[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81303-81304]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32721]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration
Agency Information Collection Extension
AGENCY: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of
Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Agency Information Collection Activities: Information
Collection Extension With Changes; Notice and Request for Comments.
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SUMMARY: The EIA, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,
intends to extend for three years with the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB), Form FE-746R, ``Natural Gas Imports and Exports.''
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 February 29, 2016. If you anticipate difficulty
in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in
ADDRESSES as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Benjamin Nussdorf. To ensure receipt of the
comments by the due date, submission by email
([email protected]) is recommended. The mailing address is
U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), Office of Natural Gas Regulatory
Activities, Office of Fossil Energy, P.O. Box 44375, Washington, DC
20026-4375, Attn: Benjamin Nussdorf. Alternatively, Mr. Nussdorf may be
contacted by telephone at (202) 586-7893 or by fax at (202) 586-6050.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should
be directed to Benjamin Nussdorf at the contact information given
above. Forms and instructions are also available on the Internet at:
http://energy.gov/fe/services/natural-gas-regulation/guidelines-filing-monthly-reports.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information collection request
contains:
(1) OMB No.: 1901-0294;
(2) Information Collection Request Title: Natural Gas Import and
Export Application;
(3) Type of Request: Revision;
(4) Purpose: The 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.) require 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.
The EIA, as part of its effort to comply with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (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. Also, the EIA will later seek approval by the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) under Section 3507(a) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995.
DOE's Office of Fossil Energy (FE) is delegated the authority to
regulate natural gas imports and exports under section 3 of the Natural
Gas Act of 1938, 15 U.S.C. 717b. In order to carry out its delegated
responsibility, FE requires those persons seeking to import or export
natural gas to file an application providing basic information on the
scope and nature of the proposed import/export activity. Once an
importer or exporter receives authorization from FE, they are required
to submit monthly reports of all import and export transactions. Form
FE-746R collects critical information on U.S. natural gas trade
including: Name of importer/exporter; country of origin/destination;
international point of entry/exit; name of supplier; volume; price;
transporter; geographic market served; and duration of supply contract
on a monthly basis. The data, published in Natural Gas Imports and
Exports, are used to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of
the authorizations. In addition, the data are used to monitor North
American gas trade, which, in turn, enables the Federal government to
perform market and regulatory analyses; improve the capability of
industry and the government to respond to any future energy-related
supply problems; and keep the general public informed of international
natural gas trade;
(4a) Proposed Changes to Information Collection:
FE proposes to add the following reporting sections for the
collection and identification of new types of natural gas transactions
related to:
(a) Exports/imports of compressed natural gas by vessel;
(b) Exports/imports of compressed natural gas by rail;
(c) Exports/imports of compressed natural gas by waterborne
transport;
(d) Exports/imports of liquefied natural gas by rail;
(e) Exports/imports of liquefied natural gas by waterborne
transport;
(f) Other exports and imports of natural gas by rail, truck,
vessel, and waterborne transport;
(g) Re-export of liquefied natural gas by vessel; and
(h) Exports/Imports of liquefied natural gas by vessel in
International Standards Organization (ISO) containers;
(5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 371;
(6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 4,662;
[[Page 81304]]
(7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 14,266; and
(8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: There
are no additional costs associated with the surveys other than the
burden hours. The information is maintained in the normal course of
business. The cost of burden hours to the respondents is estimated to
be $1,026,724 (14,266 burden hours times $71.97 per hour). Therefore,
other than the cost of burden hours, FE 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, Public Law 93-275, codified at 15 U.S.C.
772(b) and Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act of 1938, codified at 15
U.S.C. 717b.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 22, 2015.
Nanda Srinivasan,
Director, Office of Survey Development and Statistical Integration,
U.S. Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-32721 Filed 12-28-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P