[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 78845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30708]
[[Page 78845]]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration
Proposed Agency Information Collection
AGENCY: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of
Energy.
ACTION: Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection;
notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: EIA invites public comment on the proposed collection of
information, Form EIA-63C, Densified Biomass Fuel Report, 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.
When submitting comments regarding the reporting burden or costs of
reporting this information, describe in detail any start-up costs you
expect to incur such as new software, processes, or training. If you
claim that you may incur start-up costs in reporting this requested
information, describe how your current record keeping practices differ
from the information to be collected on the proposed Form EIA-63C.
DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be
received on or March 2, 2015. If you anticipate difficulty in
submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in
ADDRESSES as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Use email address: [email protected] to send comments
electronically and to ensure receipt of the comments by the due date.
The postal mailing address for sending written comments is Attn:
Rebecca Peterson, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Energy Information
Administration, Mail Stop EI-23, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to Rebecca Peterson at the email address
[email protected]. Ms. Peterson may also be contacted by
telephone on (202) 586-4509. The draft form and instructions are
available on the EIA Web site at http://www.eia.gov/survey/form/eia_63c/proposed/.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information collection request
contains:
(1) OMB No.: New;
(2) Information Collection Request Title: Form EIA-63C, Densified
Biomass Fuel Report;
(3) Type of Request: New;
(4) Purpose: The consumption of densified biomass fuel, a renewable
energy source, is increasing in the United States, particularly in the
northeast where a number of states are conducting successful incentive
programs for switching from fuel oil to biomass for heating. Production
of densified biomass fuel for export is also rapidly growing,
particularly in the southeastern United States, driven by demand from
the European community where greenhouse gas reduction initiatives are
driving conversion of coal to biomass for electric power generation.
The survey will gather information on pellet fuel and other densified
biomass fuel production, sales, and inventory levels by operators of
pellet fuel manufacturing facilities in the United States. The data
collected will be used to estimate densified biomass fuel consumption
in the United States as well as production, sales, and inventory at
state, regional, and national levels. A summary of the data will be
published on the EIA Web site and in various EIA publications,
including the Monthly Energy Review.
(5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: We estimate the number
of respondents to be approximately 150;
(6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 1,800 (150
respondents x 12 months);
(7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 1,800 (150 respondents
x 12 months x 1 hour for each response);
(8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: EIA
estimates that there are no capital and start-up costs associated with
this data collection. The information is maintained in the normal
course of business. The cost of burden hours to the respondents is
estimated to be $124,794 (1800 burden hours times $69.33 per hour).
Therefore, other than the cost of burden hours, EIA estimates that
there are no additional costs for generating, maintaining and providing
the information.
Statutory Authority: Section 13(b) of the Federal Energy
Administration Act of 1974, Pub. L. 93-275, codified as 15 U.S.C.
772(b).
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 23, 2014.
Nanda Srinivasan,
Director, Office of Survey Development and Statistical Integration,
U.S. Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-30708 Filed 12-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P