[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 201 (Wednesday, October 16, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53903-53905]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-26421]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed renewal of form EIA-457A-H,
Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before December 16,
1996. 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,
you should advise the contact listed below of your intention to do so
as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Michael T. Laurence, Office of Energy
Markets and End Use, EI-631, Forrestal
[[Page 53904]]
Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, D.C. 20585, telephone
(202) 586-2453, or INTERNET address, mlaurenc@eia.doe.gov, or fax 202/
586-0018.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Requests for additional information or copies
of the forms and instructions should be directed to Michael T. Laurence
at the address listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
II. Current Actions
III. Request for Comments
I. Background
In order to fulfill its responsibilities under the Federal Energy
Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93-275) and the Department of
Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 95-91), the Energy Information
Administration is obliged to carry out a central, comprehensive, and
unified energy data and information program. As part of this program,
EIA collects, evaluates, assembles, analyzes, and disseminates data and
information related to energy resource reserves, production, demand,
and technology, and related economic and statistical information
relevant to the adequacy of energy resources to meet demands in the
near and longer term future for the Nation's economic and social needs.
The data collection included, herein, was approved by the Director
of the Office of Management and Budget for a one-year extension through
June 30, 1997. EIA seeks an extension of this collection by the
Director with some modifications under Section 3507(h) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, Title 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
The Energy Information Administration, as part of its continuing
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden (required by the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)), conducts a presurvey
consultation program to provide the general public and other Federal
agencies with an opportunity to comment on proposed and/or continuing
reporting forms. This program helps to ensure that requested data can
be provided in the desired format, reporting burden is minimized,
reporting forms are clearly understood, and the impact of collection
requirements on respondents can be properly assessed. The RECS is a
periodic survey of U.S. households to estimate energy consumption and
expenditures and track changes over time. The data are widely used
throughout the government and the private sector for policy analysis
and are made available to the public in a variety of publications and
electronic data files.
II. Current Actions
A three-year extension with changes to an existing collection that
expires June 30, 1997, will be submitted to OMB. Due to funding
constraints, the RECS, with this effort, will move from a triennial to
a quadrennial schedule. Accordingly, the next RECS will be in 1997 and
then 2001. The scope and length of the survey is being substantially
reduced and Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing (CAPI) procedures
are being introduced which will result in a substantial reduction in
respondent burden. Form EIA-457H, Household Lighting Usage Supplement,
is being dropped as well as portions of Form EIA-457A, Household
Questionnaire, including conservation measures, demand-side management,
new home supplement, detailed questions about vehicles, and housing
measurements. Some new questions regarding the frequency that
appliances are used are being added.
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 responses. Please indicate to
which form(s) your comments apply.
General Issues
EIA is interested in receiving comments from persons regarding: A.
Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether
the information will have practical utility. Practical utility is 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 EIA make to the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected?
As a potential respondent
A. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If
not, which instructions require clarification?
B. Can data be submitted in accordance with the due date specified
in the instructions?
C. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to
average 30 minutes for Form EIA-457A, Household Questionnaire; 20
minutes for Form EIA-457B, Mail version of the Household Questionnaire;
15 minutes for Form EIA-457C, Rental Agents, Landlords, and Apartment
Managers; 30 minutes for Form EIA-457D, Household Bottle Gas (LPG or
Propane) Usage; 30 minutes for Form EIA-457D, Household Bottled Gas
(LPG or Propane) Usage; 30 minutes for Form EIA-457E, Household
Electricity Usage; 30 minutes for Form EIA-457F, Household Natural Gas
Usage; and 30 minutes for Form EIA-457G, Household Fuel Oil or Kerosene
Usage. Burden includes the total time, effort, or financial resources
expended to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide the
information including: (1) reviewing instructions; (2) developing,
acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for the
purposes of collecting, validating, verifying, processing, maintaining,
disclosing and providing information; (3) adjusting the existing ways
to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements;
(4) training personnel to respond to a collection of information; (5)
searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the collection of
information; and (7) transmitting, or otherwise disclosing the
information.
Please comment on (1) the accuracy of our estimate and (2) how the
agency could minimize the burden of the collection of information,
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
D. What is the estimated (1) total dollar amount annualized for
capital and start-up costs and (2) recurring annual dollar amount of
operation and maintenance and purchase of services costs associated
with this data collection? The estimates should take into account the
costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or
providing the information.
E. Do you know of any other Federal, State, or local agency that
collects similar data? If you do, specify the agency, the data
element(s), and the methods of collection.
As a potential user
A. Can you use data at the levels of detail indicated on the form?
B. For what purpose would you use the data? Be specific.
C. Are there alternate sources of data and do you use them? If so,
what are their deficiencies and/or strengths?
D. For the most part, information is published by EIA in U.S.
customary units, e.g., cubic feet of natural gas, short tons of coal,
and barrels of oil. Would you prefer to see EIA publish more
information in metric units, e.g., cubic meters, metric tons, and
[[Page 53905]]
kilograms? If yes, please specify what information (e.g., coal
production, natural gas consumption, and crude oil imports), the metric
unit(s) of measurement preferred, and in which EIA publication(s) you
would like to see such information.
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 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13).
Issued in Washington, DC, October 8, 1996.
John Gross,
Acting Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information
Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-26421 Filed 10-15-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
