75 FR 49 pgs. 12227-12229 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request
Type: NOTICEVolume: 75Number: 49Pages: 12227 - 12229
FR document: [FR Doc. 2010-5566 Filed 3-12-10; 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 to the Form EIA-846, "Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey."
DATES:
Comments must be filed by May 14, 2010. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES:
Send comments to Tom Lorenz. To ensure receipt of the comments by the due date, submission by FAX (202-586-9753) or e-mail ( Thomas.Lorenz@eia.doe.gov ) is recommended. The mailing address is Office of Energy Markets and End Use, Energy Consumption Division, EI-63, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW., Washington, DC 20585. Alternatively, Mr. Lorenz may be contacted by telephone at 202-586-3442.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or copies of any forms and instructions for the Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) should be directed to Tom Lorenz at the address listed above. To view the form online please go to: http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mecs/mecs2006/forms2006.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 (42 U.S.C. 7135(i)) 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 and to promote sound policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.
The EIA, as part of its effort to comply with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501, et seq. ), 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 for this collection by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) under section 3507(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
The Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) is a self-administered sample survey designed to collect energy consumption and expenditures data from establishments in the manufacturing sector; i.e. , North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes 31-33. Previous MECS required multiple collection forms depending on an establishment's primary business activity classification under NAICS. The increased use of technology by means of an Internet data collection system however, has allowed the MECS to eliminate the need to have multiple forms.
The 2010 MECS will collect information during 2011 for business activities in calendar year 2010. For the 2010 MECS, as in the past, EIA proposes to collect the following data from each MECS establishment: (1) For each energy source consumed-consumption (total, fuel and nonfuel uses) and the expenditures for each energy source, energy storage (as applicable), energy produced onsite, and shipments (as applicable); (2) energy end uses; (3) fuel-switching capabilities (4) general energy-saving technologies; (5) energy management activities; and (6) square footage, and number of buildings in the establishment.
The MECS has been conducted seven times previously, covering the years 1985, 1988, 1991, 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006. In all seven survey years, the MECS has collected baseline data on manufacturers' energy consumption and expenditures. The MECS collected data on fuel-switching capabilities in all years except 1998. In the 1991, 1994, 1998, 2002, and 2006 surveys, the MECS also collected data on end-uses, energy management activities, building square footage, and energy-saving technologies.
The MECS information is the basis for data and analytic products that can be found at http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mecs . Also on this Web site are past publications, articles, and a special analytic series, "Industry Analysis Briefs." The 2010 MECS will also be used to benchmark EIA's industry forecasting model and update changes in the energy intensity and greenhouse gases data series.
The proposed 2010 MECS uses experience gained from the administration and processing of the seven previous surveys and past consultations with respondents, trade association representatives, and data users to improve the survey.
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 of the information. For instructions on obtaining materials, see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
II. Current Actions
EIA is requesting a three-year extension of approval to its Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey with no changes from the previous survey.
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 eight hours per response for Form EIA-846. 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, Pub. L. 93-275, codified at 15 U.S.C. 772(b).
Issued in Washington, DC, March 9, 2010.
Renee H. Miller,
Director, Forms Clearance and Information Quality Division, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2010-5566 Filed 3-12-10; 8:45 am]
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