[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 44 (Tuesday, March 6, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13515-13516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-5432]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of Energy 
(DOE).

ACTION: Agency information collection activities: proposed collection; 
comment request.

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SUMMARY: The EIA is soliciting comments on the proposed three-year 
extension to the Form EIA-63A, ``Annual Solar Thermal Collector 
Manufacturers Survey,'' and EIA-63 B, ``Annual Photovoltaic Module/Cell 
Manufacturers Survey.''

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before May 7, 2001. If you 
anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, 
contact the person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to James Holihan, Energy Information 
Administration, EIA-52, Renewable Energy Branch, Forrestal Building, 
U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585-0650, telephone (202) 
287-1735; e-mail [email protected]; FAX (202) 287-1946. 
Alternatively, Fred Mayes may be contacted by telephone at (202) 287-
1750; FAX at (202) 287-1946, or e-mail at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of any forms and instructions should be directed to James 
Holihan 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 DOE Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 95-91, 
42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) require the 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(a) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995.
    The forms currently are used to gather information on the supply 
and distribution of solar thermal collectors, photovoltaic cells, and 
photovoltaic modules. Specifically, the forms collect information on 
manufacturing, imports, exports, and shipments. The EIA has been 
collecting this information annually and proposes to continue the 
surveys. The data collected will be published in the Renewable Energy 
Annual and will also be available through EIA's Internet site at http://www.eia.doe.gov/fuelrenewable.html.

II. Current Actions

    The EIA will request a three-year extension through August 31, 2004 
to continue using Forms EIA-63A and EIA-63B. No substantive 
modifications to the currently approved forms will be proposed unless 
substantive suggestions are received and approved.

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. (If the notice 
covers more than one form, add ``Please indicate to which form(s) your 
comments apply.'')

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 to the Request for Information

    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 3 hours per response. The estimated burden includes the total 
time necessary to provide the requested information. In your opinion, 
how accurate is this estimate?
    D. The agency estimates that the only cost to a respondent is for 
the time it will take to complete the collection. Will a respondent 
incur any start-up costs for reporting, or any recurring

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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 of the Information to be Collected

    A. Is the information useful at the levels of detail to be 
collected?
    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) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
    Issued in Washington, DC, February 26, 2001.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-5432 Filed 3-5-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P