[Federal Register: February 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 24)]
[Notices]
[Page 6432-6433]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07fe05-69]
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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 EIA-882T, ``Generic Clearance for Questionnaire
Testing, Evaluation, and Research.''
DATES: Comments must be filed by April 8, 2005. If you anticipate
difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the
person listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Kara Norman. To ensure receipt of the
comments by the due date, submission by FAX (202-287-1705) or e-mail
kara.norman@eia.doe.gov) is recommended. The mailing address is
Statistics and Methods Group, EI-70, Forrestal Building, U.S.
Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585. Alternatively, Kara Norman
may be contacted by telephone at 202-287-1902.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of any forms and instructions should be directed to Kara Norman
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 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
[[Page 6433]]
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.
The EIA-882T is a generic clearance, which is a plan for conducting
one or more customer surveys. A generic clearance is considered only
when EIA is able to demonstrate that there is a need for multiple,
similar collections, but that the specifics of each collection cannot
be determined until shortly before the data are to be collected. The
EIA-882T is used to conduct various projects, including pretest/pilot
surveys (in-person interviews, telephone interviews, mail
questionnaires, and electronic reporting options), focus groups, and
cognitive interviews. The information collections that would be
conducted as part of this approval will facilitate EIA's use of
techniques to improve our current information collections and to
develop new collections. Further goals are reduced respondent burden
and improving the quality of the information collected. The number and
type of respondents varies depending on the activities being conducted.
The 882T was last extended for three years on August 16, 2002, and
expires August 31, 2005.
The information collections will include:
1. Pretests. Pretest methods will include face-to-face interviews,
telephone interviews, mail questionnaires, and electronic
questionnaires. Pretests conducted will generally be methodological
studies of limited size, normally involving either purposive or
statistically representative samples. They will include a variety of
surveys, the exact nature and sample designs will be determined at the
time of development of the pretests. The samples will be designed to
clarify particular issues rather than to be representative of the
universe. Collection may be on the basis of convenience, e.g., limited
to specific geographic locations. The needs of a particular sample will
vary based on the content of the information collection being tested,
but the selection of sample cases will be made using sound statistical
procedures.
2. Pilot surveys. Pilot surveys will generally be methodological
studies of limited size, but will always employ statistically
representative samples. The pilot surveys will replicate components of
the methodological design, sampling procedures (where possible), and
questionnaires of a full-scale survey. Pilot surveys may be utilized
when EIA is undertaking a complete revamping of a survey methodology
(e.g., moving to computer-assisted information collections) or when EIA
is undertaking a new information collection.
3. Focus groups. Focus groups involve group sessions guided by a
monitor who follows a topical outline containing questions or topics
focused on a particular issue, rather than adhering to a standardized
questionnaire. Focus groups are useful for surfacing and exploring
issues. Focus groups are typically used with specific groups of
stakeholders.
4. Cognitive interviews. Cognitive interviews are one-on-one
interviews in which a respondent is typically asked to ``think aloud''
as he or she answers survey questions, reads survey materials, or
completes other activities as part of a survey process. A number of
different techniques may be involved, including asking respondents to
paraphrase questions, probing questions to determine how respondents
come up with their answers, and similar inquiries. The objective is to
identify problems of ambiguity, misunderstanding, or other difficulties
respondents have answering questions. This may be used as the first
stage of questionnaire development.
A wide variety of uses are made of the data obtained through this
generic clearance. These projects represent significant strides in our
efforts to improve the pretesting of EIA surveys. As EIA gains more
experience, we are broadening our involvement in testing, evaluation,
and research, including working with staff at the National Science
Foundation.
II. Current Actions
EIA plans to request a three-year extension of the OMB approval for
this collection. No changes are being proposed to the types of surveys
being conducted under the generic clearance. For each information
collection that EIA proposes to undertake under this generic clearance,
OMB will be notified at least two weeks in advance, and provided with
an information copy of the collection instrument and all other
materials describing the testing activity. EIA will only undertake a
collection if OMB does not object to EIA's proposal.
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. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the
quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information to be
collected?
B. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to
average .25 hours (15 minutes) per response. The estimated burden
includes the total time necessary to provide the requested information.
In your opinion, how accurate is this estimate?
C. 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?
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?
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 1, 2005.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-2272 Filed 2-4-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P