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.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting

comments concerning proposed revisions to the Form EIA-846A/C,

``Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey.''

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before October 2, 1998.

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 Mr. Robert K. Adler, Energy Consumption

Division, EI-63, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy,

Washington, DC 20585-0660. Mr. Adler's telephone number is (202) 586-

1134, FAX number (202) 586-0018. His Internet address is:

[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or

copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Robert K.

Adler 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. 93-275) and the Department of

Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. 95-91), the Energy Information

Administration (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 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 EIA, as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and

respondent burden (required by the

[[Page 41236]]

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 prepare data requests in the

desired format, minimize reporting burden, develop clearly

understandable reporting forms, and assess the impact of collection

requirements on respondents. 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. 104-13, Title

44, U.S.C. Chapter 35).

The Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey (MECS) is a mail survey

designed to collect energy consumption and expenditures data from

establishments in the manufacturing sector (Standard Industrial

Classification (SIC) 20 through 39). There are 3 MECS data collection

forms, depending on the establishment's SIC. Form EIA-846A collects

information for SIC's 20 through 39 except for SIC's 24, 26, 28, 29,

3312, 3321, 3331, and 3339. Form EIA-846B is for establishments

operating primarily in the petroleum refining industry (SIC 2911). Form

EIA-846C is for establishments in SIC's 24, 26, 28, 29 (excluding

2911), 3312, 3321, 3331, and 3339.

For the 1998 MECS, it is proposed to collect the following data

from each MECS establishment: (1) For each energy source consumed--

consumption (total, fuel and nonfuel uses) and the expenditures for

each energy source, energy storage (as applicable), and energy produced

onsite; (2) energy end uses; (3) energy-saving technologies; (4) energy

management activities; and (5) square footage and number of buildings

in the establishment.

The MECS has been conducted four times previously, covering the

years 1985, 1988, 1991, and 1994. In all four survey years, the MECS

has collected baseline data on manufacturers' energy consumption and

fuel-switching capabilities. In the 1991 and 1994 surveys, the MECS

also collected data on end-uses, energy management technologies,

building square footage, and energy-saving technologies. The MECS forms

the basis for a major publication on energy consumption, Manufacturing

Consumption of Energy, 1994. Additionally, the MECS data and tables

form the basis for an Internet site (http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mecs)

in which are found numerous data tables, past publications, and

articles. The 1998 MECS will also be used to update the changes in

energy intensity data series.

The proposed 1998 MECS uses experience gained from the

administration and processing of the four previous surveys and past

consultations with respondents, trade association representatives, and

data users. EIA is continuing to pursue many avenues to obtain advice

and needs for data from customers concerning manufacturing energy data.

On the EIA site is a survey of user needs (found at http://

www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mecs/webque98.html). Past MECS customers from

trade associations, government, private industry, academia, and other

sectors have been contacted through the mail directly to give them an

opportunity to express their needs. A few manufacturing establishments

have participated in onsite cognitive interviews to test respondents'

ability to answer certain proposed sections of the MECS. This notice

serves as another opportunity for customers to express their needs for

manufacturing energy data.

II. Current Actions

EIA proposes making several changes to the 1998 MECS. Decreases in

survey funding have necessitated certain actions to adjust to the

reduced level of funding while still maintaining the usefulness of the

core program. For that reason, the MECS cycle has changed from once

every three years to once every four years. A second consequence of the

reduced budget is that the designed sample size of the MECS must be

reduced from approximately 23,000 to approximately 17,000 cases (a cut

of 26 percent). The cut in sample size means that the finest geographic

breakdown of the data available will be at the four Census Regions

level, rather than at the nine Census Divisions level that were

available from the 1994 survey. Finally, again for budgetary reasons,

EIA is proposing to no collect fuel-switching data. Although minor

changes have been discernable, data from the previous surveys has shown

that the relationship between switchability and consumption has been

relatively stable over the years covered by the MECS.

The 1998 MECS will have a substantially altered appearance. It will

take advantage of recent forms design research in order to make it

easier for respondents to understand and respond to the survey. Prime

among the changes is the replacing of the matrix or tabular format with

a format that is sequential by energy source. Most of the necessary

instructions are built into the questionnaire itself, rather than

relying on separate instruction sheets. The questionnaire will be

reformatted to fit a standard page (8.5 by 11 inches). The resulting

questionnaire will contain more pages, but should be much easier for

the respondent to complete.

EIA, in conjunction with the Bureau of the Census, is exploring

ways to have data presented in terms of the new North American Industry

Classification System (NAICS) and the Standard Industrial

Classification (SIC) system. In MECS cycles after 1998, all data will

be presented in terms of NAICS.

Other than the removal of fuel-switching, much of the content of

the 1994 MECS data collection will remain for the 1998 MECS, with the

following exceptions:

1. The 1998 MECS will not contain questions relating to lists or

other records of motors present at the establishment. This deletion is

in keeping with the agreement EIA had with industry during the 1994

questionnaire design process that this data collection would be a one-

time effort.

2. Due to the importance of understanding the ongoing changes in

the natural gas industry, the 1998 MECS will have some additional

questions relating to the type of purchase made. Specifically, EIA is

considering asking about purchases from the local utility and

nonutility purchases; the type of rate schedule the purchaser uses;

and, for some nonutility purchasers, the breakdown of costs associated

with purchasing and transporting the gas from the point-of-purchase to

the establishment.

3. The list of energy-saving technologies will be updated. The DOE

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy has already reviewed

the list and provided input to EIA.

4. EIA is exploring ways to adapt the electricity section to fit

the new deregulated environment. Because very few manufacturing

establishments would be eligible to purchase electricity from other

than their local utilities in 1998, the expectation is that any changes

in the electricity section would be minor.

5. The questions concerning participation in energy management

activities will be changed: electric utility participation will no

longer be asked about.

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.

[[Page 41237]]

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 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 9 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 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?

D. Are there additional energy-savings technologies not already

included on the MECS for which data on their penetration would be

useful?

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, DC, July 24, 1998.

Jay H. Casselberry,

Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy

Information Administration.

[FR Doc. 98-20625 Filed 7-31-98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P