[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 161 (Wednesday, August 20, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50127-50128]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-21299]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY


Proposed Agency Information Collection

AGENCY: Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a 
proposed collection of information that DOE is developing for 
submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether 
the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the 
information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the 
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be 
received on or before October 20, 2003. If you anticipate difficulty in 
submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed below 
as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to (1) Lorena F. Truett, Oak 
Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6073; or 
by fax to (865) 574-3851; or by e-mail to [email protected]; and to (2) 
Sharon Evelin, Acting Director, Records Management Division IM-11/
Germantown Bldg., Office of Business and Information Management, Office 
of the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Washington, DC 20585-1290.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Lorena F. Truett, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, phone 
(865) 574-4225, fax (865) 574-3851, e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This package contains the following 
supplementary information:
    (1) OMB No.: NEW.
    (2) Package Title: Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure 
Technologies Program Baseline Knowledge Assessment.
    (3) Type of Review: New collection.
    (4) Purpose: The Baseline Knowledge Assessment for the DOE 
Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies (HFC&IT) program 
will measure the levels of and changes in awareness and understanding 
of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and the hydrogen economy within 
four target populations: (1) The general public, (2) students and 
educators, (3) personnel in state and local governments, and (4) 
potential users of hydrogen fuel and technologies in business and 
industry. Four distinct information collections will be required, one 
for each of the target populations. These collections will be conducted 
in stages, with the general public study conducted first. Changes 
relative to baseline knowledge levels will be determined when, after 
three years, each population group will be surveyed again using the 
same survey instrument and methodology. The instrument for assessing 
baseline knowledge will be specifically targeted to the population 
group. The public survey, for example, will assess a general knowledge 
of the production, storage, delivery, applications, and safety of 
hydrogen and fuel cells. Information gathered in this assessment will 
assist the HFC&IT program in formulating an overall education plan for 
hydrogen technologies. It will also provide a baseline for determining 
changes in public awareness and understanding of

[[Page 50128]]

the hydrogen economy, which is an important measure from which the 
success of program education strategies can be evaluated.
    (5) Respondents: Although the numbers of respondents and methods of 
information collection will differ for each of the populations, the 
general scope and temper of the four collections will be the same. The 
general public will be surveyed first. That survey and the general 
public responses may influence the design of the surveys for the other 
target populations. For the general public, a random (probability 
sample) survey of 1,000 adults, age 18 and over, will be conducted via 
computer-assisted phone telephone interviews (CATI) or by other 
appropriate mechanism. About twenty closed-end questions will be posed. 
For students, a random survey of 500 teens (ages 12-17) and 500 pre-
teens (ages 6-11) will be conducted, also using CATI or other 
technology and closed-end questions. Approximately 100-150 primary and 
secondary educators will be randomly selected from a national contact 
list for interviewing. Questions for educators will be of both closed-
end and open-end formats. Contacts with energy agencies in all 50 
states and the District of Columbia will be made, and a limited number 
of local (i.e., municipal) agencies will also be contacted. Questions 
to state and local government agencies will be of both closed-end and 
open-end formats. A limited number of large-scale or potential large-
scale users of energy sources powered by hydrogen and fuel cells will 
also be interviewed using both closed-end and open-end questions.
    (6) Estimated Number of Burden Hours: For the general public 
survey, the burden is estimated at ten minutes per respondent for 1,000 
respondents, for a total time and cost burden of 167 hours and $0. The 
total burdens for the other populations will depend on the designs of 
those surveys, but will be similar in temper and scope to the burden 
for the general public survey. The total time and cost burden for the 
student survey is tentatively estimated to be 133 hours and $0; the 
total burden for educators is estimated to be 25 hours and $0. The 
total burden for the state and local government and large-scale user 
surveys is expected to be less than the burden for the student survey.

    Statutory Authority: Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (Public 
Law 93-438).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 13, 2003.
Sharon Evelin,
Acting Director, Records Management Division, Office of Records and 
Business Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-21299 Filed 8-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P