2015-06095. Agency Information Collection Extension

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The EIA, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend for three years the Form EIA-886, Annual Survey of Alternative Fueled Vehicles, an information collection request with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the extended collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

DATES:

Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before May 18, 2015. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in the ADDRESSES section below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments may be sent to Cynthia Amezcua, EI-22, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585, or by fax at [phone] or by email at [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Cynthia Amezcua by phone at [phone] or by email at the address listed above. Access to the proposed form, instructions, and internet data collection screens can be found at: http://www.eia.gov/​survey/​#eia-886.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This information collection request contains:

(1) OMB No.: 1905-0191;

(2) Information Collection Request Title: Annual Survey of Alternative Fueled Vehicles;

(3) Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved collection;

(4) Purpose: Form EIA-886 is an annual survey that collects information on the number and type of alternative fueled vehicles (AFVs) and other advanced technology vehicles that vehicle suppliers made available in the previous calendar year and plan to make available in the following calendar year; the number, type and geographic distribution of AFVs in use in the previous calendar year; and the amount and distribution of each type of alternative transportation fuel (ATF) consumed in the previous calendar year. Form EIA-886 data are collected from suppliers and users of AFVs. EIA uses data from these groups as a basis for estimating total AFV and ATF use in the U.S. These data are needed by Federal and State agencies, fuel suppliers, transit agencies and other fleets to determine if sufficient quantities of AFVs are available for purchase and to provide Congress with a measure of the extent to which the objectives of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 are being achieved. These data serve as market analysis tools for Congress, Federal/State agencies, AFV suppliers, vehicle fleet managers, and other interested organizations and persons. These data are also needed to satisfy numerous public requests for detailed information on AFVs and ATFs (in particular, the number of AFVs distributed by State, as well as the amount and location of the ATFs being consumed).

EIA publishes summary information from the Form EIA-886 database in an annual report on EIA's Web site (www.eia.gov). This report covers historical and projected supplies of AFVs, AFV usage by selected user groups, and estimates of total U.S. AFV counts and U.S. consumption of ATFs. These data provide baseline inputs for DOE's transportation sector energy models. They also provide the energy consumption measures for alternative transportation fuels in EIA's State Energy Data System. For example, EIA's National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) has a component model that forecasts transportation sector energy consumption and provides a framework for AFV policy and technology analysis. The data obtained from Form EIA-886 are used to improve the explanatory power of the NEMS Transportation Demand Model by allowing for greater detail in representing AFV types and characteristics;

(5) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 2,050;

(6) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 7,815;

AFV Suppliers (30 Original Equipment Manufacturers): 2.5 hours;

AFV Suppliers (20 Aftermarket Vehicle Converters): 2 hours;

AFV Users (100 complex fleets): 20 hours;

AFV Users (1,900 simple fleets): 3 hours;

(7) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: EIA estimates that there are no capital and start-up costs associated with this data collection. The information is maintained in the normal course of business. The cost of burden hours to the respondents is estimated to be $562,446 (7,815 burden hours times $71.97 per hour). Therefore, other than the cost of burden hours, EIA estimates that there are no additional costs for generating, maintaining and providing the information.

Statutory Authority: The legal authority for this data collection effort is provided by the following provisions: Section 13(b) of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974, Public Law 93-275, (FEA Act), and codified at 15 U.S.C. 772 (b), and Section 503(b)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Public Law 102-486 (EPACT92) codified at 42 U.S.C. 13253.

Issued in Washington, DC, on March 11, 2015.

Nanda Srinivasan,

Director, Office of Survey Development and Statistical Integration, U.S. Energy Information Administration.