[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54139-54140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-20225]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration


Policy Statement; Energy Information Administration Policy for 
Disseminating Revisions to Petroleum Supply Reporting System Data

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

ACTION: Policy statement: Energy Information Administration policy for 
disseminating revisions to Petroleum Supply Reporting System data.

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SUMMARY: The EIA has formalized its existing policy for disseminating 
revisions to Petroleum Supply Reporting System (PSRS) data. PSRS 
information products include data on production, receipts, inputs, 
movements, and stocks of crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas 
liquids in the United States.

DATES: This policy becomes effective on September 7, 2004.

ADDRESS: Requests for information or questions about this policy should 
be directed to Ms. Stefanie Palumbo of EIA's Petroleum Division. Ms. 
Palumbo may be contacted by phone (202-586-6866), FAX (202-586-5846), 
or e-mail ([email protected]). Her mailing address is 
Petroleum Division, EI-42, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of 
Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
about this policy should be directed to Ms. Palumbo at the address 
listed above. Information on EIA's petroleum supply program is 
available on EIA's Internet site at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/petroleum/info_glance/petroleum.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
II. Discussion of Comments
III. Current Actions

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

[[Page 54140]]

resources to meet near and longer term domestic demands.
    The purpose of EIA's Petroleum Supply Reporting System (PSRS) is to 
collect and disseminate basic and detailed data to meet EIA's mandates 
and energy data users' needs for credible, reliable, and timely 
information on U.S. petroleum supply. Adequate understanding of the 
U.S. petroleum industry requires data on production, receipts, inputs, 
movements, and stocks of crude oil, petroleum products, and natural gas 
liquids.
    The PSRS is currently comprised of 16 surveys (i.e., six weekly 
surveys, nine monthly surveys, and one annual survey). The surveys are:
     EIA-800, Weekly Refinery and Fractionator Report,
     EIA-801, Weekly Bulk Terminal Report,
     EIA-802, Weekly Product Pipeline Report,
     EIA-803, Weekly Crude Oil Stocks Report,
     EIA-804, Weekly Imports Report,
     EIA-805, Weekly Terminal Blenders Report,
     EIA-810, Monthly Refinery Report,
     EIA-811, Monthly Bulk Terminal Report,
     EIA-812, Monthly Product Pipeline Report,
     EIA-813, Monthly Crude Oil Report,
     EIA-814, Monthly Imports Report,
     EIA-815, Monthly Terminal Blenders Report,
     EIA-816, Monthly Natural Gas Liquids Report,
     EIA-817, Monthly Tanker and Barge Movement Report,
     EIA-819, Monthly Oxygenate Report, and
     EIA-820 Annual Refinery Report.
    The data are disseminated in EIA's petroleum supply information 
products--the Weekly Petroleum Status Report (WPSR), This Week in 
Petroleum (TWIP), the Petroleum Supply Monthly (PSM), and the Petroleum 
Supply Annual Volumes 1 and 2 (PSA). Within five days of the close of 
the reference week (excluding holiday weeks), weekly PSRS data are 
disseminated in the WPSR and TWIP to provide timely, relevant snapshots 
of the U.S. petroleum industry. Within two months of the close of a 
reference month, data based on the monthly surveys is disseminated in 
the PSM. About five months after the end of the reference year, final 
monthly data as well as annual data are published in the PSA.
    The 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 its dissemination of energy information. Comments received 
help the EIA when preparing information collections and information 
products necessary to EIA's mission.
    On July 9, 2004, EIA issued a Federal Register notice (69 FR 41461) 
requesting public comments on the policy for disseminating revisions to 
PSRS data. In that notice, EIA discussed conditions affecting the 
accuracy of PSRS data, reasons for revisions to PSRS data, and the 
existing policy for disseminating PSRS data. That policy has been in 
effect for over ten years.

II. Discussion of Comments

    In response to the Federal Register notice requesting comments on 
the PSRS revision policy, EIA received comments from one company. While 
the company expressed agreement with the policy for disseminating 
revisions to PSRS data, it did address the situation where a company 
resubmits revised data to EIA. The company requested that EIA staff 
should review resubmitted data before conducting follow-up on the 
originally submitted data. PSRS survey staff have been reminded to 
consider all information submitted by a company before conducting 
follow-up.

III. Current Actions

    EIA is formally stating its policy for disseminating revisions to 
PSRS data. This policy has been in effect for over ten years.
    With respect to the weekly PSRS data, EIA will only disseminate 
revised data if the revision is expected to substantively affect 
understanding of the U.S. petroleum supply. Whether to disseminate a 
revision to weekly data will be based on EIA's judgment of the 
revision's expected effect. A revision will be disseminated in the next 
regularly scheduled release of the weekly products. Weekly PSRS data 
have been revised on average only once every five years.
    The monthly PSRS data reflect EIA's official data on petroleum 
supply and are considered to be more accurate than the weekly data 
because they are generally based upon company accounting records 
instead of company estimates and EIA has more time to edit and correct 
anomalous data. With respect to the monthly PSRS data, EIA will only 
disseminate revised data during the year if the revision is expected to 
substantively affect understanding of the U.S. petroleum supply. 
Whether to disseminate a revision during the year will be based on 
EIA's judgment of the revision's expected effect. At the end of year, 
the monthly data are revised to reflect all resubmitted data received 
during the year. These official final monthly petroleum supply data are 
included in the PSA. To assist users in understanding the expected 
effect of revisions to monthly data during the year, EIA publishes a 
separate monthly table, Impact of Resubmissions on Major Series, in 
each release of the PSM. During the last 10 years, EIA has not 
published revised monthly data outside this scheduled policy.
    The PSA reflects EIA's final data on petroleum supply and will only 
be revised if, in EIA's judgment, a revision is expected to 
substantively affect understanding of the U.S. petroleum supply. EIA 
has not revised PSA data during the last 10 years.
    When EIA disseminates any revised PSRS data, it will alert users to 
the affected data value(s) that are revised.
    EIA reserves the right to revisit or amend this policy. However, 
EIA shall not establish a new PSRS revision policy without prior 
notification in the Federal Register.

    Statutory Authority: Section 52 of the Federal Energy 
Administration Act (Pub. L. 93-275, 15 U.S.C. 790a).


    Issued in Washington, DC, on August 31, 2004.
Guy F. Caruso,
Administrator, Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 04-20225 Filed 9-3-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P