[Federal Register: February 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 31)]
[Notices]
[Page 7517-7518]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14fe03-63]
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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request
AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, DOE.
ACTION: Agency information collection activities: proposed collection;
comment request.
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SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting
comments on proposed modifications and a three-year extension to the
Form EIA-28, Financial Reporting System (FRS).
DATES: Written comments must be submitted within 60 days of the
publication of this notice. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting
comments within that period, contact the person identified below as
soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to Gregory P. Filas of EIA. To
ensure receipt of the comments by the due date, submission by FAX (202-
586-9753) or e-mail (greg.filas@eia.doe.gov) is recommended. Mr. Filas'
mailing address is Energy Information Administration (EI-62), Financial
Analysis Team, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy,
Washington, DC 20585. Mr. Filas may be telephoned at (202) 586-1347.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the proposed form and instructions should be directed to Mr.
Filas 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. 93-275, 15
U.S.C. 761 et seq.), and the Department of Energy Organization Act
(Pub. L. 95-91, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), require the Energy Information
Administration (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) of the collections under Section 3507(h) of the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995.
Under Pub. L. 95-91, section 205(h), the Administrator of the EIA
is required to ``identify and designate'' the major energy companies
who must annually file Form EIA-28, Financial Reporting System (FRS),
to ensure that the data collected provide ``a statistically accurate
profile of each line of commerce in the energy industry in the United
States.'' The standardized reporting and data content allow comparisons
on a uniform basis among major energy companies. Data collected on Form
EIA-28 are published in aggregate form to protect confidentiality and
are used in analyses of the energy industry.
II. Current Actions
For the FRS survey to be conducted in 2004 collecting information
for 2003, EIA proposes to revise the Form EIA-28. Major energy
companies have become increasingly involved in the supply and
disposition of natural gas and electricity as both industries have
deregulated. The current FRS is not currently designed to collect
detailed information necessary for analyzing major energy companies'
activities in electric power and downstream natural gas. Therefore, it
is necessary for the FRS to revise its program in order to collect
accurate information as mandated.
The mandate (Pub. L. 95-91, section 205(h)) requires EIA to provide
data to evaluate the competitive environment within which energy
products are supplied and developed and to analyze the nature of
institutional arrangements as they relate to energy resource
development, supply, and distribution. EIA has consulted with data
providers and data users to design a modified FRS that reflects the
suggestions of both groups.
The proposed modifications include the addition of the following
schedules: Electric Power Income Statement, Electric Power Operating
Expenses, Purchases and Sales of Fuel and Electric Power, Electric
Power Capacity Measures, Electric Power Output Measures, Downstream
Natural Gas Income Statement, Downstream Natural Gas Operating
Expenses, Purchases and Sales of Natural Gas and Natural Gas Liquids,
Downstream Natural Gas Capacity Measures, and Downstream Natural Gas
Output Measures. These schedules will be similar in format to existing
schedules used by major energy companies for reporting on petroleum
operations. Copies of the proposed new schedules and the instructions
are available from Mr. Filas. In addition to the proposed modifications
in the FRS form and instructions, EIA will request an extension of OMB
approval.
III. Request for Comments
Prospective respondents and other interested persons are invited to
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
[[Page 7518]]
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
A. Are the Form EIA-28 instructions and definitions clear and
sufficient? If not, which instructions require clarification?
B. Can information be submitted by the due date?
C. Public reporting burden for the Form EIA-28 collection is
currently estimated to average 449 hours per response. The estimated
burden includes the total time, effort, or financial resources expended
to generate, maintain, retain, disclose and provide the information.
With regard to the new schedules for electric power and downstream
natural gas, EIA is estimating those schedules will require an
additional one-time burden in 2004 of between 150 to 300 hours per
affected respondent to modify existing information systems to generate
the additional information. After the systems are modified, EIA is
estimating the average increase in reporting burden for the EIA-28 will
be 186 hours annually for companies having downstream natural gas
activities and 233 hours annually for companies having electric power
activities. For those companies having both business activities, the
average increase in burden is estimated at 419 hours annually. However,
most FRS respondent companies will not be affected as they have no
activities in electric power and/or downstream natural gas and thus
will incur no additional burden for reporting.
Please comment on (1) the accuracy of the agency's estimate and (2)
how the agency could minimize the burden of collecting this
information, including the use of information technology.
D. The agency estimates respondents will incur no additional costs
for reporting other than the hours required to complete the collection.
What is the estimated: (1) Total dollar amount annualized for capital
and start-up costs; and (2) recurring annual costs of operation and
maintenance, and purchase of services associated with this data
collection?
E. Does any other Federal, State, or local agency collect similar
information? If so, specify the agency, the data element(s), and the
method(s) of collection.
As a Potential User
A. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the
quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information
disseminated?
B. Is the information useful at the levels of detail indicated on
the form?
C. For what purpose(s) would the information be used? Be specific.
D. Are there alternate sources for the information and are they
useful? If so, what are their deficiencies 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. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. chapter 35).
Issued in Washington, DC, February 7, 2003.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 03-3706 Filed 2-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P