[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38278-38279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-15773]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
U.S. Energy Information Administration
Collection Revision
AGENCY: Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of Energy,
DOE.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The EIA invites public comment on the proposed change to add a
new vehicle classification code to Form EIA-886, Annual Survey of
Alternative Fueled Vehicles, which EIA is developing for submission to
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) pursuant to the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995. 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.
DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be
received on or before August 27, 2012. If you anticipate difficulty in
submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in
the ADDRESSES section below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to Cynthia Amezcua, EI-22, U.S.
Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue SW., Washington, DC
20585, or by fax at (202) 586-9753 or by email at
[email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should
be directed to Cynthia Amezcua by phone at (202) 586-1658 or by email
at the address listed above. Access to the proposed form, instructions,
and internet data collection screens can be found at: https://eiaweb.inl.gov/2013-clearance.pdf.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information collection request
contains:
(1) OMB No.: 1905-0191;
(2) Information Collection Request Title: Annual Survey of
Alternative Fueled Vehicles;
(3) Type of Request: Revision of a currently approved collection;
(4a) Purpose: Form EIA-886 is an annual survey that collects
information on the number and type of alternative fueled vehicles
(AFVs) and other advanced technology vehicles that vehicle suppliers
made available in the previous calendar year and plan to make available
in the following calendar year; the number, type and geographic
distribution of AFVs in use in the previous calendar year; and the
amount and distribution of each type of alternative transportation fuel
(ATF) consumed in the previous calendar year. Form EIA-886 data are
collected from suppliers and users of AFVs. EIA uses data from these
groups as a basis for estimating total AFV and ATF use in the U.S.
These data are needed by Federal and State agencies, fuel suppliers,
transit agencies and other fleets to determine if sufficient quantities
of AFVs are available for purchase and to provide Congress with a
measure of the extent to which the objectives of the Energy Policy Act
of 1992 are being achieved. These data serve as market analysis tools
for Congress, Federal/State agencies, AFV suppliers, vehicle fleet
managers, and other interested organizations and persons. These data
are also needed to satisfy numerous public requests for detailed
information
[[Page 38279]]
on AFVs and ATFs (in particular, the number of AFVs distributed by
State, as well as the amount and location of the ATFs being consumed).
EIA publishes summary information from the Form EIA-886 database in
an annual report on EIA's Web site (www.eia.gov). This report covers
historical and projected supplies of AFVs, AFV usage by selected user
groups, and estimates of total U.S. AFV counts and U.S. consumption of
ATFs. These data provide baseline inputs for DOE's transportation
sector energy models. They also provide the energy consumption measures
for alternative transportation fuels in EIA's State Energy Data System.
For example, EIA's National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) has a
component model that forecasts transportation sector energy consumption
and provides a framework for AFV policy and technology analysis. The
data obtained from Form EIA-886 are used to improve the explanatory
power of the NEMS Transportation Demand Model by allowing for greater
detail in representing AFV types and characteristics;
(4b) Proposed Changes to Information Collection: EIA is proposing
the addition of a Fuel Type/Engine Configuration Code to collect data
on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). PHEVs are considered
alternative fueled vehicles under the Energy Policy Act of 1992
definition of an alternative fueled vehicle because their primary fuel
source is electricity; however, they differ from straight battery-
powered electric vehicles because they use an electric battery as the
primary energy source for propulsion for a limited range (15-40 miles)
before switching to internal combustion propulsion. Currently, EIA
collects data on electric battery-powered vehicles with the code ``EVC
BP''. EIA would like to add the code ``EVC PH'' to differentiate
between PHEVs and AFVs that are powered exclusively by battery. EIA
would continue to use the code ``EVC BP'' to identify vehicles that are
powered exclusively by an electric battery.
Sections 2 and 3 of the Form EIA-886 collect data on the inventory
and supply of alternative fueled vehicles. In Section 2, respondents
are required to report the vehicle type, fuel type, engine
configuration, application, quantity, miles traveled, and alternative
fuel consumption for all AFVs in use. In Section 3, respondents are
required to report the vehicle type, model, fuel type, engine
configuration, and quantities made available and planned to be made
available for all AFVs and advanced technology vehicles supplied. Both
sections of the online reporting system utilize drop-down menus to
capture these data. The proposed code ``EVC PH'' would be added under
the Electric Fuel Type Category. EIA does not expect this proposed
addition of a vehicle classification code to Form EIA-886 to cause any
increase in reporting burden.
(4c). Change in Burden Hours: Due to the decrease in the number of
original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket vehicle converters in
the marketplace, EIA estimates the survey frame of suppliers for the
Form EIA-886 to decrease from 75 to 50 respondents, thus creating a
decrease in overall respondent burden hours from 10,812 hours to 10,740
hours;
(5) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 2,050;
(6) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 10,740;
AFV Suppliers (30 Original Equipment Manufacturers): 3 hours;
AFV Suppliers (20 Aftermarket Vehicle Converters): 2.5 hours;
AFV Users (100 complex fleets): 30 hours;
AFV Users (1,900 simple fleets): 4 hours;
(7) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: No
additional costs beyond burden hours are anticipated from the proposed
collection instrument revision.
Statutory Authority: The legal authority for this data
collection effort is provided by the following provisions:
Section 13(b) of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974,
Pub. L. 93-275, (FEA Act), and codified at 15 U.S.C. Sec. 772 (b),
and
Section 503(b)(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Pub. L. 102-
486 (EPACT92) codified at 42 U.S.C. 13253.
Issued in Washington, DC on June 21, 2012.
Renee Miller,
Acting Director, Office of Survey Development and Statistical
Integration, U.S. Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2012-15773 Filed 6-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P