Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request

AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, DOE

ACTION: Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection;

comment request.

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SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting

comments concerning the proposed extension of form EIA-767, ``Steam-

Electric Plant Operation and Design Report.''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted within 60 days of the

publication of this notice. 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 DOE contact

listed below of your intention to do so as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to John G. Colligan, Energy Information

Administration, Coal and Electric Data and Renewables Division, EI-524,

U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585-0650; telephone (202)

426-1174; e-mail [email protected]; and FAX (202) 426-1308).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the form and instructions should be directed to John Colligan

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

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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.

The Energy Information Administration, as part of its continuing

effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden (required by the

Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)), 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. Also, EIA will

later seek approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for

the collections under Section 3507(h) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of

1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, Title 44, U.S.C. Chapter 35).

The Form EIA-767, ``Steam-Electric Plant Operation and Design

Report,'' remains an annual form that collects data on the operation

and design of steam-electric plants. The form collects data required by

the following sponsors: the DOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE), and the

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The data collected on the

Form EIA-767 are used to:

Develop, assess, reform, and enforce the regulations

required by the Clean Air Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act,

and the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act

Appraise the environmental impacts of electric energy

plans and projections and the impact of environmental regulations on

the generation of electric power

Determine emission trends and appraisals

Evaluate the inventory of pollution control technology and

generation technologies

Determine the expenditures of pollution abatement and

control expenditures on operating costs and revenue.

EIA is responsible for collecting and processing the data. Within

EIA, the data are used to develop a comprehensive electric power data

base that supports EIA models and publications. Other data users

include Congress, Federal, and State agencies.

II. Current Actions

The Energy Information Administration requests a 3-year extension

with no change to the existing collection of the Form EIA-767, ``Steam-

Electric Plant Operation and Design Report.''

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 responses.

General Issues

A. Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the

proper performance of the functions of the agency? 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 EIA make to the quality, utility, and

clarity of the information to be collected?

As a Potential Respondent

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

not, which instructions require clarification?

B. Can data be submitted by the due date?

C. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to

average 84 hours per response. Burden includes the total time, effort,

or financial resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, or

disclose or provide the information.

Please comment on (1) the accuracy of our estimate and (2) how the

agency could minimize the burden of the collection of information,

including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of

information technology.

D. EIA estimates that respondents will incur no additional costs

for reporting other than the hours required to complete the collection.

What is the estimated: (1) total dollar amount annualized for capital

and start-up costs, and (2) recurring annual costs of operation and

maintenance, and purchase of services associated with this data

collection?

E. 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 methods 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. Are there alternate sources of data and do you use them? If so,

what are their deficiencies 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 3506 (c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13).

Issued in Washington, D.C. March 19, 1997.

Jay H. Casselberry,

Agency Clearance Officer, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy

Information Administration.

[FR Doc. 97-7473 Filed 3-24-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P