[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 9 (Friday, January 13, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2350-2351]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-00591]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Proposed Extension

AGENCY: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of 
Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: DOE invites public comment on the proposed collection of 
information, FE-746R ``Natural Gas Imports and Exports'', as required 
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. DOE is requesting a three-
year extension with changes of Form FE-746R, ``Natural Gas Imports and 
Exports''. The information collection request supports DOE's Office of 
Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) in gathering critical 
information on the U.S. trade in natural gas, including liquefied 
natural gas (LNG). The data are used to monitor natural gas trade, 
assess the adequacy of U.S. energy resources to meet near and longer 
term domestic demands, and support various market and regulatory 
analyses done by FECM.

DATES: DOE must receive all comments on this proposed information 
collection no later than March 14, 2023. If you anticipate any 
difficulties in submitting your comments by the deadline, contact the 
person listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice as soon as 
possible.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments electronically to Tu Tran at 
[email protected] or mail comments to U.S. Energy Department (FE-34), 
Attn: Tu Tran, Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, 1000 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you need additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument, send your request to 
Tu Tran, (202) 235-5873, [email protected]. Copies of the information 
collection instruments and instructions can also be viewed at: https://

[[Page 2351]]

www.energy.gov/fecm/articles/changes-fe-746-data-collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information collection request 
contains:
    (1) OMB No.: 1901-0294;
    (2) Information Collection Request Title: ``Natural Gas Imports and 
Exports;''
    (3) Renewal with changes;
    (4) Purpose: 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 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. Additionally, FECM is authorized to regulate 
natural gas imports and exports, including LNG, under 15 U.S.C. 717b. 
In order to carry out its statutory responsibilities, FECM requires 
anyone seeking to import or export natural gas to file an application 
and provide basic information on the scope and nature of the proposed 
import/export activity. Additionally, once an importer or exporter 
receives an authorization from FECM, they are required to submit 
monthly reports of all import and/or export transactions.
    Specifically, the Form FE-746R requires the reporting of the 
following information by every holder of a DOE/FECM import or export 
authorization: the name of importer/exporter; country of origin/
destination; international point of entry/exit; name of supplier; 
volume; price; transporters; U.S. geographic market(s) served; and 
duration of supply contract on a monthly basis. This information is 
used by both EIA and FECM to assess the adequacy of energy resources to 
meet near and longer term domestic demands, and by FECM in the 
management of its natural gas regulatory program.
    Data collected on Form FE-746R are published in Natural Gas Imports 
and Exports, LNG Monthly Report, and in EIA official statistics on U.S. 
natural gas supply and disposition. In addition, the data are used to 
monitor the North American natural 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.
    (4a) Proposed Changes to Information Collection: FECM will use the 
exemptions under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to protect 
prices of LNG exports, but not other natural gas price data. Import and 
export prices for all forms of natural gas at the transaction level 
will be considered public information and may be publicly released in 
company identifiable form, excluding prices for domestically produced 
LNG exports. The data protection statement for information reported on 
Form FE-746R will read:
    ``Information reported on Form FE-746R is considered public 
information and may be publicly released in company identifiable form, 
except that the following information will be protected and not 
disclosed to the public to the extent that it satisfies the criteria 
for exemption under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 
552, as amended, and the Department of Energy (DOE) regulations, 10 CFR 
1004.11, implementing the FOIA:
     LNG export prices;
     Name of the Specific Purchaser/End User for all forms of 
natural gas imports and exports, including LNG, for all modes of 
transportation except by pipeline; and
     Heat content for all forms of natural gas imported and 
exported.''
    Published LNG export prices will be aggregated for all LNG cargoes 
by month at each point of export. Additionally, there may be some 
statistics that are based on data from fewer than three import or 
export transactions. In these cases, it may be possible for a 
knowledgeable person to closely estimate the information reported by a 
specific respondent.
    Data protection methods will not be applied to the aggregate 
statistical data published from submissions on Form FE-746R.
    (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 353.
    (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 4,236.
    (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 12,708.
    (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: The 
cost of the burden hours is estimated to be $1,133,419. EIA estimates 
that respondents will have no additional costs associated with the 
surveys other than the burden hours and the maintenance of the 
information during the normal course of business.
    Comments are invited on whether or not: (a) The proposed collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of agency 
functions, including whether the information will have a practical 
utility; (b) EIA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used, is accurate; (c) EIA can improve the quality, utility, and 
clarity of the information it will collect; and (d) EIA can minimize 
the burden of the collection of information on respondents, such as 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    Statutory Authority: 15 U.S.C. 772(b), 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq., 15 
U.S.C. 717b.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on January 9, 2023.
Samson A. Adeshiyan,
Director, Office of Statistical Methods & Research, U.S. Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-00591 Filed 1-12-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P