[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 232 (Tuesday, December 3, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71959-71960]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-30563]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration


Policy Statement; Energy Information Administration Policy for 
Release of the Weekly Petroleum Status Report; Comment Request

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

ACTION: Policy statement. Energy Information Administration Policy for 
release of the weekly petroleum status report; comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting 
comments on a proposed change in the policy for the release time of 
EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report (WPSR). Under the proposed policy, 
the release time would be changed to coincide with normal New York 
Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) and International Petroleum Exchange (IPE) 
trading hours.

DATES: Comments must be filed by January 2, 2003. If you anticipate 
difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the 
person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Ronald W. O'Neill. To ensure receipt of the 
comments by the due date, submission by FAX (202-586-5846) or e-mail 
([email protected]) is recommended. The mailing address is Ronald 
W. O'Neill, M.S. EI-42, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Washington, DC 20585-0640. Alternatively, Mr. O'Neill may be contacted 
by telephone at (202) 586-2991.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Ronald W. O'Neill at the address above. The WPSR 
is available on EIA's Internet site at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/data_publications/weekly_petroleum_status_report/wpsr.html.

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.) requires that EIA 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 long term 
domestic demands.
    EIA provides the public and other Federal agencies with 
opportunities to comment on collections of energy information conducted 
by EIA. As appropriate, EIA also requests comments on important issues 
relevant to EIA's dissemination of energy information. Comments 
received help EIA when preparing information collections and 
information products necessary to EIA's mission.
    EIA's Weekly Petroleum Status Report (WPSR) provides timely 
information on supply and selected prices of crude oil and principal 
petroleum products. It serves the industry, the press, planners, 
policymakers, consumers, analysts, and State and local governments with 
a ready, reliable source of current information.

II. Current Actions

    The WPSR data are based primarily on weekly company submissions of 
information as of 7 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST) Friday. Weekly 
data are filed with EIA by 5 p.m. EST on the following Monday. 
Currently, the WPSR data are publicly released electronically at 9 a.m. 
each Wednesday, and the printed version is available on Friday. For 
weeks that include holidays, release of the WPSR may be delayed by one 
day.
    The American Petroleum Institute (API) has released its version of 
the same data about 5 p.m. on Tuesday. As a result, the API release was 
the most closely watched and had the greatest impact on petroleum 
markets. More significantly, the Tuesday night release occurred when 
all major petroleum trading markets were closed. The API recently 
announced that, starting January 8, 2003, they would begin releasing 
their weekly data at 9 a.m. on Wednesdays.
    With market focus now turning to both EIA and API data, EIA is 
soliciting public opinion on the best or most beneficial release time 
for the data. To the extent that the weekly supply data reflect current 
market conditions, and thereby facilitate market efficiency, EIA is 
considering moving its release time to 10:10 a.m. on Wednesday to 
coincide with normal NYMEX and IPE trading hours. However, public 
opinion is sought on alternative times as well.

III. Request for Comments

    The public should comment on the actions discussed in item II 
concerning the proposed policy change in the WPSR release schedule.
    Comments submitted in response to this notice will be considered 
during final development of EIA's policy for scheduled releases of the 
WPSR. The comments will also become a matter of public record. After 
EIA has considered any comments and developed the final WPSR release 
policy, a Federal Register notice will be issued announcing the policy.


[[Page 71960]]


    Statutory Authority: Section 52 of the Federal Energy 
Administration Act (Pub. L. No. 93-275, 15 U.S.C. 790a).

    Issued in Washington, DC, November 27, 2002.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 02-30563 Filed 12-2-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P