74 FR 228 pgs. 62567-62568 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Type: NOTICEVolume: 74Number: 228Pages: 62567 - 62568
FR document: [FR Doc. E9-28622 Filed 11-27-09; 8:45 am]
Agency: Energy Department
Sub Agency: Energy Information Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
AGENCY:
Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of Energy (DOE).
ACTION:
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request.
SUMMARY:
The EIA is soliciting comments on the proposed three-year extension of Form FE-746R, "Natural Gas Import and Export Monthly Report."
DATES:
Comments must be filed by January 29, 2010. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES:
Send comments to Yvonne Caudillo. To ensure receipt of the comments by the due date, submission by FAX (202-586-6050) or e-mail ( yvonne.caudillo@hq.doe.gov ) is recommended. The mailing address is The Office of Fossil Energy, Natural Gas Regulatory Activities, FE-34, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585. Alternatively, Ms. Caudillo may be contacted by telephone at 202-586-4587.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or copies of any forms and instructions should be directed to Ms. Caudillo at the address listed above. Also, please visit our Web site at http://fossil.energy.gov/programs/gasregulation/Guidelines_for_Quarterly_Reports.html.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
II. Current Actions
III. Request for Comments
I. Background
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 containing the basic information about the scope and nature of the proposed import/export activity. DOE collects critical natural gas information ( i.e., 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. This information, which is published in FE's Natural Gas Import and Export Quarterly Report, is 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.
Please refer the to the natural gas import and export report 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, disclosure information, and uses (including possible nonstatistical uses) of the information. For instructions on obtaining materials, see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
II. Current Actions
DOE will be requesting a three-year extension of approval to its natural gas import and export activity data collection with no changes to the previously approved collection. DOE will treat the monthly information as public information, which conforms to the historical treatment of all natural gas import and export information filed pursuant to the terms of all natural gas import/export authorizations.
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 due date?
E. Public reporting burden for the proposed monthly reporting of natural gas imports and exports is estimated to average three hours per response. 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. What additional actions could be taken to minimize the burden of this collection of information? Such actions may involve the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
H. 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 form. They also will become a matter of public record.
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, November 19, 2009.
Stephanie Brown,
Director, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. E9-28622 Filed 11-27-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P