80 FR 81303 - Agency Information Collection Extension

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 249 (December 29, 2015)

The EIA, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend for three years with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Form FE-746R, ``Natural Gas Imports and Exports.'' Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 29, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 81303-81304]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32721]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Extension

AGENCY: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of 
Energy (DOE).

ACTION: Agency Information Collection Activities: Information 
Collection Extension With Changes; Notice and Request for Comments.

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SUMMARY: The EIA, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
intends to extend for three years with the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB), Form FE-746R, ``Natural Gas Imports and Exports.'' 
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways 
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, 
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other 
forms of information technology.

DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be 
received on or before February 29, 2016. If you anticipate difficulty 
in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in 
ADDRESSES as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Benjamin Nussdorf. To ensure receipt of the 
comments by the due date, submission by email 
([email protected]) is recommended. The mailing address is 
U.S. Department of Energy (FE-34), Office of Natural Gas Regulatory 
Activities, Office of Fossil Energy, P.O. Box 44375, Washington, DC 
20026-4375, Attn: Benjamin Nussdorf. Alternatively, Mr. Nussdorf may be 
contacted by telephone at (202) 586-7893 or by fax at (202) 586-6050.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Benjamin Nussdorf at the contact information given 
above. Forms and instructions are also available on the Internet at: 
http://energy.gov/fe/services/natural-gas-regulation/guidelines-filing-monthly-reports.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information collection request 
contains:
    (1) OMB No.: 1901-0294;
    (2) Information Collection Request Title: Natural Gas Import and 
Export Application;
    (3) Type of Request: Revision;
    (4) Purpose: The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (15 
U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the DOE Organization Act (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 (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. 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 providing basic information on the 
scope and nature of the proposed import/export activity. Once an 
importer or exporter receives authorization from FE, they are required 
to submit monthly reports of all import and export transactions. Form 
FE-746R collects critical information on U.S. natural gas trade 
including: Name of importer/exporter; country of origin/destination; 
international point of entry/exit; name of supplier; volume; price; 
transporter; geographic market served; and duration of supply contract 
on a monthly basis. The data, published in Natural Gas Imports and 
Exports, are 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;
    (4a) Proposed Changes to Information Collection:
    FE proposes to add the following reporting sections for the 
collection and identification of new types of natural gas transactions 
related to:
    (a) Exports/imports of compressed natural gas by vessel;
    (b) Exports/imports of compressed natural gas by rail;
    (c) Exports/imports of compressed natural gas by waterborne 
transport;
    (d) Exports/imports of liquefied natural gas by rail;
    (e) Exports/imports of liquefied natural gas by waterborne 
transport;
    (f) Other exports and imports of natural gas by rail, truck, 
vessel, and waterborne transport;
    (g) Re-export of liquefied natural gas by vessel; and
    (h) Exports/Imports of liquefied natural gas by vessel in 
International Standards Organization (ISO) containers;
    (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 371;
    (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 4,662;

[[Page 81304]]

    (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 14,266; and
    (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: There 
are no additional costs associated with the surveys other than the 
burden hours. The information is maintained in the normal course of 
business. The cost of burden hours to the respondents is estimated to 
be $1,026,724 (14,266 burden hours times $71.97 per hour). Therefore, 
other than the cost of burden hours, FE estimates that there are no 
additional costs for generating, maintaining and providing the 
information.

    Statutory Authority: Section 13(b) of the Federal Energy 
Administration Act of 1974, Public Law 93-275, codified at 15 U.S.C. 
772(b) and Section 3 of the Natural Gas Act of 1938, codified at 15 
U.S.C. 717b.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 22, 2015.
Nanda Srinivasan,
Director, Office of Survey Development and Statistical Integration, 
U.S. Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2015-32721 Filed 12-28-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P