[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 228 (Monday, November 30, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62567-62568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-28622]


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

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 of Form FE-746R, ``Natural Gas Import and Export Monthly 
Report.''

DATES: Comments must be filed by January 29, 2010. 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. Also, please visit our Web site at http://fossil.energy.gov/programs/gasregulation/Guidelines_for_Quarterly_Reports.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background
II. Current Actions
III. Request for Comments

I. Background

    The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 761 et 
seq.) and the DOE Organization Act (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 (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. 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

[[Page 62568]]

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. DOE collects critical natural gas 
information (i.e., country of origin/destination, international point 
of entry/exit; name of supplier; volume; price; transporter; geographic 
market served; and duration of supply contract) on a monthly basis. 
This information, which is published in FE's Natural Gas Import and 
Export Quarterly Report, is 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.
    Please refer the to the natural gas import and export report forms 
and instructions for more information about the purpose, who must 
report, when to report, where to submit, the elements to be reported, 
detailed instructions, disclosure information, and uses (including 
possible nonstatistical uses) of the information. For instructions on 
obtaining materials, see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

II. Current Actions

    DOE will be requesting a three-year extension of approval to its 
natural gas import and export activity data collection with no changes 
to the previously approved collection. 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.

As a Potential Respondent to the Request for Information

    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?
    B. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the 
quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information to be 
collected?
    C. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If 
not, which instructions need clarification?
    D. Can the information be submitted by the due date?
    E. Public reporting burden for the proposed monthly reporting of 
natural gas imports and exports is estimated to average three hours per 
response. The estimated burden includes the total time necessary to 
provide the requested information. In your opinion, how accurate is 
this estimate?
    F. 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?
    G. 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.
    H. 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. Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the 
proper performance of the functions of the agency and does the 
information have practical utility?
    B. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the 
quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information 
disseminated?
    C. Is the information useful at the levels of detail to be 
collected?
    D. For what purpose(s) would the information be used? Be specific.
    E. 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 13(b) of the Federal Energy 
Administration Act of 1974, Public Law 93-275, codified at 15 U.S.C. 
772(b) and Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act of 1938, codified at 15 
U.S.C. 717b.

    Issued in Washington, DC, November 19, 2009.
Stephanie Brown,
Director, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-28622 Filed 11-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P