[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 105 (Wednesday, May 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 34687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13526]



[[Page 34687]]

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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 with revisions to the Form EIA-886, 
``Alternative Transportation Fuels and Alternative Fueled Vehicles 
Annual Survey.''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 31, 2000. 
If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, 
contact the person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Jorge Luna-Camara, Energy Information 
Administration, EI-52, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Washington, DC 20585. Mr Luna-Camara may be reached by phone at (202) 
426-1170; by e-mail [email protected], or by FAX (202)426-1929.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to (name of 
contact listed above) 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.
    This form is used to gather information on the supply of 
``alternative fueled vehicles'' (AFV's). Specifically, the Form EIA-886 
collects data annually on the number of AFV's which suppliers ``made 
available'' in the previous calendar year, and the number of AFV's 
which suppliers plan to ``make available'' in the following calendar 
year. Additionally, the EIA collects data from Federal Agencies, State 
and Local Governments, Fuel Providers, Transit Authorities, and School 
Districts; on the number of AFV's in use and their ``alternate 
transportation fuel'' (ATF) consumption. These data will be published 
annually in the Alternative to Traditional Transportation Fuel 
publication. The data will also be available through the EIA home page 
at http://www.eia.doe.gov.

II. Current Actions

    The EIA requests a three-year extension through April 30, 2004. 
Changes to the form are mainly to simplify and/or clarify the reporting 
of data. No additional data items are requested for collection. All 
voluntary data, including the vehicle identification number (VIN), will 
no longer be collected.

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 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 need clarification?
    B. Can the information be submitted by the due date?
    C. With the proposed changes, public reporting burden for this 
collection is estimated to average approximately three hours for the 
AFV providers part of the form or the AFV users part of the form. 
However, there may be some respondents which would be both (AFV 
providers as well as AFV users). For these respondents, the EIA 
estimates an average of approximately five hours per response. Burden 
includes the total time, effort, or financial resources expended to 
generate, maintain, retain, disclose, or provide the information. 
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 the 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.

    Authority: Sections 3507(h)(i) and 3506(c) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

    Issued in Washington, DC, May 24, 2000.
Jay H. Casselberry.
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group.
[FR Doc. 00-13526 Filed 5-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P