[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 87 (Thursday, May 5, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25683-25685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10977]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: U.S. 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 to the EIA-22M, ``Monthly Biodiesel Production Survey.''

DATES: Comments must be filed by July 5, 2011. If you anticipate 
difficulty in submitting comments within that

[[Page 25684]]

period, contact the person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Chris Buckner. To ensure receipt of the 
comments by the due date, submission by FAX (202-586-1076) or e-mail 
([email protected]) is recommended. The mailing address is Office 
of Petroleum and Biofuels Statistics, EI-25, Forrestal Building, U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 
20585. Alternatively, Chris Buckner may be contacted by telephone at 
202-586-6670.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of any forms and instructions should be directed to Chris 
Buckner at the address listed above. The proposed forms and changes in 
definitions and instructions are also available on the Internet at: 
http://www.eia.doe.gov/survey/#eia-22m.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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

I. Background

    The Federal Energy Administration (FEA) Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 
772(b), Pub. L. 93-275), requires 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.
    Section 503 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Public Law 102-486 
(EPACT1992), (42 U.S.C. 13253) directs DOE to estimate consumption of 
alternative and replacement fuels annually. Since 1994, EIA has 
published replacement fuel consumption data annually in Alternatives to 
Traditional Transportation Fuels.\1\ Biodiesel consumption (estimated 
by EIA based on secondary sources) has been included since 2000.
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    \1\ http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/atftables/afvtransfuel_II.html
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    The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT2005), Public Law 109-058 (42 
U.S.C. 15801) specifies in greater detail how EIA should monitor 
biodiesel. Section 42 U.S.C. 7135(m)(1) states:

    ``In order to improve the ability to evaluate the effectiveness 
of the Nation's renewable fuels mandate, the [Administrator] shall 
conduct and publish the results of a survey of renewable fuels 
demand in the motor vehicle fuels market in the United States 
monthly, and in a manner designed to protect the confidentiality of 
individual responses. In conducting the survey, the Administrator 
shall collect information both on a national and regional basis, 
including each of the following:''

(A) The quantity of renewable fuels produced
(B) The quantity of renewable fuels blended
(C) The quantity of renewable fuels imported
(D) The quantity of renewable fuels demanded
(E) Market price data
(F) Such other analyses or evaluations as the Administrator finds 
necessary to achieve the purposes of this section.

    42 U.S.C. 7135(m)(2) also provides:

    ``The Administrator shall also collect or estimate information 
both on a national and regional basis, pursuant to subparagraphs (A) 
through (F) of paragraph (1), for the 5 years prior to 
implementation of this subsection.''

    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 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 for this collection by the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Section 3507(a) of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
    Please refer to the proposed 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, 
provisions for confidentiality, and uses (including possible 
nonstatistical uses) of the information. For instructions on obtaining 
materials, see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

II. Current Actions

    The EIA proposes a three-year extension to the EIA-22M, ``Biodiesel 
Production Survey'' with no changes.

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 respondent by the due 
date?
    E. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to 
average:
    Estimated hours per response: 3 hours. 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. 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 forms. They also 
will become a matter of public record.

    Statutory Authority:  Section 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, 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.).


[[Page 25685]]


    Issued in Washington, DC, April 28, 2011.
Stephanie Brown,
Director, Office of Survey Development & Statistical Integration, U.S. 
Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-10977 Filed 5-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P