[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 161 (Monday, August 20, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 43581]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-20902]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The EIA is soliciting comments on the proposed three-year 
extension to the Form FE-746R, ``Import and Export of Natural Gas.''

DATES: Comments must be filed on or before October 19, 2001. If you 
anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, 
contact the person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Yvonne Caudillo, Office of Fossil Energy, 
FE-34, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 
20585. Alternatively, Yvonne Caudillo may be contacted by telephone at 
(202) 586-4587, FAX at (202) 586-4062, 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 Yvonne 
Caudillo 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 demand.
    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 Office of Fossil Energy (FE) of the Department of Energy is 
delegated the authority to regulate natural gas imports and exports 
under section 3 of the Natural Gas Act of 1938, 15 U.S.C. 717b.
    In order to carry out its delegated responsibility, FE requires 
those persons seeking to import or export natural gas to file an 
application containing basic information about the scope and nature of 
the proposed import/export activity. FE collects, on a quarterly basis, 
certain information regarding import and export transactions. The 
information obtained quarterly from authorization holders is used to 
ensure compliance with any terms and conditions of authorization. In 
addition, the data are used to monitor North American natural gas 
trade, which in turn enables the Federal Government to perform market 
and regulatory analyses; improve the capability of industry and the 
Government to respond to any future energy-related supply problems; and 
keep the general public informed of international natural gas trade.

II. Current Actions

    FE is proposing a three-year extension, without change, of the 
currently approved Form FE-746R.

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 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 between 8 hours (for short-term authorizations of up to two 
years) to 24 hours for long-term authorizations (over 2 years). The 
public reporting burden for the quarterly reports after authorization 
is estimated to range from 0.25 of an hour to 8 hours per response, 
with an average burden of 2 hours. 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 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, August 13, 2001 .
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 01-20902 Filed 8-17-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P