[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 15, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50072-50073]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-24085]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Agency information collection activities: proposed collection;
comment request.
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SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting
comments on the proposal to change the data collection frequency of the
Form EIA-820, Biennial Refinery Report, from biennial to annual.
DATES: Written comments must be submitted by November 15, 1999. If you
anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period,
contact the person identified below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Stacey Ungerleider, Energy Information
Administration, EI-42, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy,
Washington, DC 20585. Alternatively, Stacey Ungerleider may be reached
by phone at (202) 586-5130, by e-mail stacey.ungerleider@eia.doe.gov,
or by FAX (202) 586-5846.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Stacey
Ungerleider at the address listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
II. Current Actions
III. Request for Comments
I. Background
The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-275, 15
U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the Department of Energy Organization Act (Pub.
L. 95-91, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) require the Energy Information
Administration (EIA) to carry out a centralized, comprehensive, and
unified energy information program. This program collects, evaluates,
assembles, analyzes, and disseminates information on energy resource
reserves, production, demand, technology, and related economic and
statistical information. This information is used to assess the
adequacy of energy resources to meet near and longer term domestic
demands.
The EIA, as part of its effort to comply with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), provides
the general public and other Federal agencies with opportunities to
comment on collections of energy information conducted by or in
conjunction with the EIA. Any comments received help the EIA to prepare
data requests that maximize the utility of the information collected,
and to assess the impact of collection requirements on the public.
Also, the EIA will later seek approval by the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) of the collections under section 3507(h) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995.
The Form EIA-820 is used to collect data on the following items:
Fuels consumed for all purposes at the refinery; refinery receipts of
crude oil by method of transportation; current and projected capacities
for refineries, specifically operable atmospheric crude oil
distillation capacity, downstream charge capacity, and production
capacity; and working and shell storage capacities.
Federal, State, and local governments as well as the private sector
use these data to conduct research and to provide relevant and timely
analysis on the refinery industry. Data from this survey is published
by the Energy Information Administration in the Petroleum Supply Annual
Volume I.
II. Current Actions
The Energy Information Administration is requesting a change in the
frequency of collection for the Form EIA-820, Biennial Refinery Report.
EIA proposes to use the Form EIA-820 to collect data on an annual basis
in order to maintain a more accurate, up-to-date database for refinery
capacity activity. Annual collection of this data will provide internal
and external customers with the data to perform more extensive and
accurate trend and feasibility costs analysis. Also, pending new
environmental standards for motor gasoline and distillate fuel oil will
impact the capability of U.S. refineries to produce new quality
products in sufficient volumes to meet consumer demand. EIA's ability
to assess this impact requires the most timely data available on
refinery capacity. Data on a biennial basis is inadequate to meet this
need.
III. Request for Comments
Prospective respondents and other interested persons are invited to
comment on the actions discussed in item II. The following guidelines
are provided to assist in the preparation of comments.
General Issues
A. Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the agency and does the
information have practical utility? Practical utility is defined as the
actual usefulness of information to or for an agency, taking into
account its accuracy, adequacy, reliability, timeliness, and the
agency's ability to process the information it collects.
B. What enhancements can be made to the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be collected?
As a Potential Respondent
A. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If
not, which instructions require clarification?
B. Can information be submitted by the due date?
C. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to
average 2 hours per response. The estimated burden includes the total
time, effort, or financial resources expended to generate, maintain,
retain, disclose and provide the information.
Please comment on (1) The accuracy of the agency's estimate and (2)
how the agency could minimize the burden of collecting this
information, including the use of information technology.
D. The agency estimates respondents will incur no additional costs
for reporting other than the hours required to complete the collection.
What is the estimated: (1) Total dollar amount annualized for capital
and start-up costs; and (2) recurring annual costs of operation and
maintenance, and purchase of services associated with this data
collection?
E. Does any other Federal, State, or local agency collect similar
information? If so, specify the agency, the data element(s), and the
method(s) of collection.
As a Potential User
A. Is the information useful at the levels of detail indicated on
the form?
B. For what purpose(s) would the information be used? Be specific.
C. Are there alternate sources for the information and are they
useful? If so, what are their weaknesses and/or strengths?
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: Sec. 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
[[Page 50073]]
Issued in Washington, DC, September 9, 1999.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 99-24085 Filed 9-14-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
