[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 105 (Thursday, June 1, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31174-31176]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8496]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 reinstatement 
of the Form EIA-846(A)(B)(C), ``Manufacturing Energy Consumption 
Survey.''

DATES: Comments must be filed by July 31, 2006. If you anticipate 
difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the 
person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Tom Lorenz. To ensure receipt of the 
comments by the due date, submission by FAX (202-586-0018) or e-mail 
([email protected]) is recommended. The mailing address is 
Office of Energy Markets and End Use, Energy Consumption Division, EI-
63, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 
20585. Alternatively, Mr. Lorenz may be contacted by telephone at 202-
586-3442.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of Internet or paper forms and instructions should be directed 
to Tom Lorenz 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 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.
    The Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) is a self-
administered sample survey designed to collect energy consumption and 
expenditures data from establishments in the manufacturing sector; 
i.e., North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes 31-
33. There are three MECS data collection forms and their use depends on 
an establishment's primary business activity classification under 
NAICS. Form EIA-846A collects information for all the manufacturing 
industries contained within NAICS 31-33 except for NAICS 321, 322, 324, 
325, and 331111. Form EIA-846B is for establishments operating 
primarily in the petroleum refining industry (NAICS 324110). Form EIA-
846C is for

[[Page 31175]]

establishments in NAICS 321, 322, 324 (except 324110), 325 and 331111.
    The 2006 MECS will collect information during 2007 for business 
activities in calendar year 2006. For the 2006 MECS, EIA proposes to 
collect the following data from each MECS establishment: (1) For each 
energy source consumed--consumption (total, fuel and nonfuel uses) and 
the expenditures for each energy source, energy storage (as 
applicable), and energy produced onsite; (2) energy end uses; (3) fuel-
switching capabilities; (4) general energy-saving technologies; (5) 
energy management activities; and (6) square footage and number of 
buildings in the establishment.
    The MECS has been conducted six times previously, covering the 
years 1985, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1998, and 2002. In all six survey years, 
the MECS has collected baseline data on manufacturers' energy 
consumption and expenditures. The MECS collected data on fuel-switching 
capabilities in all years except 1998. In the 1991, 1994, 1998, and 
2002 surveys, the MECS also collected data on end-uses, energy 
management technologies, building square footage, and energy-saving 
technologies.
    The MECS information is the basis for data and analytic products 
that can be found at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mecs /mecs. Also on this 
website are past publications, articles, and a special analytic series, 
``Industry Analysis Briefs.'' The 2006 MECS will also be used to 
benchmark EIA's industry forecasting model and update changes in the 
energy intensity and greenhouse gases data series.
    The proposed 2006 MECS uses experience gained from the 
administration and processing of the six previous surveys and past 
consultations with respondents, trade association representatives, and 
data users.

II. Current Actions

    EIA proposes making several changes from the 2002 MECS for use in 
the 2006 MECS. The first substantial change for the 2006 MECS is 
collecting the data primarily through the Internet instead of though a 
paper and pencil method. This change, in part, has occurred because of 
the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) which requires EIA, as 
of October 21, 2003, to allow establishments the option to submit and 
maintain information electronically. EIA anticipates that this 
electronic method will save time and money in the submission and 
processing of the data. There will still be an option for those 
manufacturing establishments who do not have Internet access to 
complete the 2006 survey using the standard paper method.
    The persisting energy prices volatility since the 2002 survey has 
prompted EIA to not only continue to collect fuel-switching data for 
the 2006 survey, but to expand it with a few more questions being 
asked. EIA plans to ask about the limitations that would make fuel 
switching impractical. This reporting would help EIA better understand 
what factors, if any, play a role in the capability of a manufacturing 
establishment to fuel-switch. EIA is also planning to add a question to 
obtain data about what price differences among fuels would likely 
trigger a switch.
    EIA is working with the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy (EERE) at DOE to reform the questions in the Energy Management 
and General Technologies sections on the MECS. Pending funding from 
EERE the questions plan to target energy efficiency activities at the 
manufacturing establishment. The data collected would help EIA and DOE 
to develop manufacturing energy efficiency improvements. These will be 
``Yes''/ ``No'' questions that should not greatly increase response 
burden.
    The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has requested to include 
questions on the MECS relating to manufacturing water consumption. 
Pending funding from EPA and EIA and OMB approval, these questions plan 
to target general water consumption at manufacturing establishments. 
These questions, which focus on water use, are not to be confused with 
the Industrial Hot Water section that is currently collected by the 
MECS, which focuses on the energy content of the water.
    The increased response burden for the added energy efficiency 
activities and fuel switching questions will be offset by the planned 
removal of the onsite electricity generation ownership questions from 
the 2002 survey. Also, EIA plans to eliminate all of the steam and 
industrial hot water questions from the 2002 survey except for 
purchases, generation from renewable energy sources, and sales and 
transfers offsite, which will still be collected for the 2006 survey. 
EIA believes that collecting data through the Internet will lessen the 
response burden because it will be easier to use and faster to complete 
the questionnaire than the traditional paper method.
    Besides the changes already discussed, the content of the 2006 MECS 
will be largely unchanged from the 2002 survey. Most respondents will 
submit their data electronically in a question-answer format as opposed 
to the spreadsheet format used in the past. The MECS information 
products will continue to present industry-by-Census Region level data 
as well as national data.

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. Please indicate to 
which form(s) your comments apply.

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. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the 
quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information to be 
collected?
    B. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If 
not, which instructions need clarification?
    C. Can the information be submitted by the due date?
    D. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to 
average eight hours per response for Form EIA-846A, seven hours per 
response for Form EIA-846B, and nine hours per response for Form EIA-
846C. The estimated burden includes the total time necessary to provide 
the requested information. In your opinion, how accurate is this 
estimate?
    E. 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?
    F. 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.
    G. Does any other Federal, State, or local agency collect similar 
information? If so, specify the agency, the data

[[Page 31176]]

element(s), and the methods of collection.

As a Potential User of the Information To Be Collected

    A. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the 
quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information 
disseminated?
    B. Is the information useful at the levels of detail to be 
collected?
    C. For what purpose(s) would the information be used? Be specific.
    D. 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, May 24, 2006.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-8496 Filed 5-31-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P