2020-09445. Proposed Agency Information Collection Regarding the Energy Priorities and Allocations System

AGENCY:

Office of Electricity, Department of Energy.

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a proposed extension of a collection of information that DOE is developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

DATES:

Comments regarding this proposed information collection extension must be received on or before July 6, 2020. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in ADDRESSES as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be sent to Christopher A. Lawrence, Transmission Permitting and Technical Assistance, Office of Electricity, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC, [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Christopher A. Lawrence, U.S. Department of Energy, at [e-mail] or 202-586-5260.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This information collection request contains: (1) OMB No.: 1910-5159; (2) Information Collection Request Title: Energy Priorities and Allocations System; (3) Type of Request: Extension; (4) Purpose: To meet requirements of the Defense Production Act (DPA) priorities and allocations authority necessary or appropriate to promote the national defense. Data supplied will be used to evaluate applicants requesting special priorities assistance to fill a rated order issued in accordance with the DPA and DOE's implementing regulations. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed 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. This data will also be used to conduct audits and for enforcement purposes. This collection will only be used if the Secretary of Energy determines that his authority under the DPA is necessary to prevent or address an energy shortage or energy reliability concern. The last collection by DOE under this authority was in 2001; (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 10, as this collection is addressed to a substantial majority of the energy industry; (6) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 32 minutes per response; (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0.

Statutory Authority: Defense Production Act of 1950 as amended (50 U.S.C. 4501, et seq.); Executive Order 13603.

Signing Authority

This document of the Department of Energy was signed on April 29, 2020, by Bruce J. Walker, Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity, pursuant to delegated authority from the Secretary of Energy. That document with the original signature and date is maintained by DOE. For administrative purposes only, and in compliance with requirements of the Office of the Federal Register, the undersigned DOE Federal Register Liaison Officer has been authorized to sign and submit the document in electronic format for publication, as an official document of the Department of Energy. This administrative process in no way alters the legal effect of this document upon publication in the Federal Register.

Signed in Washington, DC, on April 29, 2020.

Treena V. Garrett,

Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. Department of Energy.