged for the signed copy of 
the data form; however, the data in electronic form may now be 
submitted as an attachment to an E-mail addressed to:
[email protected]

III. Request for Comments

    Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment 
on the actions discussed in item II. The

[[Page 3439]]

following guidelines are provided to assist in the preparation of 
comments.

General Issues

    A. Are the proposed collections of information necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency? 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 need clarification?
    B. Can information be submitted by the due date?
    C. The estimated burden on each respondent on Form NWPA-830G and 
Annex A is an average of 1 hour per response (with one response per 
quarter, four times per year.) Burden includes the total time, effort, 
or financial resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose 
and provide the information, above what would be required for efficient 
management. Please comment on the accuracy of the estimate.
    D. The agency estimates that the only costs to the respondents are 
for the time it will take them to complete the collection. Please 
comment if respondents will incur start-up costs for reporting, or any 
recurring annual costs for operation, maintenance, and purchase of 
services associated with this information collection.
    E. What additional actions could be taken to minimize the burden of 
this collection of information? Such actions may involve the use of 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    F. Does any other Federal, State, or local agency collect similar 
information? If so, specify the agency, the data element(s), and the 
methods 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:  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, D.C., on January 14, 2000.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-1496 Filed 1-20-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P