Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,

[Federal Register: March 9, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 46)]

[Notices]

[Page 10997-10998]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr09mr04-45]

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 revision and three-year extension to the Form EIA-63A, ``Annual Solar Thermal Collector Manufacturers Survey,'' and EIA-63B, ``Annual Photovoltaic Module/Cell Manufacturers Survey.''

DATES: Comments must be filed by May 10, 2004. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Fred Mayes. To ensure receipt of the comments by the due date, submission by FAX (301-287-1964) or e-mail Fred.Mayes@eia.doe.gov) is recommended. The mailing address is Energy Information Administration, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585. Alternatively, Fred Mayes may be contacted by telephone at (202) 287-1750.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of any forms and instructions should be directed to (name of contact listed above) at the address listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

1. Background II. Current Actions III. Request for Comments

1. Background

   The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-275, 15 U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the DOE Organization Act (Pub. L. 95-91, 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 (Pub. L. 104-13, 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. Any comments received help the EIA to prepare data requests that maximize the utility of the information collected, and to assess the impact of collection requirements on the public. 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.

   Form EIA-63A collects information on the distribution of solar thermal panels by manufacturers. Form EIA-63B collects information on the distribution by manufacturers of photovoltaic (PV) cells and modules. Specifically, the forms collect information on manufacturing, imports, exports, and shipments. The EIA has been collecting this information annually and proposes to continue the surveys. The data collected will be published in the Renewable Energy Annual and will also be available through EIA's Internet site at http://www.eia.doe.gov/fuelrenewable.html .

   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 (including possible nonstatistical uses) of the information. For instructions on obtaining materials, see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

2. Current Actions

   The EIA will request a revision and three-year extension to continue using Forms EIA-63A and EIA-63B. The only substantial change involves requesting respondents to allocate imports according to country of origin, in an analogous manner to how the current form requests them to allocate their export countries of destination.

3. 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. Please indicate to which form(s) your comments apply (EIA-63A or EIA-63B).

   General Issues

   1. Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency and does the information have practical utility? Practical utility is defined as the actual usefulness of information to or for an agency, taking into account its accuracy, adequacy, reliability, timeliness, and the agency's ability to process the information it collects.

   2. What enhancements can be made to the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected?

      As a Potential Respondent to the Request for Information

   1. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information to be collected?

   2. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If not, which instructions need clarification?

   3. Can the information be submitted by the due date?

   4. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to average 3.25 hours per response. The estimated burden includes the total time necessary to provide the requested information. In your opinion, how accurate is this estimate?

   5. 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?

   6. What additional actions could be taken to minimize the burden of this collection of information? Such actions may involve the use of automated,

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      electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

   7. 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.

   8. Do respondents maintain information on the quantities by country of solar/PV products imported?

      As a Potential User of the Information To Be Collected

   1. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information disseminated?

   2. Is the information useful at the levels of detail to be collected?

   3. For what purpose(s) would the information be used? Be specific.

   4. Are there alternate sources for the information and are they useful? If so, what are their weaknesses and/or strengths?

   5. Are the proposed new data on solar/PV imports useful, or would alternative information be preferable?

      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 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

      Issued in Washington, DC, March 3, 2004. Jay H. Casselberry, Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy Information Administration.

      [FR Doc. 04-5254 Filed 3-8-04; 8:45 am]

      BILLING CODE 6450-01-P