[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 121 (Friday, June 21, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31929-31930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-15871]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection
AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy.
ACTION: Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection;
comment request.
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SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting
comments concerning the proposed extension to the ``Recordkeeping
Requirements of DOE's General Allocation and Price Rules,'' ERA-766R.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted by August 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.
ADDRESS: Send comments to Dan Bullington, General Counsel, GC-90, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC
20585-0103. Telephone (202) 586-7364, FAX (202) 586-0422.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Requests for additional information should be
directed to Dan Bullington 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 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
requirements. 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 or
recordkeeping requirements on respondents can be properly assessed.
The recordkeeping requirements are authorized by section 203(a)(1)
of the Economic Stabilization Act (ESA) of 1970, as amended (Pub. L.
92-210, 85 State. 743) and by section 13(g) of the Federal Energy
Administration Act (FEAA) of 1974, as amended (Pub. L. 93-275).
The Economic Regulatory Administration (ERA) proposes to extend for
three years the limited recordkeeping requirements presently contained
in 10 CFR 210.1. The antecedent regulation was narrowed by amendment in
January 1985.
The record retention requirements of 10 CFR 210.1 do not mandate
the creation or retention of any new records. Instead, they require
firms to preserve only historical records relating to
[[Page 31930]]
compliance with the petroleum regulations.
The proposed extension of 10 CFR 210.1 will enable the ERA to
continue its efforts to complete the enforcement program with respect
to prior petroleum price and allocation regulations.
II. Current Actions
This is an extension with no change of the existing requirements.
The requirements are proposed to be extended for a period of three
years, from October 31, 1996 to October 31, 1999.
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.
General Issues
EIA is interested in receiving comments from persons regarding
whether the proposed recordkeeping requirements are necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the agency.
As a Potential Respondent
A. Are the instructions regarding the recordkeeping requirements
clear and sufficient? If not, which instructions require clarification?
B. Can data be maintained as specified in the recordkeeping
requirements?
C. Public reporting burden for the recordkeeping requirements are
estimated to average 4 hours per respondent. 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; (5) searching data sources; (6) completing and reviewing the
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 this requirement, including through
the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
D. What are 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 requirement? The estimates should take into account the costs
associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing
the information.
Estimates should not include purchases of equipment or services
made as part of customary and usual business practices, or the cost of
any burden hours. EIA estimates that there are no additional costs
other than those that the respondent incurs in keeping the information
for its own uses.
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., June 13, 1996.
Yvonne M. Bishop,
Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information
Administration.
[FR Doc. 96-15871 Filed 6-20-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
