[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 6, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14519-14520]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05153]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy


Proposed Agency Information Collection

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. 
Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Submission for Office of Management and Budget (OMB) review; 
comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy has submitted to the OMB for 
clearance, a proposal for collection of information pursuant to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The collection would be used to 
develop information that will enable DOE to measure the impact and 
progress of DOE's National Clean Fleets Partnership (Partnership). The 
Partnership is an initiative through which DOE provides large private-
sector fleets with technical assistance and expertise to incorporate 
alternative fuels and fuel saving measures into their operations 
successfully. The initiative builds on the established success of DOE's 
Clean Cities program. The Partnership was developed with input from 
fleet managers, industry representatives, Clean Cities program staff, 
and Clean Cities coordinators.

DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be 
received on or before April 5, 2013. If you anticipate that you will be 
submitting comments, but find it difficult to do so within the period 
of time allowed by this notice, please advise the OMB Desk Officer of 
your intention to make a submission as soon as possible. The Desk 
Officer may be telephoned at 202-395-4718 or contacted by email at 
[email protected].

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to Desk Officer for the 
Department of Energy Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs 
Office of Management and Budget New Executive Office Building Room 
10102, 735 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503 and to Mr. Mark Smith, 
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE-2G), U.S. 
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 
20585-0121, or by fax at 202-586-1600, or by email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mark Smith at the address listed 
above in ADDRESSES.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information collection request 
contains: (1) OMB No. New; (2) Information Collection Request Title: 
National Clean Fleets Partnership Progress; (3) Type of Request: New; 
(4) Purpose: DOE's Clean Cities initiative has developed a voluntary 
National Clean Fleets Partnership effort that establishes strategic 
alliances with large private fleets to help them explore and adopt 
alternative fuels and fuel economy measures to reduce petroleum use. 
The Partnership does not endeavor to engage a large number of fleets, 
but rather works with select fleets committed to leading the way in 
reducing petroleum consumption. Under a voluntary agreement, Clean 
Cities commits to provide each fleet with a designated account manager 
for assistance and support; work with fleets to develop individual 
partner plans to reduce petroleum use; provide technical assistance, 
data, access to subject matter experts, analysis, and unbiased 
evaluation; provide education and outreach materials to recognize a 
fleet's involvement with the Partnership and its accomplishments; 
supply mechanisms for fleet information exchange and networking; and 
identify and document progress related to petroleum savings, cost 
savings, and reductions in emissions. A participating fleet commits to 
appointing a primary contact; developing a petroleum use reduction 
plan; acting to work toward the goals set forth in the plan; tracking 
progress and provide baseline information and annual data on petroleum 
use; and participating as an active Clean Cities stakeholder.
    The principal objective of collecting the information DOE seeks to 
gather through the Partnership effort is to allow DOE to develop an 
objective assessment and estimate of each fleet's impact and progress. 
Information requested would be used to establish a baseline of 
activities, vehicle inventories, and fuel use for each fleet, which 
will then be used for future comparisons and analyses of instituted 
programs and policies. A designated representative for each 
participating fleet will provide the requested information. The 
intended respondent is expected to be aware of relevant aspects of the 
company's fleet management, such that the gathering of information is 
not expected to be very resource consuming.
    The Partnership effort will rely on data provided in a template 
spreadsheet and responses to questions the respondent chooses to answer 
during a phone or in-person interview. The questions and data 
collection would address the following topic areas: (a) Vehicle data, 
in terms of the number of different vehicles in the fleet sorted by 
fuel type and class or category of vehicle; (b) Fuel data, in terms of 
the quantity of fuel used in given vehicle categories or classes, based 
on the type of fuel; (c) Fuel use by type by zip code or other 
appropriate geographic zone; (d) type of infrastructure used; (e) 
Current and historical fleet strategies to reduce petroleum (driver 
training, idle reduction, alternative fuels, right sizing); and (f) 
Fleet operations (how vehicles are fueled). The responses and data will 
be compiled for the purpose of assessing progress against the fleet's 
baseline information, and impact in terms of increasing deployment of 
alternative fueled vehicles and alternative fuels themselves.
    The interview that would be part of the voluntary Partnership 
initiative would be completed on an annual basis, at the convenience of 
the participating fleet, there being no date by which the questions 
must be completed. Calculation of progress and impacts will be 
undertaken on an ongoing basis, once the interview is completed.
    The data and subsequent analyses will allow DOE to compare 
historical records dynamically, and provide the opportunity for each 
fleet to determine annual progress.
    The Partnership is targeted at large, private-sector fleets that 
own or have contractual control over at least 50 percent of their 
vehicles and have vehicles operating in multiple States. DOE expects 
approximately 20 fleets to

[[Page 14520]]

participate in the Partnership the first year and, as a result, DOE 
expects a total respondent population of approximately 20 respondents 
the first year. Providing initial baseline information for each 
participating fleet, which occurs only once, is expected to take 60 
minutes. Follow-up questions and clarifications for the purpose of 
ensuring accurate analyses are expected to take up to 90 minutes. (5) 
Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 20; (6) Annual Estimated Number 
of Total Responses: 20; (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 
50; and (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: 
There is no cost associated with reporting and recordkeeping.

    Statutory Authority: 42 U.S.C. 13252(a)-(b); 42 U.S.C. 13255; 42 
U.S.C. Sec 7256.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on February 28, 2013.
Patrick B. Davis,
Director, Vehicle Technologies Program, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy.
[FR Doc. 2013-05153 Filed 3-5-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P