[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 138 (Tuesday, July 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44525-44526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18087]


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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 concerning the proposed three-year extension of the Forms EIA-
1605, ``Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases,'' (long version) and 
the Form EIA-1605EZ, ``Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases,'' 
(short version).

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 18, 
2000. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that 
period, contact the person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Stephen E. Calopedis, Energy Information 
Administration, Office of Integrated Analysis, EI-81, Forrestal 
Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. 20585. 
Alternatively, Stephen E. Calopedis may be reached by phone at (202) 
586-1156, by e-mail: [email protected], or by FAX: (202) 
586-3045.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Stephen E. 
Calopedis 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)(1) and 3506 (c) 
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
    The Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases collections are 
conducted pursuant to Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 
(Pub. L. 102-486, 42 U.S.C. 13385) under General Guidelines (DOE/PO-
0028). These forms are designed to collect voluntarily reported data on 
greenhouse gas emissions, achieved reductions of these emissions, and 
increased carbon fixation. Further, the forms support President William 
J. Clinton's 1993 Climate Change Action Plan, by collecting information 
on commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to sequester 
carbon in future years, including the progress made toward meeting 
those commitments.

[[Page 44526]]

II. Current Actions

    This request is for public comments on a proposed extension to an 
existing collection. The actions will include an extension from the 
currently approved OMB expiration dates of the Form EIA-1605 and EIA-
1605EZ (from May 31, 2001 to May 31, 2004) i.e., three-year extension.

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:
    1. Form EIA-1605 (long version): 40 hours per response
    2. Form EIA-1605EZ (short version): 4 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 of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 
Chapter 35).

    Issued in Washington, D.C. July 11, 2000.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 00-18087 Filed 7-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P