[Federal Register: June 30, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 125)]
[Notices]
[Page 37798-37800]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30jn05-50]
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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:
A revised Form EIA-1605, ``Voluntary Reporting of
Greenhouse Gases'' and instructions;
A three year extension of Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) approval in order for EIA to implement the revised Form EIA-1605;
and
The discontinuation of the Form EIA-1605EZ.
DATES: Comments must be submitted by August 29, 2005 to the address
listed below.
ADDRESSES: Send all comments to the attention of Stephen E. Calopedis.
To ensure receipt of the comments by the due date, submission by e-mail
stephen.calopedis@eia.doe.gov) or FAX (202-586-3045) is recommended.
Comments submitted by mail should be sent to Stephen E. Calopedis, U.S.
Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, EI-81, 1000
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. Questions on this
action should be directed to Stephen E. Calopedis at 202-586-1156 or
stephen.calopedis@eia.doe.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of the revised reporting form and instructions should be
directed to Stephen E. Calopedis at 202-586-1156 or
stephen.calopedis@eia.doe.gov. The revised version of the Form EIA-
1605, ``Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases,'' and instructions,
can also be downloaded from the Program's Current Developments Web site
at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/aboutcurrent.html.
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 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 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 from the OMB under Section 3507(a) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 to collect data under the revised form
EIA-1605.
The Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program information
collection is conducted pursuant to Section 1605(b) of the Energy
Policy Act of 1992 (Pub. L. 102-486, 42 U.S.C. 13385). The Program is
currently operated under General Guidelines issued in October 1994 (59
FR 52769) by the DOE's Office of Policy and International Affairs
(http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/guidelns.html). The existing EIA-1605
and EIA-1605EZ forms were designed to collect voluntarily reported data
on greenhouse gas emissions, reductions of these emissions, and
increased carbon fixation, as well as information on commitments to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon in future years
(http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/Forms.html).
The results of the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program
are summarized in the Program's most recent annual reports entitled
Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases 2003: Summary (http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/vrrpt/summary/index.html
) and Voluntary
Reporting of Greenhouse Gases 2003 (http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/vrrpt/
). Additionally, EIA produces and makes publicly available, a
``public-use'' database containing all the non-confidential information
reported to EIA's Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program
(http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/databases.html).
[[Page 37799]]
II. Current Actions
EIA is soliciting public comments on the items below:
A Revised Form EIA-1605, Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse
Gases' and instructions;
A three year extension of Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) approval in order for EIA to implement the revised Form EIA-1605,
``Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases,'' and;
The discontinuation of Form EIA-1605EZ, ``Voluntary
Reporting of Greenhouse Gases'' (short form).
The request for comment is being made by the EIA in support of
efforts to develop and implement a survey data collection instrument
that is consistent with Interim Final General Guidelines and draft
Technical Guidelines for the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases
Program that were proposed on March 24, 2005, by DOE's Office of Policy
and International Affairs (70 FR 15169 and 70 FR 15164). It is
important to note that the proposed revised EIA-1605 form represents
EIA's interpretation of the Interim Final General Guidelines and draft
Technical Guidelines and the final content of the revised EIA-1605 form
will depend on the content of the final General and Technical
Guidelines. For copies of the Interim Final General Guidelines, the
draft Technical Guidelines and all public comments on these documents
go to: http://www.pi.energy.gov/enhancingGHGregistry/index.html.
The Interim Final General Guidelines specify an effective date of
September 20, 2005, but indicate that it is DOE's intent to finalize
the guidelines prior to the effective date. As a consequence of a 30-
day extension of the public comment period on the Interim Final General
Guidelines and the draft Technical Guidelines, and the number and
complexity of the public comments submitted, it is possible that DOE
may extend the effective date beyond September 20, 2005.
EIA plans to complete its review of comments received under this
notice, and revisions to the proposed revised EIA-1605 form, before the
effective date of the revised General and Technical Guidelines.
Following OMB approval of the revised EIA-1605 form, EIA intends to
develop an electronic data collection system. EIA now expects that this
data collection system will be ready in time to permit reporting during
2006, although some delay in the normal reporting schedule is likely to
be necessary. Any further delays in the effective date of the
guidelines have the potential to cause corresponding delays in EIA's
collection of data using the revised EIA-1605 form.
Summary background information on the development of the proposed
revised General and Technical Guidelines to the Voluntary Reporting of
Greenhouse Gases is provided below.
Proposed Revised Guidelines for the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse
Gases Program
On February 14, 2002, President George W. Bush announced a series
of programs and initiatives to address the issue of global climate
change, including a greenhouse gas intensity reduction goal, energy
technology research programs, targeted tax incentives to advance the
development and adoption of new technologies, and voluntary programs to
promote actions to reduce greenhouse gases. As a part of this effort,
the President directed the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with
the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, to propose
improvements to the current Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases
Program required under section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of
1992. These improvements are to enhance measurement accuracy,
reliability, and verifiability, working with and taking into account
emerging domestic and international approaches. The President also
directed the Secretary of Energy to recommend reforms to ensure that
businesses and individuals that register reductions are not penalized
under a future climate policy and to give transferable credits to
companies that can show real emissions reductions.
Finalization and Implementation of Revised Program Guidelines
DOE's Office of Policy and International Affairs published in the
March 24, 2005 Federal Register Interim Final General Guidelines. On
that date DOE also published a notice of availability inviting public
comment on Draft Technical Guidelines that will, when combined with the
revised General Guidelines, fully implement the revised Voluntary
Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program. In the March 25, 2005 Federal
Register, DOE stated its intention that the Interim Final General
Guidelines will be effective on September 20, 2005. As noted
previously, it is possible that DOE could extend the effective date
beyond September 20, 2005. The incorporation by reference of the Draft
Technical Guidelines, in the Federal Register, affirms DOE's intention
that they also will be effective on that date. The purposes of the
proposed revised Guidelines are to: (1) Establish revised procedures
and reporting requirements for filing voluntary reports, and (2)
encourage corporations, government agencies, non-profit organizations,
individuals and other private and public entities to submit annual
reports of their total entity-wide greenhouse gas emissions, net
emission reductions, and carbon sequestration activities that are
complete, reliable and consistent.
In response to the finalization and issuance of the revised
Guidelines, the EIA has developed and plans to issue revised reporting
forms and instructions for reporting under the revised Program
Guidelines. The first cycle of reporting to the Program under the
revised Guidelines is expected to occur in 2006, for 2005 data.
Principal Conceptual Changes to the Current Survey Form EIA-1605,
``Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases''
The principal conceptual changes to form EIA-1605 are illustrated
below in Table 1 as a side-by-side comparison of the current and
proposed revised form EIA-1605.
[[Page 37800]]
Table 1.--Comparison of Current Version of Form EIA-1605 With the
Revised Version of Form EIA-1605
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Current version of formEIA-1605 Revised version of form EIA-
-------------------------------------------------------1605-------------
Schedule I, ``Entity Identification and Replaced by Schedules I (Entity
Certification.'' Collects information Statement) and II (Subentity
on the reporter, including contact Statement). Principal
information, organization type, differences to Schedule I
geographic scope, Standard Industrial include collection of North
Classification (SIC) code, and American Industrial
confidentiality. Also includes report Classification System (NAICS)
certification. code (instead of SIC code),
expanded list of entity type
categories, changes in entity
statement from previous years,
and report characteristics
(base period, voluntary
program affiliation, entity
organization). Schedule II
collects similar data for
reported subentities.
Certification is addressed in
Schedule VII (Verification and
Certification) along with
third party verification,
which is not included on
current form.
Schedule II, ``Project-Level Emissions Project-level reductions can be
and Reductions.'' Collects information ``registered'' only under
on projects that reduce emissions or limited circumstances in
sequester carbon in 10 sections, each Schedule V (Emissions
devoted to a specific project category. Reductions), Section 1, Part
E, Action-specific Emission
Reductions.
Schedule III, ``Entity-Level Emissions Focus on revised reporting form
and Reductions.'' Collects emissions, is reporting entity-level
carbon sequestration, and emission emissions and reductions.
reductions for the entire entity. Schedule III (Entity and
Subentity Emissions and
Sequestration Inventories)
collects data on entity-wide
emissions. Schedule IV (Output
and Emissions Intensity)
collects information on output
and emissions intensity.
Schedule V (Emission
Reductions) collects emission
reductions calculated using
approved methods and allows
registration of reductions
meeting certain criteria.
Schedule IV ``Commitments to Reduce Not included
Greenhouse Gases.'' Collects
information on commitments to reduce
future emissions or sequester carbon.
These commitments can be at the
project or entity level, or can be
financial commitments.
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Please refer to the proposed revised form and instructions for more
information about the purpose, who may report, when to report, where to
submit, the elements to be reported, instructions for reporting,
provisions for confidentiality, and uses (including possible
nonstatistical uses) of the information (http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/aboutcurrent.html
). For instructions on obtaining materials, see
the ``For Further Information Contact'' section.
III. Request for Comments
Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment
on the actions discussed in item II. The following issues 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 responsibilities 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 or other parties,
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. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the
quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information to be
collected?
B. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If
not, which instructions need clarification?
C. EIA will make the final EIA-1605 form and instructions publicly
available after OMB approval is received. However, no request for
information will be made until EIA has completed the automated EIA-1605
reporting system. For the first data collection in 2006 to collect
calendar year 2005 data using the revised Form EIA-1605, EIA proposes
the reporting due date will be three months after the automated
reporting system is made publicly available, but no earlier than July
1, 2006. In subsequent years, the reporting due date will be July 1 for
activities during the previous calendar year. Can the information be
submitted by those due dates?
D. The public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to
average 40 hours per response on Form EIA-1605, although it is expected
that this burden will vary widely among reporters. The estimated burden
includes the total time necessary to provide the requested information.
In your opinion, how accurate is this estimate?
E. 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?
F. 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.
G. 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. 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 to be
collected?
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 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. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).
Issued in Washington, DC, June 24, 2005.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-12905 Filed 6-29-05; 8:45 am]
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