[Federal Register: August 20, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 161)]
[Notices]
[Page 50127-50128]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr20au03-36]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Proposed Agency Information Collection
AGENCY: Department of Energy.
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Energy (DOE) invites public comment on a
proposed collection of information that DOE 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.
DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be
received on or before October 20, 2003. If you anticipate difficulty in
submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed below
as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to (1) Lorena F. Truett, Oak
Ridge National Laboratory, P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-6073; or
by fax to (865) 574-3851; or by e-mail to TruettLF@ORNL.gov; and to (2)
Sharon Evelin, Acting Director, Records Management Division IM-11/
Germantown Bldg., Office of Business and Information Management, Office
of the Chief Information Officer, U.S. Department of Energy,
Washington, DC 20585-1290.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should
be directed to Lorena F. Truett, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, phone
(865) 574-4225, fax (865) 574-3851, e-mail TruettLF@ORNL.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This package contains the following
supplementary information:
(1) OMB No.: NEW.
(2) Package Title: Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure
Technologies Program Baseline Knowledge Assessment.
(3) Type of Review: New collection.
(4) Purpose: The Baseline Knowledge Assessment for the DOE
Hydrogen, Fuel Cells & Infrastructure Technologies (HFC&IT) program
will measure the levels of and changes in awareness and understanding
of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and the hydrogen economy within
four target populations: (1) The general public, (2) students and
educators, (3) personnel in state and local governments, and (4)
potential users of hydrogen fuel and technologies in business and
industry. Four distinct information collections will be required, one
for each of the target populations. These collections will be conducted
in stages, with the general public study conducted first. Changes
relative to baseline knowledge levels will be determined when, after
three years, each population group will be surveyed again using the
same survey instrument and methodology. The instrument for assessing
baseline knowledge will be specifically targeted to the population
group. The public survey, for example, will assess a general knowledge
of the production, storage, delivery, applications, and safety of
hydrogen and fuel cells. Information gathered in this assessment will
assist the HFC&IT program in formulating an overall education plan for
hydrogen technologies. It will also provide a baseline for determining
changes in public awareness and understanding of
[[Page 50128]]
the hydrogen economy, which is an important measure from which the
success of program education strategies can be evaluated.
(5) Respondents: Although the numbers of respondents and methods of
information collection will differ for each of the populations, the
general scope and temper of the four collections will be the same. The
general public will be surveyed first. That survey and the general
public responses may influence the design of the surveys for the other
target populations. For the general public, a random (probability
sample) survey of 1,000 adults, age 18 and over, will be conducted via
computer-assisted phone telephone interviews (CATI) or by other
appropriate mechanism. About twenty closed-end questions will be posed.
For students, a random survey of 500 teens (ages 12-17) and 500 pre-
teens (ages 6-11) will be conducted, also using CATI or other
technology and closed-end questions. Approximately 100-150 primary and
secondary educators will be randomly selected from a national contact
list for interviewing. Questions for educators will be of both closed-
end and open-end formats. Contacts with energy agencies in all 50
states and the District of Columbia will be made, and a limited number
of local (i.e., municipal) agencies will also be contacted. Questions
to state and local government agencies will be of both closed-end and
open-end formats. A limited number of large-scale or potential large-
scale users of energy sources powered by hydrogen and fuel cells will
also be interviewed using both closed-end and open-end questions.
(6) Estimated Number of Burden Hours: For the general public
survey, the burden is estimated at ten minutes per respondent for 1,000
respondents, for a total time and cost burden of 167 hours and $0. The
total burdens for the other populations will depend on the designs of
those surveys, but will be similar in temper and scope to the burden
for the general public survey. The total time and cost burden for the
student survey is tentatively estimated to be 133 hours and $0; the
total burden for educators is estimated to be 25 hours and $0. The
total burden for the state and local government and large-scale user
surveys is expected to be less than the burden for the student survey.
Statutory Authority: Energy Reorganization Act of 1974 (Public
Law 93-438).
Issued in Washington, DC, on August 13, 2003.
Sharon Evelin,
Acting Director, Records Management Division, Office of Records and
Business Management, Office of the Chief Information Officer.
[FR Doc. 03-21299 Filed 8-19-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P