[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5011-5012]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-2302]


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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 DOE-887, ``Department of Energy Customer 
Surveys.''

DATES: Comments must be filed by April 1, 2003. If you anticipate 
difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the 
person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Herbert Miller. To ensure receipt of the 
comments by the due date, submission by FAX (202-287-1705) or e-mail 
([email protected]) is recommended. The mailing address is 
Energy Information Administration, EI-70, Forrestal Building, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585. Alternatively, Mr. Miller 
may be contacted by telephone at 202-287-1711.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Mr. Miller 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

[[Page 5012]]

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) under section 3507(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.
    On September 11, 1993, the President signed Executive Order No. 
12862 aimed at ``* * * ensuring the Federal government provides the 
highest quality service possible to the American people.'' The Order 
discusses surveys as a means for determining the kinds and qualities of 
service desired by Federal Government customers and for determining 
satisfaction levels for existing services. These voluntary customer 
surveys will be used to ascertain customer satisfaction with the 
Department of Energy in terms of services and products. Respondents 
will be individuals and organizations that are the recipients of the 
Department's services and products. Previous customer surveys have 
provided useful information to the Department for assessing how well 
the Department is delivering its services and products and for making 
improvements. The results are used internally and summaries are 
provided to the Office of Management and Budget on an annual basis, and 
are used to satisfy the requirements and the spirit of Executive Order 
No. 12862.

II. Current Actions

    The request to OMB will be for a three-year extension of the 
expiration date of approval for DOE to conduct customer surveys. During 
the past three years, 10 customer surveys were conducted by telephone, 
mail, and the World Wide Web. Examples of previously conducted customer 
surveys are available upon request. Our planned activities in the next 
three fiscal years reflect our increased emphasis on and expansion of 
these activities, including an increased use of electronic means for 
obtaining customer input (World Wide Web).

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. Public reporting burden for a customer surveys is estimated to 
average .25 hours per response. The estimated burden includes the total 
time necessary to provide the requested information. In your opinion, 
how accurate is this estimate?
    B. 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?
    C. 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.
    D. 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. 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, January 23, 2003.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-2302 Filed 1-30-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P