[Federal Register: August 10, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 154)]
[Notices]
[Page 45800-45801]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10au06-32]
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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 and revisions to Form FE 746R, ``The Natural Gas Import and
Export Authorization Application and Monthly Reports,'' which includes
the elimination of the associated quarterly reporting requirement.
DATES: Comments must be filed by October 10, 2006. If you anticipate
difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the
person listed below as soon as possible.
ADDRESSES: Send comments to Yvonne Caudillo. To ensure receipt of the
comments by the due date, submission by FAX (202-586-6050) or e-mail
yvonne.caudillo@hq.doe.gov) is recommended. The mailing address is The
Office of Fossil Energy, Natural Gas Regulatory Activities, FE-34,
Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585.
Alternatively, Ms. Caudillo may be contacted by telephone at 202-586-
4587.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or
copies of any forms and instructions should be directed to Ms. Caudillo
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 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.
DOE's Office of Fossil Energy (FE) is delegated the authority to
regulate natural gas imports and exports under section 3 of the Natural
Gas Act of 1938, 15 U.S.C. 717b. In order to carry out its delegated
responsibility, FE requires those persons seeking to import or export
natural gas to file an application containing the basic information
about the scope and nature of the proposed import/export activity.
Historically, FE has collected information on a quarterly and monthly
basis regarding import and export transactions. That information has
been used to ensure compliance with the terms and conditions of the
authorizations. In addition, the data are used to monitor North
American gas trade, which, in turn, enables the Federal government to
perform market and regulatory analyses; improve the capability of
industry and the government to respond to any future energy-related
supply problems; and keep the general public informed of international
natural gas trade.
II. Current Actions
DOE will be requesting a three-year extension of approval to its
natural gas import and export application information collection for
both long-term and blanket (short-term) authorizations. In addition,
DOE will be requesting a three-year extension and a revision of its
existing information reporting requirements for import/export
transactions under an approved application by revising the monthly
reporting and eliminating the quarterly report.
DOE has undertaken a Natural Gas Data Collection Initiative to
improve the way DOE gathers and disseminates information about the use
and origin of natural gas supplies in the U.S. More specifically, DOE
is continually seeking to improve the timeliness of the published
information and to streamline the reporting process for the natural gas
import/export authorization holders. Historically, DOE has collected
critical natural gas transaction information (i.e., country of origin/
destination, international point of entry/exit, and volume imported/
exported) on a monthly basis, and has collected more detailed natural
gas information (i.e., country of origin/destination, international
point of entry/exit; name of supplier; volume; price; transporter;
purchaser; geographic market served; and duration of supply contract)
on a quarterly basis. Under this Initiative, DOE plans to collect the
detailed natural gas transaction information (which is currently
collected on a quarterly basis) on a monthly basis. DOE also plans to
eliminate the quarterly reporting requirement.
This proposed change in reporting requirements would reduce the
burden on the authorization holders by eliminating the requirement of
filing two different reports on two different reporting schedules. This
proposed change would also streamline the data collection and
publication process and make it possible for DOE to provide the
government, the industry and the general public with more detailed
information on a more timely basis. DOE will establish an Internet-
based reporting option for the proposed monthly reporting. DOE will
treat the monthly information as public information, which conforms to
the historical treatment of all natural gas import and export
information filed pursuant to the terms of all natural gas import/
export authorizations.
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.
[[Page 45801]]
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. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If
not, which instructions need clarification?
C. Can the information be submitted by the due date?
D. Public reporting burden for authorization applications is
estimated to average 6 hours per application. Public reporting burden
for the proposed monthly reporting of transaction information on
natural gas imports and exports is estimated to average 3 hours per
response. In addition, the elimination of the quarterly report
requirement is estimated to reduce the public reporting burden by an
average of 5 hours per response per quarter. 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, August 4, 2006.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-13035 Filed 8-9-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P