Federal Register, Volume 71 Issue 109 (Wednesday, June 7, 2006)

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 109 (Wednesday, June 7, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32941-32943]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8812]


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

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 three-year 
extension to continue collecting the petroleum marketing survey forms 
listed below for 2007 through 2009:


[[Page 32942]]


EIA-14, ``Refiners'' Monthly Cost Report;''
EIA-782A, ``Refiners'/Gas Plant Operators' Monthly Petroleum Product 
Sales Report;''
EIA-782B, ``Resellers'/Retailers' Monthly Petroleum Product Sales 
Report;''
EIA-782C, ``Monthly Report of Prime Supplier Sales of Petroleum 
Products Sold For Local Consumption;''
EIA-821, ``Annual Fuel Oil and Kerosene Sales Report;''
EIA-863, ``Petroleum Product Sales Identification Survey;''
EIA-877, ``Winter Heating Fuels Telephone Survey;''
EIA-878, ``Motor Gasoline Price Survey;''
EIA-888, ``On-Highway Diesel Fuel Price Survey.''

DATES: Comments must be filed by August 7, 2006. If you anticipate 
difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the 
person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Elizabeth Scott. To ensure receipt of the 
comments by due date, submission by FAX (202) 586-4913 or e-mail 
([email protected]) is recommended. The mailing address is 
Petroleum Division, EI-42, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of 
Energy, Washington, DC 20585. Alternatively, Elizabeth Scott can be 
contacted by telephone at (202) 586-1258.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of any forms and instructions should be directed to Elizabeth 
Scott 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. 93-275, 15 
U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the DOE Organization Act (Pub L. 95-91, 42 
U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) require the EIA to carry out 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.
    EIA's petroleum marketing survey forms collect volumetric and price 
information needed for determining the supply of and demand for crude 
oil and refined petroleum products. These surveys provide a basic set 
of data pertaining to the structure, efficiency, and behavior of 
petroleum markets. These data are published by the EIA on its Web site, 
http://www.eia.doe.gov, as well as in publications such as the Monthly 
Energy Review, Annual Energy Review, Petroleum Marketing Monthly, 
Petroleum Marketing Annual, Week Petroleum Status Report, and the 
International Energy Outlook. EIA also maintains a 24-hour telephone 
hotline number, (202) 586-6966, for the public to obtain retail price 
estimates for on-highway diesel fuel and motor gasoline.

II. Current Actions

    EIA will be requesting a three-year extension of approval to 
continue collecting nine petroleum marketing surveys (Forms EIA-14, 
782A, 782B, 782C, 821, 863, 877, 878, and 888) with no substantive 
changes to the survey forms or instructions. EIA is also interested in 
receiving public comments with regard to the possible modification to 
the EIA's petroleum marketing surveys to include an additional category 
for the reporting of ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel (i.e., that 
No. 2 diesel fuel with a sulfur level no higher than 15 parts per 
million (ppm). The addition of ULSD would impact the Forms EIA-782A, 
782B, 782C, 821, 863 and the 888.

III. Request for Comment

    Prospective respondents and other interest 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:

EIA-14, ``Refiners' Monthly Cost Report'' (1.75 hours per response);
EIA-782A, ``Refiners'/Gas Plant Operators'' Monthly Petroleum Product 
Sales Report'' (15 hours per response);
EIA-782B, ``Resellers'/Retailers' Monthly Petroleum Product Sales 
Report'' (2.5 hours per response);
EIA-782C, ``Monthly Report of Prime Supplier Sales of Petroleum 
Products Sold For Local Consumption'' (2.1 hours per response);
EIA-821, ``Annual Fuel Oil and Kerosene Sales Report'' (3.2 hours per 
response);
EIA-863, ``Petroleum Product Sales Identification Survey'' (1 hour per 
response);
EIA-877, ``Winter Heating Fuels Telephone Survey'' (.1 hour per 
response);
EIA-878, ``Motor Gasoline Price Survey'' (.05 hour per response);
EIA-888, ``On-Highway Diesel Fuel Price Survey'' (.05 hour per 
response).

    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 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.

[[Page 32943]]

    G. 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. 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 alternative 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. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

    Issued in Washington, DC, May 31, 2006.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-8812 Filed 6-6-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P