2024-12198. Agency Information Collection Proposed Extension

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

Notice and request for comments.

SUMMARY:

EIA invites public comment on the proposed three-year extension, with changes, to the Petroleum Marketing Program (PMP) as required under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. EIA's PMP collects volumetric and price information needed for determining the supply of and demand for crude oil and refined petroleum products. PMP consists of six surveys that collect data on petroleum products. EIA uses this information to monitor volumes and prices for crude oil and petroleum products.

DATES:

EIA must receive all comments on this proposed information collection no later than August 5, 2024. If you anticipate any difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments may only be sent electronically to [e-mail].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Rosalyn Berry, U.S. Energy Information Administration, telephone [phone], or by email at [e-mail]. The forms and instructions are available on EIA's website at https://www.eia.gov/​survey/​notice/​marketing2024.php.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments are invited on whether or not: (a) The proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions, including whether the information will have a practical utility; (b) EIA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used, is accurate; (c) EIA can improve the quality, utility, and clarity of the information it will collect; and (d) EIA can minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, such as automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

This information collection request contains:

(1) OMB No.: 1905-0174;

(2) Information Collection Request Title: Petroleum Marketing Program;

(3) Type of Request: Three-year extension with changes;

(4) Purpose: The surveys included in the Petroleum Marketing Program collect volume and price information needed for determining the supply of and demand for crude oil and refined petroleum products. These surveys provide a basic set of data pertaining to the structure, efficiency, and behavior of petroleum markets. These data are published by EIA on its website, at https://www.eia.gov. The Petroleum Marketing Program consists of the following surveys:

Form EIA-14  Refiners' Monthly Cost Report;

Form EIA-182  Domestic Crude Oil First Purchase Report;

Form EIA-856  Monthly Foreign Crude Oil Acquisition Report;

Form EIA-877  Winter Heating Fuels Telephone Survey;

Form EIA-878  Motor Gasoline Price Survey;

Form EIA-888  On-Highway Diesel Fuel Price Survey;

(4a) Proposed Changes to Information Collection:

Form EIA-888, On-Highway Diesel Fuel Price Survey (Potential Change to Data Collection Form and Instructions)

EIA proposes modifying Form EIA-888, On-Highway Diesel Fuel Price Survey, to include a checkbox allowing stations to indicate that they do not sell diesel fuel. This designation will make it easier to identify stations that are no longer in scope for the survey but are still in operation.

(4b) Proposed Survey Discontinuations:

EIA is requesting the discontinuation and removal of the following four surveys from the Petroleum Marketing Program:

Form EIA-863, Petroleum Product Sales Identification Survey

The EIA-863, Petroleum Product Sales Identification Survey, has been suspended since 2011, with the last completed survey cycle occurring for 2006 data. Surveys previously reliant on these data for sample design have implemented new sampling methodologies, which no longer require these data. EIA proposes formally discontinuing this survey.

Form EIA-782A, Refiners'/Gas Plant Operators' Monthly Petroleum Product Sales Report, Form EIA-782C, Monthly Report of Prime Supplier Sales of Petroleum Products Sold for Local Consumption, and Form EIA-821, Annual Fuel Oil and Kerosene Sales Report

To concentrate limited EIA and respondent resources on more timely products, EIA proposes eliminating the EIA-782A, Refiners'/Gas Plant Operators' Monthly Petroleum Product Sales Report, the EIA-782C, Monthly Report of Prime Supplier Sales of Petroleum Products Sold for Local Consumption, and the EIA-821, Annual Fuel Oil and Kerosene Sales Report, surveys. EIA remains committed to balancing the costs associated with collecting data (for both respondents and taxpayers) with the benefits of providing a more complete data set. The U.S. energy industry is dynamic, and our surveys and publications have and will continue to evolve to provide the best value to the American people in support of efficient energy markets. We continue to explore opportunities to incorporate similar data from other sources.

(5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,710;

(6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 178,880;

(7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 26,489;

(8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $2,414,737 (26,489 annual burden hours multiplied by $91.16 per hour), a reduction from $5,162,402 (63,226 annual burden hours multiplied by $81.65 per hour) in 2021. EIA estimates that respondents will have no additional costs associated with the surveys other than the burden hours and the maintenance of the information during the normal course of business.

Statutory Authority:15 U.S.C. 772(b) and 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.

Signed in Washington, DC, on May 30, 2024.

Samson A. Adeshiyan,

Director, Office of Statistical Methods and Research, U.S. Energy Information Administration.