[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 87 (Thursday, May 5, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25683-25685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-10977]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of
Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection;
comment request.
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SUMMARY: The EIA is soliciting comments on the proposed three-year
extension to the EIA-22M, ``Monthly Biodiesel Production Survey.''
DATES: Comments must be filed by July 5, 2011. If you anticipate
difficulty in submitting comments within that
[[Page 25684]]
period, contact the person listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Chris Buckner. To ensure receipt of the
comments by the due date, submission by FAX (202-586-1076) or e-mail
([email protected]) is recommended. The mailing address is Office
of Petroleum and Biofuels Statistics, EI-25, Forrestal Building, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC
20585. Alternatively, Chris Buckner may be contacted by telephone at
202-586-6670.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of any forms and instructions should be directed to Chris
Buckner at the address listed above. The proposed forms and changes in
definitions and instructions are also available on the Internet at:
http://www.eia.doe.gov/survey/#eia-22m.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
II. Current Actions
III. Request for Comments
I. Background
The Federal Energy Administration (FEA) Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C.
772(b), Pub. L. 93-275), requires the 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.
Section 503 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Public Law 102-486
(EPACT1992), (42 U.S.C. 13253) directs DOE to estimate consumption of
alternative and replacement fuels annually. Since 1994, EIA has
published replacement fuel consumption data annually in Alternatives to
Traditional Transportation Fuels.\1\ Biodiesel consumption (estimated
by EIA based on secondary sources) has been included since 2000.
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\1\ http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/alternate/page/atftables/afvtransfuel_II.html
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The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPACT2005), Public Law 109-058 (42
U.S.C. 15801) specifies in greater detail how EIA should monitor
biodiesel. Section 42 U.S.C. 7135(m)(1) states:
``In order to improve the ability to evaluate the effectiveness
of the Nation's renewable fuels mandate, the [Administrator] shall
conduct and publish the results of a survey of renewable fuels
demand in the motor vehicle fuels market in the United States
monthly, and in a manner designed to protect the confidentiality of
individual responses. In conducting the survey, the Administrator
shall collect information both on a national and regional basis,
including each of the following:''
(A) The quantity of renewable fuels produced
(B) The quantity of renewable fuels blended
(C) The quantity of renewable fuels imported
(D) The quantity of renewable fuels demanded
(E) Market price data
(F) Such other analyses or evaluations as the Administrator finds
necessary to achieve the purposes of this section.
42 U.S.C. 7135(m)(2) also provides:
``The Administrator shall also collect or estimate information
both on a national and regional basis, pursuant to subparagraphs (A)
through (F) of paragraph (1), for the 5 years prior to
implementation of this subsection.''
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 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 for this collection by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under Section 3507(a) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Please refer to the proposed forms and instructions for more
information about the purpose, who must report, when to report, where
to submit, the elements to be reported, detailed instructions,
provisions for confidentiality, and uses (including possible
nonstatistical uses) of the information. For instructions on obtaining
materials, see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
II. Current Actions
The EIA proposes a three-year extension to the EIA-22M, ``Biodiesel
Production Survey'' with no changes.
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 comments.
As a Potential Respondent to the Request for Information
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?
B. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the
quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information to be
collected?
C. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If
not, which instructions need clarification?
D. Can the information be submitted by the respondent by the due
date?
E. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to
average:
Estimated hours per response: 3 hours. The estimated burden
includes the total time necessary to provide the requested information.
In your opinion, how accurate is this estimate?
F. The agency estimates that the only cost to a respondent is for
the time it will take to complete the collection. Will a respondent
incur any start-up costs for reporting, or any recurring annual costs
for operation, maintenance, and purchase of services associated with
the information collection?
G. Does any other Federal, State, or local agency collect similar
information? If so, specify the agency, the data element(s), and the
methods of collection.
As a Potential User of the Information To Be Collected
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?
B. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the
quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information
disseminated?
C. Is the information useful at the levels of detail to be
collected?
D. For what purpose(s) would the information be used? Be specific.
E. 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 forms. They also
will become a matter of public record.
Statutory Authority: Section 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995, Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (15
U.S.C. 761 et seq.), and the DOE Organization Act (42 U.S.C. 7101 et
seq.).
[[Page 25685]]
Issued in Washington, DC, April 28, 2011.
Stephanie Brown,
Director, Office of Survey Development & Statistical Integration, U.S.
Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011-10977 Filed 5-4-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P