[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 154 (Thursday, August 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45800-45801]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-13035]


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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 and revisions to Form FE 746R, ``The Natural Gas Import and 
Export Authorization Application and Monthly Reports,'' which includes 
the elimination of the associated quarterly reporting requirement.

DATES: Comments must be filed by October 10, 2006. If you anticipate 
difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the 
person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Yvonne Caudillo. To ensure receipt of the 
comments by the due date, submission by FAX (202-586-6050) or e-mail 
([email protected]) is recommended. The mailing address is The 
Office of Fossil Energy, Natural Gas Regulatory Activities, FE-34, 
Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585. 
Alternatively, Ms. Caudillo may be contacted by telephone at 202-586-
4587.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of any forms and instructions should be directed to Ms. Caudillo 
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.
    DOE's Office of Fossil Energy (FE) is delegated the authority to 
regulate natural gas imports and exports under section 3 of the Natural 
Gas Act of 1938, 15 U.S.C. 717b. In order to carry out its delegated 
responsibility, FE requires those persons seeking to import or export 
natural gas to file an application containing the basic information 
about the scope and nature of the proposed import/export activity. 
Historically, FE has collected information on a quarterly and monthly 
basis regarding import and export transactions. That information has 
been used to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the 
authorizations. In addition, the data are used to monitor North 
American gas trade, which, in turn, enables the Federal government to 
perform market and regulatory analyses; improve the capability of 
industry and the government to respond to any future energy-related 
supply problems; and keep the general public informed of international 
natural gas trade.

II. Current Actions

    DOE will be requesting a three-year extension of approval to its 
natural gas import and export application information collection for 
both long-term and blanket (short-term) authorizations. In addition, 
DOE will be requesting a three-year extension and a revision of its 
existing information reporting requirements for import/export 
transactions under an approved application by revising the monthly 
reporting and eliminating the quarterly report.
    DOE has undertaken a Natural Gas Data Collection Initiative to 
improve the way DOE gathers and disseminates information about the use 
and origin of natural gas supplies in the U.S. More specifically, DOE 
is continually seeking to improve the timeliness of the published 
information and to streamline the reporting process for the natural gas 
import/export authorization holders. Historically, DOE has collected 
critical natural gas transaction information (i.e., country of origin/
destination, international point of entry/exit, and volume imported/
exported) on a monthly basis, and has collected more detailed natural 
gas information (i.e., country of origin/destination, international 
point of entry/exit; name of supplier; volume; price; transporter; 
purchaser; geographic market served; and duration of supply contract) 
on a quarterly basis. Under this Initiative, DOE plans to collect the 
detailed natural gas transaction information (which is currently 
collected on a quarterly basis) on a monthly basis. DOE also plans to 
eliminate the quarterly reporting requirement.
    This proposed change in reporting requirements would reduce the 
burden on the authorization holders by eliminating the requirement of 
filing two different reports on two different reporting schedules. This 
proposed change would also streamline the data collection and 
publication process and make it possible for DOE to provide the 
government, the industry and the general public with more detailed 
information on a more timely basis. DOE will establish an Internet-
based reporting option for the proposed monthly reporting. DOE will 
treat the monthly information as public information, which conforms to 
the historical treatment of all natural gas import and export 
information filed pursuant to the terms of all natural gas import/
export authorizations.

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.

[[Page 45801]]

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 authorization applications is 
estimated to average 6 hours per application. Public reporting burden 
for the proposed monthly reporting of transaction information on 
natural gas imports and exports is estimated to average 3 hours per 
response. In addition, the elimination of the quarterly report 
requirement is estimated to reduce the public reporting burden by an 
average of 5 hours per response per quarter. 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 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. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

    Issued in Washington, DC, August 4, 2006.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Energy Information Administration.
 [FR Doc. E6-13035 Filed 8-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P