[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 127 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40620-40621]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-16557]


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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 three-year extension to the Form FE-781R 
``Annual Report of International Electrical Export/Import Data.''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before August 29, 2000. 
If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, 
contact the person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Steven Mintz, Office of Coal and Power 
Imports and Exports, FE-27, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Washington, DC 20585. Alternatively, Mr. Mintz may be reached 
by phone at 202-586-9506; by e-mail ([email protected]), or by 
FAX (202-586-6050).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Steven Mintz 
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 Sections 3507(h)(1) and 3506(c) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
    The Office of Coal and Power Imports and Exports (Fossil Energy) 
will monitor the levels of electricity imports and exports and issue 
summary tabulations in a staff Annual Report. The Office will also 
provide monthly tabulations of these data for use in the Energy 
Information Administration's Monthly Energy Review and Annual Energy 
Review. This information will be kept in the public docket files and 
will be available for public inspection and copying.

II. Current Actions

    A clearance package will be submitted to the Office of Management 
and Budget requesting approval of a three-year extension with no change 
of the currently-approved collection.

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. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to 
average 10 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 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.

    Statutory Authority: Section 3507(h)(1) and 3506(c) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act

[[Page 40621]]

of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

    Issued in Washington, D.C., June 26, 2000.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-16557 Filed 6-29-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P