96-6710. Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 55 (Wednesday, March 20, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11390-11391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6710]



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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, DOE.

SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting 
comments concerning the extension of EIA-882(T), ``Generic Clearance 
for Testing, Evaluation, and Research.''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before May 20, 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 Herbert T. Miller, Office of Statistical 
Standards, FAX: [phone], e:mail: [email protected], Energy 
Information Administration, EI-73, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585, [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION contact: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Mr. Miller 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 (Public Law No. 93-275) and the Department 
of Energy Organization Act (Public Law 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 Energy Information Administration, as part of its continuing 
effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden (required by the 
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Public Law 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 information collections. 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.
    On June 21, 1993, the EIA-882(T), ``Generic Clearance for 
Questionnaire

[[Page 11391]]

Testing, Evaluation, and Research'' (OMB No. 1905-0185) was approved by 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for three years. OMB 
stipulated that reports be submitted indicating the work that was 
conducted under the clearance. Six studies were conducted (or proposed 
to be conducted). The testing activities included several methods: a 
focus group, mail questionnaire, telephone questionnaires, and personal 
interviews. The total number of burden hours that were used in 
conducting these activities was 126 hours.
    The main focus of these efforts was pretesting activities to 
improve questionnaires. Two activities were undertaken to improve a 
vehicle fleet survey, and two were used to develop customer 
satisfaction questionnaires. A methodological study of fuelwood use was 
conducted. There was a wide variety of uses of the data obtained 
through the use of this generic clearance.
    These projects represent significant strides in our efforts to 
improve the pretesting of EIA surveys. As we gain more experience, we 
hope to broaden involvement in testing, evaluation, and research that 
meet the criteria for the clearance.

II. Current Actions

    EIA plans on requesting a 3-year extension of the OMB approval for 
this collection. For each study that EIA undertakes under this generic 
clearance, OMB is notified, at least two weeks in advance, and provided 
with an information copy of the questionnaire (if one is used), and all 
other materials describing the testing activity.

III. Request for Comments

    Comments are invited on:
    (a) Whether the proposed information collection is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information has practical utility;
    (b) The accuracy of EIA's estimate of the burden of the collection 
of the information;
    (c) Ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected, and
    (d) Ways to minimize the burden related to the collection of 
information on respondents, including the use of automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    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 (Public Law No. 104-13).

    Issued in Washington, DC, March 7, 1996.
Yvonne M. Bishop,
Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information 
Administration
[FR Doc. 96-6710 Filed 3-19-96; 8:45 am]
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