Form EIA-1605, Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Form EIA-1605, Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases

AGENCY: Energy Information Administration.

ACTION: Notice of proposed new Form EIA-1605, ``Voluntary Reporting of

Greenhouse Gases,'' and its short version, Form EIA-1605EZ, ``Short

Form for Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases,'' and Solicitation of

Comments.

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SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA), as part of its

continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden (required

by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Public Law No. 96-511, 44

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), conducts a presurvey consultation program to

provide the general public and other Federal agencies with an

opportunity to comment on proposed reporting forms. This program helps

to ensure that requested data can be provided in the desired format,

reporting burden is minimized, reporting forms are clearly understood,

and the effect of collection requirements on respondents can be

properly assessed.

Currently, EIA is soliciting comments concerning the proposed Form

EIA-1605, ``Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases'' and its short

version Form EIA-1605EZ, ``Short Form for Voluntary Reporting of

Greenhouse Gases.''

DATES: Written comments should be received by December 5, 1994. EIA

will endeavor to consider any comments submitted after this deadline to

the extent possible prior to submission of the forms and instructions

to the Office of Management and Budget for clearance.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Mr. Arthur Rypinski, Greenhouse Gases

Voluntary Reporting Program, Office of Integrated Analysis and

Forecasting, Energy Information Administration, EI-81, U.S. Department

of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20585, or

via e-mail (internet) to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Copies of the draft form and

instructions have been sent to all those parties who commented on the

Department of Energy's DRAFT--Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases

under Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992: General

Guidelines and Supporting Documents. In addition, copies will be

provided to the administrative heads of the ``Green'' programs

(voluntary emission reduction programs) sponsored by the Department of

Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. To determine if you

will be receiving a copy or to request a copy of the proposed form and

instructions, please call 1-800-308-1898. You may also send your

request via fax to 1-800-542-1956, or via internet to: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

II. Current Actions

III. Request for Comments

I. Background

In order to fulfill its responsibilities under the Federal Energy

Administration Act of 1974 (Public Law No. 93-275) and the Department

of Energy Organization Act (Public Law No. 95-91), EIA is obliged to

carry out a central, comprehensive, and unified energy data and

information program. As part of this program, EIA collects, evaluates,

assembles, analyzes, and disseminates data and information related to

energy.

Legislative authority

The legislative authority for this voluntary program is section

1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (Public Law 92-486) which

states:

(b) VOLUNTARY REPORTING--

(1) ISSUANCE OF GUIDELINES. Not later than 18 months after the date

of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall, after opportunity

for public comment, issue guidelines for the voluntary collection and

reporting of information on sources of greenhouse gases. Such

guidelines shall establish procedures for the accurate voluntary

reporting of information on--

(A) greenhouse gas emissions--

(i) for the baseline period of 1987 through 1990; and

(ii) for subsequent calendar years on an annual basis;

(B) annual reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon

fixation achieved through any measures, including fuel switching,

forest management practices, tree planting, use of renewable energy,

manufacture or use of vehicles with reduced greenhouse gas emissions,

appliance efficiency, methane recovery, cogeneration,

chlorofluorocarbon capture and replacement, and power plant heat rate

improvement;

(C) reductions in greenhouse gas emissions achieved as a result

of--

(i) voluntary reductions;

(ii) plant or facility closings; and

(iii) State or Federal requirements; and

(D) an aggregate calculation of greenhouse gas emissions by each

reporting entity.

Such guidelines shall also establish procedures for taking into

account the differential radiative activity and atmospheric lifetimes

of each greenhouse gas.

(2) REPORTING PROCEDURES. The Administrator of the Energy

Information Administration shall develop forms for voluntary reporting

under the guidelines established under paragraph (1), and shall make

such forms available to entities wishing to report such information.

Persons reporting under this subsection shall certify the accuracy of

the information reported.

(3) CONFIDENTIALITY. Trade secret and commercial or financial

information that is privileged or confidential shall be protected as

provided in section 552 (b)(4) of title 5, United States Code.

(4) ESTABLISHMENT OF DATABASE. Not later than 18 months after the

date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary through the

Administrator of the Energy Information Administration shall establish

a database comprised of information voluntarily reported under this

subsection. Such information may be used by the reporting entity to

demonstrate achieved reductions of greenhouse gases.

II. Current Actions

Form EIA-1605 and its shorter version Form EIA-1605EZ are

consistent with the Guidelines established by the Secretary of Energy

under Section 1605(b), entitled Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases

under Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992: General

Guidelines and Supporting Documents.

III. Request for Comments

Prospective reporters and other interested parties should comment

on the actions discussed in Items I and II above. The following general

questions are provided to assist in the preparation of responses.

As a potential respondent:

A. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If

not, which instructions require clarification?

B. Can the data be submitted using the definitions included in the

instructions?

C. Assuming the typical long-form reporter files only domestic data

and uses Schedules I, III, IV and three sections of Schedule II, the

reporting burden for Form EIA-1605 is estimated to average 20 hours per

response. The estimate for the typical EZ reporter is 2 hours per

response. How much time, including time for reviewing instructions,

searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data

needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information, do

you estimate it will require you and/or the typical reporter described

above to complete and submit Form EIA-1605? Please answer this same

question for the typical reporter using Form EIA-1605EZ.

D. What is the estimated cost of completing this form, including

the direct and indirect costs associated with the data collection?

Direct costs should include all costs, such as administrative costs,

directly attributable to providing this information. Please provide

separate cost estimates for Form EIA-1605, ``Voluntary Reporting of

Greenhouse Gases,'' and Form EIA-1605EZ, ``Short Form for Voluntary

Reporting of Greenhouse Gases.''

E. How can the forms be improved?

F. Do you know of any other Federal, state, or local agency that

collects similar data? If you do, specify the agency, the data

element(s), and the means of collection.

As a potential user:

A. Can you use data at the levels of detail indicated on the

form(s)?

B. For what purpose would you use the data? Be specific.

C. How could the form(s) be improved to better meet your specific

needs?

D. Are there alternate sources of data and do you use them? What

are their deficiencies and/or strengths?

Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized

and/or included in the request for Office of Management and Budget

approval of the form. Written comments received in response to this

notice will be available for public inspection in the Department of

Energy's Freedom of Information Office.

Statutory Authority: Section 2(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act

of 1980 (Public Law No. 96-511), which amended Chapter 35 of Title

44 of the United States Code (See 44 U.S.C. 3506(a) and (c)(1)).

Issued in Washington, D.C., October 31, 1994.

Yvonne M. Bishop,

Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information

Administration.

[FR Doc. 94-27409; Filed 11-3-94; 8:45 am]

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