Form EIA-871A (FS), ``Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, Building Questionnaire (Federal Supplement)''

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Form EIA-871A (FS), ``Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption

Survey, Building Questionnaire (Federal Supplement)''

AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy.

ACTION: Notice of the Proposed Revision of the Form EIA-871A,

``Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, Building

Questionnaire,'' 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, Pub. L. 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 and/or continuing 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 impact of collection requirements on respondents

can be properly assessed. Currently, EIA is soliciting comments

concerning the proposed revision of Form EIA-871A, ``Commercial

Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, Building Questionnaire,'' to

collect information on Federal government buildings using EIA-871A

(FS), ``Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, Building

Questionnaire, (Federal Supplement).''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted by March 28, 1994. If you

anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find it difficult

to do so within the period of time allowed by this notice, you should

advise the contact listed below of your intention to do so as soon as

possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Martha Johnson, Energy Information

Administration, EI-631, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy,

Washington, DC 20585. Telephone number: (202) 586-1135.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO OBTAIN COPIES OF THE PROPOSED FORM AND

INSTRUCTIONS: Requests for additional information or copies of the form

and instructions should be directed to Martha Johnson at the address

listed above.

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 (Pub. L. No. 93-275) and the Department of

Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 95-91), the Energy Information

Administration 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 resource reserves, production, demand,

and technology, and related economic and statistical information

relevant to the adequacy of energy resources to meet demands in the

near and longer term future for the Nation's economic and social needs.

Form EI-871A, ``Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey,

Buildings Questionnaire'' collects information about energy

characteristics and related energy consumption and expenditures in

commercial buildings. These data are used for energy modelling and

forecasting. Specifically, the data to be obtained by the Form EIA-871A

(FS) will assist in measuring the potential for energy savings in

Federal buildings, pursuant to the requirements of Section 152 through

167 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992. Form EIA-871A (FS) will collect

data on Federally-owned buildings. Data will be collected on building

size, principal building activity, physical characteristics of the

building and energy-related equipment, energy sources used and related

energy end uses. The data collected will be similar to that previously

collected by EIA for commercial buildings using Form EIA-871A

``Building Questionnaire''.

II. Current Actions

This is a revision of an existing collection. Modifications to the

existing Form EIA-871A ``Building Questionnaire'' include eliminating

questions that are not related to Federal buildings or to EPACT

requirements and adding several questions related to: water heating,

energy audits conducted by the DOE Office of Federal Energy Management

Programs, and energy consumption.

III. Request for Comments

Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment

on the actions discussed in item II. The following general guidelines

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. Can data be submitted in accordance with the response time

specified in the instructions?

D. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to

average 27 minutes per respondent. Given that this survey will be

conducted by telephone, how much time do you estimate it will require

you to review the advanced letter mailed to you, gather the necessary

data needed (square footage of building, year constructed and annual

energy consumption) and respond to the telephone interview which

includes questions about the physical characteristics of the building

and energy-related equipment.

E. 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.

F. How can the form be improved?

G. 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?

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

C. How could the form 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?

E. For the most part, information is published by EIA in U.S.

customary units, e.g., cubic feet of natural gas, short tons of coal,

and barrels of oil. Would you prefer to see EIA publish more

information in metric units, e.g., cubic meters, metric tons, and

kilograms? If yes, please specify what information (e.g., coal

production, natural gas consumption, and crude oil imports), the metric

unit(s) of measurement preferred, and in which EIA publication(s) you

would like to see such information.

EIA is also interested in receiving comments from persons regarding

their views on the need for the information contained in the form EIA-

871A (FS), ``Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, Building

Questionnaire (Federal Supplement)''.

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 Authorities: Section 2(a) of the Paperwork Reduction

Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 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, DC, February 18, 1994.

Yvonne M. Bishop,

Director, Statistical Standards, Energy Information Administration.

[FR Doc. 94-4183 Filed 2-23-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P