[Federal Register: January 31, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 21)]
[Notices]
[Page 5011-5012]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr31ja03-70]
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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.
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SUMMARY: The EIA is soliciting comments on the proposed three-year
extension to the Form DOE-887, ``Department of Energy Customer
Surveys.''
DATES: Comments must be filed by April 1, 2003. If you anticipate
difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the
person listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Herbert Miller. To ensure receipt of the
comments by the due date, submission by FAX (202-287-1705) or e-mail
herbert.miller@eia.doe.gov) is recommended. The mailing address is
Energy Information Administration, EI-70, Forrestal Building, U.S.
Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585. Alternatively, Mr. Miller
may be contacted by telephone at 202-287-1711.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information
should be directed to Mr. Miller at the address listed above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
II. Current Actions
III. Request for Comments
I. Background
The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93-275,
15 U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the DOE Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 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
[[Page 5012]]
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.
On September 11, 1993, the President signed Executive Order No.
12862 aimed at ``* * * ensuring the Federal government provides the
highest quality service possible to the American people.'' The Order
discusses surveys as a means for determining the kinds and qualities of
service desired by Federal Government customers and for determining
satisfaction levels for existing services. These voluntary customer
surveys will be used to ascertain customer satisfaction with the
Department of Energy in terms of services and products. Respondents
will be individuals and organizations that are the recipients of the
Department's services and products. Previous customer surveys have
provided useful information to the Department for assessing how well
the Department is delivering its services and products and for making
improvements. The results are used internally and summaries are
provided to the Office of Management and Budget on an annual basis, and
are used to satisfy the requirements and the spirit of Executive Order
No. 12862.
II. Current Actions
The request to OMB will be for a three-year extension of the
expiration date of approval for DOE to conduct customer surveys. During
the past three years, 10 customer surveys were conducted by telephone,
mail, and the World Wide Web. Examples of previously conducted customer
surveys are available upon request. Our planned activities in the next
three fiscal years reflect our increased emphasis on and expansion of
these activities, including an increased use of electronic means for
obtaining customer input (World Wide Web).
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.
General Issues
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? 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.
B. 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
A. Public reporting burden for a customer surveys is estimated to
average .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?
B. 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?
C. 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.
D. 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. 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 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
Issued in Washington, DC, January 23, 2003.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-2302 Filed 1-30-03; 8:45 am]
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