82_FR_20415 82 FR 20333 - Agency Information Collection Extension

82 FR 20333 - Agency Information Collection Extension

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 82 (May 1, 2017)

Page Range20333-20335
FR Document2017-08742

The EIA, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, intends to extend with changes for three years with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the surveys in the Natural Gas Data Collection Program Package under OMB Control No. 1905-0175. This program provides information on the supply and disposition of natural gas within the United States. The surveys covered by this information collection request include:

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 82 (Monday, May 1, 2017)
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 82 (Monday, May 1, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20333-20335]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-08742]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Extension

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

ACTION: Agency information collection activities: Information 
collection extension; notice and request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: The EIA, pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
intends to extend with changes for three years with the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), the surveys in the Natural Gas Data 
Collection Program Package under OMB Control No. 1905-0175. This 
program provides information on the supply and disposition of natural 
gas within the United States.
    The surveys covered by this information collection request include:

Form EIA-176, Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental Gas Supply and 
Disposition
EIA-191, Monthly Underground Gas Storage Report
EIA-757, Natural Gas Processing Plant Survey
EIA-857, Monthly Report of Natural Gas Purchases and Deliveries to 
Consumers
EIA-910, Monthly Natural Gas Marketer Survey
EIA-912, Weekly Underground Natural Gas Storage Report

    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 June 30, 2017. If you anticipate difficulty in 
submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in 
ADDRESSES as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send written comments to Michael Kopalek, Natural Gas 
Downstream Team, Office of Petroleum and Biofuel Statistics, U.S. 
Energy Information Administration. To ensure receipt of the comments by 
the due date, submission by email ([email protected]) is 
recommended. The mailing address is Michael Kopalek, U.S. Energy 
Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 
Independence Ave. SW., EI-25, Washington, DC 20585. Telephone 202-586-
4001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the any forms and instructions should be directed to Mr. 
Kopalek at the address listed above. Also, the draft forms and 
instructions are available on the EIA Web site at http://www.eia.gov/survey/notice/ngdownstreamforms2015.cfm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information collection request 
contains:
    (1) OMB Control Number 1902-0175;
    (2) Information Collection Request Title: Natural Gas Data 
Collection Program;
    (3) Type of Request: Renewal, with changes;
    (4) Purpose: The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 
93-275, 15 U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the DOE Organization Act (Pub. L. 
95-91, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) require 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 statistics. This information is used to assess the 
adequacy of energy resources to meet both near- and long-term domestic 
demands.

[[Page 20334]]

    EIA, as part of its effort to comply with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), provides the 
general public and other Federal agencies with opportunities to comment 
on the collection of energy information conducted by or in conjunction 
with EIA. Comments help EIA prepare information collection requests 
that maximize the utility of the information collected and assess the 
impact of collection requirements on the public.
    The natural gas surveys included in the Natural Gas Data Collection 
Program Package collect information on natural gas underground storage, 
supply, processing, transmission, distribution, consumption by sector, 
and consumer prices. This information is used to support public policy 
analyses of the natural gas industry and estimates generated from data 
collected on these surveys. The statistics generated from these surveys 
are posted to the EIA Web site (http://www.eia.gov) and in various EIA 
products, including the Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report (WNGSR), 
Natural Gas Monthly (NGM), Natural Gas Annual (NGA), Monthly Energy 
Review (MER), Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), Annual Energy Outlook 
(AEO), and Annual Energy Review (AER). Respondents to EIA natural gas 
surveys include underground storage operators, processors, 
transporters, marketers, and distributors. Each form included as part 
of this package is discussed in detail below.
    Please refer to the proposed forms and instructions for more 
information about the purpose, who must report, when to report, where 
to submit, the elements to be reported, detailed instructions, 
provisions for confidentiality, and uses (including possible 
nonstatistical uses) of the information. For instructions on obtaining 
materials, see the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.
    EIA requests a three-year extension of collection authority for 
each of the above-referenced surveys with proposed changes to Forms 
EIA-176, EIA-910, EIA-912 and minor changes to improve clarity in the 
instructions to Forms EIA-191, 757, and 857.
    (4a) Proposed Changes to Information Collection:

Form EIA-176, Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental Gas Supply and 
Disposition

    Form EIA-176 collects data on natural, synthetic, and other 
supplemental gas supplies, disposition, and certain revenues by state. 
The proposed changes include:
    a. Add a question in Part 3(B) asking respondents if they have an 
alternative-fueled vehicle fleet, and if so, what kind and how many 
vehicles comprise the fleet. This information will improve survey frame 
coverage and data accuracy reported on Form EIA-886, Annual Survey of 
Alternative Fueled Vehicles;
    b. Add a new section Part 3(E) to add a question for local 
distribution companies to provide all five-digit zip codes in their 
distribution territory where they deliver natural gas for end-use 
consumption. This information enables EIA to estimate the approximate 
service territory for a local distribution company. This information 
will allow EIA analysts and data customers to understand service 
territories associated with natural gas distributors. EIA has received 
inquiries for this information in the past;
    c. Add a question in Part 3 (F) asking respondents for the names 
and zip codes of any aboveground liquefied (LNG) natural gas storage 
facilities that are owned by, operated by, or provide services to a 
survey respondent. EIA proposes to collect this information to 
facilitate collection of LNG data by providing a list of operators and 
their locations;
    d. Discontinue collecting costs associated with purchase gas 
received within the service area. In the past, EIA spent substantial 
resources to validate this information. EIA has the capability to 
estimate values for this activity using monthly data. EIA proposes to 
delete this data element to reduce respondent reporting burden; and
    e. Move Part 6 Line 12.4 (from the drop down menu selection) sub-
item 9096, ``Other Natural gas consumed in your operations: 
Vaporization/LNG Fuel,'' to make it a standalone line item as new Line 
12.4, called ``Vaporization/Liquefaction/LNG Fuel.'' The collection of 
``Other Natural Gas'' consumed in operations that was previously listed 
on Line 12.4 will be shown as a new Line 12.6 in Part 6 with the three 
other drop down choices (Utilities Use, Other, and Other Expenses) 
available to the user. In the past, many respondents have missed 
reporting this data element. The proposed change is designed to improve 
the coverage and accuracy of respondents reporting this information and 
will assist EIA in its modeling and analysis.
    f. Add a question in Part 6 Line 12.5, ``Vehicle fuel used in 
company fleet'' to collect information on vehicle fuel for company 
vehicles. Based on cognitive testing of the EIA-176 form, respondents 
were reporting natural gas vehicle fuel for their own company fleet as 
company use. This affects the accuracy of the vehicle fuel volumes and 
prices reported in Part 6 Items 10.5 and 11.5. Company use volumes do 
not have associated revenue and should not be included in 10.5 and 
11.5. Adding this question will give respondents an explicit place to 
report company-owned vehicle fuel volumes and improve the accuracy of 
vehicle fuel prices based on Part 6 Items 10.5 and 11.5.

Form EIA-191, Monthly Underground Gas Storage Report

    Form EIA-191 collects data on the operations of all active 
underground storage facilities. EIA is proposing to make the following 
changes to Form EIA-191:
    a. Remove ``Other'' as a response option under ``type of facility'' 
question in Part 3 of the survey form. Respondents have not utilized 
this category for classifying their facilities. This open ended 
facility category does not provide the intended utility for EIA so EIA 
proposes to delete it to reduce reporting burden.

Form EIA-757, Natural Gas Processing Plant Survey

    Form EIA-757 collects information on the capacity, status, and 
operations of natural gas processing plants, and monitors constraints 
of natural gas processing plants during periods of supply disruption in 
areas affected by an emergency, such as a hurricane. Schedule A of the 
EIA-757 is used to collect data every three years. Schedule A collects 
information on baseline operating and capacity information from all 
respondents. Schedule A was used to collect information in 2015 and the 
next planned collection for Schedule A is 2018. Schedule B is activated 
as needed and collects data from a sample of respondents in affected 
areas as needed. Schedule B was last activated in 2012 when Hurricane 
Isaac damaged energy supply infrastructure along the Gulf Coast. A 
sample of approximately 20 plants reported in 2012 during that energy 
disruption. EIA is proposing to continue the collection of the same 
data elements on Form EIA-757 Schedules A and B in their present form 
with one minor protocol change:
    a. Collect EIA-757 Schedule A data for new natural gas processing 
plants that opened and began operations between the current three-year 
data collection cycles. This minor protocol change allows EIA to 
maintain a current frame at all times rather than updating the survey 
frame every three years when a new data collection cycle begins.

[[Page 20335]]

Form EIA-857, Monthly Report of Natural Gas Purchases and Deliveries to 
Consumers

    Form EIA-857 collects data on the quantity and cost of natural gas 
delivered to distribution systems and the quantity and revenue of 
natural gas delivered to end-use consumers by market sector, on a 
monthly basis by state. EIA is not proposing any substantive changes to 
Form EIA-857.

Form EIA-910, Monthly Natural Gas Marketer, and Form EIA-912 Weekly 
Underground Natural Gas Storage Report

    Form EIA-910 collects information on natural gas sales from 
marketers in selected states that have active customer choice programs. 
EIA is requesting information on the volume and revenue for natural gas 
commodity sales and any receipts for distribution charges and taxes 
associated with the sale of natural gas.
    Form EIA-912 collects information on weekly inventories of natural 
gas in underground storage facilities.
    EIA proposes a permanent change in the confidentiality pledge to 
respondents to Forms EIA-910 and EIA-912. EIA revised its 
confidentiality pledge to Forms EIA-910 and EIA-912 survey respondents 
under the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical 
Efficiency Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 (note)) (CIPSEA) in an emergency Federal 
Register notice published on January 12, 2017 in 82 FR 3764. These 
revisions were necessary because of requirements from the Federal 
Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015 (Pub. L. 114-11, Division N, 
Title II, Subtitle B, Sec. 223). This law permits and requires the 
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to provide 
Federal civilian agencies' information technology systems with 
cybersecurity protection for their Internet traffic. Federal statistics 
provide key information that the Nation uses to measure its performance 
and make informed choices about budgets, energy, employment, health, 
investments, taxes, and a host of other significant topics. Strong and 
trusted confidentiality and exclusively statistical use pledges under 
the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act 
(CIPSEA) and similar statistical confidentiality pledges are effective 
and necessary in honoring the trust that businesses, individuals, and 
institutions, by their responses, place in statistical agencies. EIA 
proposed to make this change permanent in a separate Federal Register 
notice released on March 1, 2017 in 82 FR 12217 for all EIA surveys 
protected under CIPSEA. In this notice EIA proposes to permanently 
revise the confidentiality pledge to Form EIA-910 and EIA-912 
respondents as follows:

    The information you provide on Form EIA-xxx will be used for 
statistical purposes only and is confidential by law. In accordance 
with the Confidential Information Protection and Statistical 
Efficiency Act of 2002 and other applicable Federal laws, your 
responses will not be disclosed in identifiable form without your 
consent. Per the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015, 
Federal information systems are protected from malicious activities 
through cybersecurity screening of transmitted data. Every EIA 
employee, as well as every agent, is subject to a jail term, a fine, 
or both if he or she makes public ANY identifiable information you 
reported.

    EIA is not proposing any other substantive changes to Form EIA-910.
    EIA proposes one additional change to Form EIA-912. EIA proposes to 
include an additional geographic data element for working gas 
collection and publication in the Lower 48 states:
    a. Divide the ``South Central'' reporting region into ``South 
Central Salt'' and ``South Central Nonsalt.'' Currently EIA categorizes 
storage operators as either Salt facilities or Nonsalt facilities and 
allocates their volumes entirely to that region. This proposed change 
would require respondents to allocate volumes in their reported data 
between Salt facilities and Nonsalt facilities; this would improve the 
accuracy of EIA's published estimates on underground storage. For 
example, under the current methodology, volumes reported by a 
respondent with majority salt storage would be allocated entirely to 
the ``South Central Salt'' region, even if nearly half of their volumes 
were stored in nonsalt facilities. Currently, operators with more than 
15 billion cubic feet (Bcf) of storage capacity in the South Central 
region report volumes separately between Salt facilities or Nonsalt 
facilities. This proposed change will require all operators in the 
reporting sample to report the same way.
    Request for Comments: EIA invites comments on the extension of this 
information collection package and the proposed changes discussed above 
to the corresponding survey forms and instructions.
    (5) Estimated Total Number of Survey Respondents: 3,340.
    EIA-176 consists of 2,050 respondents.
    EIA-191 consists of 145 respondents.
    EIA-757 consists of 600 respondents.
    EIA-857 consists of 330 respondents.
    EIA-910 consists of 100 respondents.
    EIA- 912 consists of 95 respondents.
    (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 14,183.
    (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 50,564.
    (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: The 
information is maintained in the normal course of business. The cost of 
the burden hours is estimated to be $3,724,554 (50,564 burden hours 
times $73.66 per hour). Other than the cost of burden hours, EIA 
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, Pub. L. 93-275, codified as 15 U.S.C. 
772(b) and the DOE Organization Act of 1977, P.L. 95-91, codified at 
42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 18, 2017.
Nanda Srinivasan,
Director, Office of Survey Development and Statistical Integration, U. 
S. Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-08742 Filed 4-28-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6450-01-P



                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 82 / Monday, May 1, 2017 / Notices                                             20333

                                                collected; and (d) ways to minimize the                 certain questions, but do not change the              practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
                                                burden of the collection of information                 meaning of the questions being asked.                 agency’s estimate of the burden of the
                                                on respondents, including through the                     (5) Annual Estimated Number of                      proposed collection of information,
                                                use of automated collection techniques                  Total Responses: 300;                                 including the validity of the
                                                or other forms of information                             (6) Average Hours per Response: 1;                  methodology and assumptions used; (c)
                                                technology.                                             and                                                   ways to enhance the quality, utility, and
                                                                                                          (7) Annual Estimated Number of                      clarity of the information to be
                                                DATES:   Comments regarding this                        Burden Hours: 300
                                                proposed information collection                                                                               collected; and (d) ways to minimize the
                                                                                                          (8) There is no cost associated with                burden of the collection of information
                                                extension must be received on or before                 reporting and recordkeeping.
                                                June 30, 2017. If you anticipate                                                                              on respondents, including through the
                                                difficulty in submitting comments                         Statutory Authority: National                       use of automated collection techniques
                                                within that period, contact the person                  Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) (42 U.S.C.            or other forms of information
                                                                                                        4321 et seq.).                                        technology.
                                                listed in ADDRESSES as soon as possible.
                                                                                                          Issued in Golden, CO, on April 20, 2017.            DATES:  Comments regarding this
                                                ADDRESSES: Written comments may be
                                                sent to Lisa Jorgensen at: U.S.                         Robin L. Sweeney,                                     proposed information collection must
                                                Department of Energy, 15013 Denver                      Director, Environmental Oversight Office,             be received on or before June 30, 2017.
                                                West Parkway, Golden, CO 80401, by                      Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable             If you anticipate difficulty in submitting
                                                                                                        Energy.                                               comments within that period, contact
                                                fax at (720–356–1790), or by email at
                                                EEREEQComments@EE.DOE.gov.                              [FR Doc. 2017–08743 Filed 4–28–17; 8:45 am]           the person listed in ADDRESSES as soon
                                                                                                        BILLING CODE 6450–01–P                                as possible.
                                                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                Requests for additional information or                                                                        ADDRESSES: Send written comments to
                                                copies of the EERE Environmental                                                                              Michael Kopalek, Natural Gas
                                                                                                        DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY                                  Downstream Team, Office of Petroleum
                                                Questionnaire should be directed to Lisa
                                                Jorgensen at EEREEQComments@                            Energy Information Administration                     and Biofuel Statistics, U.S. Energy
                                                EE.DOE.gov. The EERE Environmental                                                                            Information Administration. To ensure
                                                Questionnaire also is available for                     Agency Information Collection                         receipt of the comments by the due date,
                                                viewing in the Golden Field Office                      Extension                                             submission by email (Michael.Kopalek@
                                                Public Reading Room at:                                                                                       eia.gov) is recommended. The mailing
                                                                                                        AGENCY:   U.S. Energy Information                     address is Michael Kopalek, U.S. Energy
                                                www.energy.gov/node/2299401.
                                                                                                        Administration (EIA), Department of                   Information Administration, U.S.
                                                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This                         Energy.                                               Department of Energy, 1000
                                                information collection request contains:                ACTION: Agency information collection                 Independence Ave. SW., EI–25,
                                                   (1) OMB No. 1910–5175;                               activities: Information collection                    Washington, DC 20585. Telephone 202–
                                                   (2) Information Collection Request                   extension; notice and request for                     586–4001.
                                                Title: Office of Energy Efficiency and                  comments.
                                                Renewable Energy (EERE)                                                                                       FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
                                                Environmental Questionnaire;                            SUMMARY:   The EIA, pursuant to the                   Requests for additional information or
                                                   (3) Type of Request: Extension, with                 Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995,                      copies of the any forms and instructions
                                                changes;                                                intends to extend with changes for three              should be directed to Mr. Kopalek at the
                                                   (4) Purpose: The DOE’s EERE                          years with the Office of Management                   address listed above. Also, the draft
                                                provides federal funding through federal                and Budget (OMB), the surveys in the                  forms and instructions are available on
                                                assistance programs to businesses,                      Natural Gas Data Collection Program                   the EIA Web site at http://www.eia.gov/
                                                industries, universities, and other                     Package under OMB Control No. 1905–                   survey/notice/ngdownstreamforms
                                                groups for renewable energy and energy                  0175. This program provides                           2015.cfm.
                                                efficiency research and development                     information on the supply and                         SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:     This
                                                and demonstration projects. The                         disposition of natural gas within the                 information collection request contains:
                                                National Environmental Policy Act                       United States.                                          (1) OMB Control Number 1902–0175;
                                                (NEPA) of 1969 (42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.)                    The surveys covered by this                          (2) Information Collection Request
                                                requires that an environmental analysis                 information collection request include:               Title: Natural Gas Data Collection
                                                be completed for all major federal                      Form EIA–176, Annual Report of                        Program;
                                                actions significantly affecting the                        Natural and Supplemental Gas                         (3) Type of Request: Renewal, with
                                                environment including projects entirely                    Supply and Disposition                             changes;
                                                or partly financed by federal agencies.                 EIA–191, Monthly Underground Gas                        (4) Purpose: The Federal Energy
                                                To effectively perform environmental                       Storage Report                                     Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93–
                                                analyses for these projects, the DOE’s                  EIA–757, Natural Gas Processing Plant                 275, 15 U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the DOE
                                                EERE needs to collect project-specific                     Survey                                             Organization Act (Pub. L. 95–91, 42
                                                information from federal financial                      EIA–857, Monthly Report of Natural Gas                U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) require EIA to carry
                                                assistance awardees. DOE’s EERE has                        Purchases and Deliveries to                        out a centralized, comprehensive, and
                                                developed its Environmental                                Consumers                                          unified energy information program.
                                                Questionnaire to obtain the required                    EIA–910, Monthly Natural Gas Marketer                 This program collects, evaluates,
                                                information and ensure that its                            Survey                                             assembles, analyzes, and disseminates
srobinson on DSK5SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES




                                                decision-making processes are                           EIA–912, Weekly Underground Natural                   information on energy resource reserves,
                                                consistent with NEPA as it relates to                      Gas Storage Report                                 production, demand, technology, and
                                                renewable energy and energy efficiency                     Comments are invited on: (a) Whether               related economic statistics. This
                                                research and development and                            the proposed collection of information                information is used to assess the
                                                demonstration projects. Minor changes                   is necessary for the proper performance               adequacy of energy resources to meet
                                                have been made to the Environmental                     of the functions of the agency, including             both near- and long-term domestic
                                                Questionnaire that help to clarify                      whether the information shall have                    demands.


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                                                20334                            Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 82 / Monday, May 1, 2017 / Notices

                                                   EIA, as part of its effort to comply                    a. Add a question in Part 3(B) asking              as company use. This affects the
                                                with the Paperwork Reduction Act of                     respondents if they have an alternative-              accuracy of the vehicle fuel volumes
                                                1995 (Pub. L. 104–13, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et                 fueled vehicle fleet, and if so, what kind            and prices reported in Part 6 Items 10.5
                                                seq.), provides the general public and                  and how many vehicles comprise the                    and 11.5. Company use volumes do not
                                                other Federal agencies with                             fleet. This information will improve                  have associated revenue and should not
                                                opportunities to comment on the                         survey frame coverage and data                        be included in 10.5 and 11.5. Adding
                                                collection of energy information                        accuracy reported on Form EIA–886,                    this question will give respondents an
                                                conducted by or in conjunction with                     Annual Survey of Alternative Fueled                   explicit place to report company-owned
                                                EIA. Comments help EIA prepare                          Vehicles;                                             vehicle fuel volumes and improve the
                                                information collection requests that                       b. Add a new section Part 3(E) to add              accuracy of vehicle fuel prices based on
                                                maximize the utility of the information                 a question for local distribution                     Part 6 Items 10.5 and 11.5.
                                                collected and assess the impact of                      companies to provide all five-digit zip
                                                collection requirements on the public.                  codes in their distribution territory                 Form EIA–191, Monthly
                                                                                                        where they deliver natural gas for end-               Underground Gas Storage Report
                                                   The natural gas surveys included in
                                                the Natural Gas Data Collection Program                 use consumption. This information
                                                                                                                                                                Form EIA–191 collects data on the
                                                Package collect information on natural                  enables EIA to estimate the approximate
                                                                                                                                                              operations of all active underground
                                                gas underground storage, supply,                        service territory for a local distribution
                                                                                                                                                              storage facilities. EIA is proposing to
                                                processing, transmission, distribution,                 company. This information will allow
                                                                                                                                                              make the following changes to Form
                                                consumption by sector, and consumer                     EIA analysts and data customers to
                                                                                                                                                              EIA–191:
                                                prices. This information is used to                     understand service territories associated
                                                                                                        with natural gas distributors. EIA has                  a. Remove ‘‘Other’’ as a response
                                                support public policy analyses of the
                                                                                                        received inquiries for this information               option under ‘‘type of facility’’ question
                                                natural gas industry and estimates
                                                                                                        in the past;                                          in Part 3 of the survey form.
                                                generated from data collected on these
                                                                                                           c. Add a question in Part 3 (F) asking             Respondents have not utilized this
                                                surveys. The statistics generated from
                                                                                                        respondents for the names and zip                     category for classifying their facilities.
                                                these surveys are posted to the EIA Web
                                                                                                        codes of any aboveground liquefied                    This open ended facility category does
                                                site (http://www.eia.gov) and in various
                                                                                                        (LNG) natural gas storage facilities that             not provide the intended utility for EIA
                                                EIA products, including the Weekly
                                                                                                        are owned by, operated by, or provide                 so EIA proposes to delete it to reduce
                                                Natural Gas Storage Report (WNGSR),
                                                                                                        services to a survey respondent. EIA                  reporting burden.
                                                Natural Gas Monthly (NGM), Natural
                                                                                                        proposes to collect this information to
                                                Gas Annual (NGA), Monthly Energy                                                                              Form EIA–757, Natural Gas
                                                                                                        facilitate collection of LNG data by
                                                Review (MER), Short-Term Energy                                                                               Processing Plant Survey
                                                                                                        providing a list of operators and their
                                                Outlook (STEO), Annual Energy
                                                                                                        locations;                                               Form EIA–757 collects information on
                                                Outlook (AEO), and Annual Energy                           d. Discontinue collecting costs
                                                Review (AER). Respondents to EIA                                                                              the capacity, status, and operations of
                                                                                                        associated with purchase gas received                 natural gas processing plants, and
                                                natural gas surveys include                             within the service area. In the past, EIA
                                                underground storage operators,                                                                                monitors constraints of natural gas
                                                                                                        spent substantial resources to validate               processing plants during periods of
                                                processors, transporters, marketers, and                this information. EIA has the capability
                                                distributors. Each form included as part                                                                      supply disruption in areas affected by
                                                                                                        to estimate values for this activity using
                                                of this package is discussed in detail                                                                        an emergency, such as a hurricane.
                                                                                                        monthly data. EIA proposes to delete
                                                below.                                                                                                        Schedule A of the EIA–757 is used to
                                                                                                        this data element to reduce respondent
                                                   Please refer to the proposed forms and                                                                     collect data every three years. Schedule
                                                                                                        reporting burden; and
                                                instructions for more information about                    e. Move Part 6 Line 12.4 (from the                 A collects information on baseline
                                                the purpose, who must report, when to                   drop down menu selection) sub-item                    operating and capacity information from
                                                report, where to submit, the elements to                9096, ‘‘Other Natural gas consumed in                 all respondents. Schedule A was used to
                                                be reported, detailed instructions,                     your operations: Vaporization/LNG                     collect information in 2015 and the next
                                                provisions for confidentiality, and uses                Fuel,’’ to make it a standalone line item             planned collection for Schedule A is
                                                (including possible nonstatistical uses)                as new Line 12.4, called ‘‘Vaporization/              2018. Schedule B is activated as needed
                                                of the information. For instructions on                 Liquefaction/LNG Fuel.’’ The collection               and collects data from a sample of
                                                obtaining materials, see the FOR FURTHER                of ‘‘Other Natural Gas’’ consumed in                  respondents in affected areas as needed.
                                                INFORMATION CONTACT section.                            operations that was previously listed on              Schedule B was last activated in 2012
                                                   EIA requests a three-year extension of               Line 12.4 will be shown as a new Line                 when Hurricane Isaac damaged energy
                                                collection authority for each of the                    12.6 in Part 6 with the three other drop              supply infrastructure along the Gulf
                                                above-referenced surveys with proposed                  down choices (Utilities Use, Other, and               Coast. A sample of approximately 20
                                                changes to Forms EIA–176, EIA–910,                      Other Expenses) available to the user. In             plants reported in 2012 during that
                                                EIA–912 and minor changes to improve                    the past, many respondents have missed                energy disruption. EIA is proposing to
                                                clarity in the instructions to Forms EIA–               reporting this data element. The                      continue the collection of the same data
                                                191, 757, and 857.                                      proposed change is designed to improve                elements on Form EIA–757 Schedules A
                                                   (4a) Proposed Changes to Information                 the coverage and accuracy of                          and B in their present form with one
                                                Collection:                                             respondents reporting this information                minor protocol change:
                                                                                                        and will assist EIA in its modeling and                  a. Collect EIA–757 Schedule A data
                                                Form EIA–176, Annual Report of
                                                                                                        analysis.                                             for new natural gas processing plants
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                                                Natural and Supplemental Gas
                                                                                                           f. Add a question in Part 6 Line 12.5,             that opened and began operations
                                                Supply and Disposition
                                                                                                        ‘‘Vehicle fuel used in company fleet’’ to             between the current three-year data
                                                  Form EIA–176 collects data on                         collect information on vehicle fuel for               collection cycles. This minor protocol
                                                natural, synthetic, and other                           company vehicles. Based on cognitive                  change allows EIA to maintain a current
                                                supplemental gas supplies, disposition,                 testing of the EIA–176 form,                          frame at all times rather than updating
                                                and certain revenues by state. The                      respondents were reporting natural gas                the survey frame every three years when
                                                proposed changes include:                               vehicle fuel for their own company fleet              a new data collection cycle begins.


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                                                                                 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 82 / Monday, May 1, 2017 / Notices                                                   20335

                                                Form EIA–857, Monthly Report of                         2017 in 82 FR 12217 for all EIA surveys                 EIA- 912 consists of 95 respondents.
                                                Natural Gas Purchases and                               protected under CIPSEA. In this notice                  (6) Annual Estimated Number of
                                                Deliveries to Consumers                                 EIA proposes to permanently revise the                Total Responses: 14,183.
                                                  Form EIA–857 collects data on the                     confidentiality pledge to Form EIA–910                  (7) Annual Estimated Number of
                                                quantity and cost of natural gas                        and EIA–912 respondents as follows:                   Burden Hours: 50,564.
                                                delivered to distribution systems and                      The information you provide on Form                  (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and
                                                the quantity and revenue of natural gas                 EIA–xxx will be used for statistical purposes         Recordkeeping Cost Burden: The
                                                delivered to end-use consumers by                       only and is confidential by law. In                   information is maintained in the normal
                                                market sector, on a monthly basis by                    accordance with the Confidential Information          course of business. The cost of the
                                                                                                        Protection and Statistical Efficiency Act of          burden hours is estimated to be
                                                state. EIA is not proposing any                         2002 and other applicable Federal laws, your
                                                substantive changes to Form EIA–857.                                                                          $3,724,554 (50,564 burden hours times
                                                                                                        responses will not be disclosed in                    $73.66 per hour). Other than the cost of
                                                Form EIA–910, Monthly Natural Gas                       identifiable form without your consent. Per           burden hours, EIA estimates that there
                                                Marketer, and Form EIA–912 Weekly                       the Federal Cybersecurity Enhancement Act
                                                                                                        of 2015, Federal information systems are
                                                                                                                                                              are no additional costs for generating,
                                                Underground Natural Gas Storage                         protected from malicious activities through           maintaining and providing the
                                                Report                                                  cybersecurity screening of transmitted data.          information.
                                                  Form EIA–910 collects information on                  Every EIA employee, as well as every agent,             Statutory Authority: Section 13(b) of the
                                                natural gas sales from marketers in                     is subject to a jail term, a fine, or both if he      Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974,
                                                selected states that have active customer               or she makes public ANY identifiable                  Pub. L. 93–275, codified as 15 U.S.C. 772(b)
                                                                                                        information you reported.                             and the DOE Organization Act of 1977, P.L.
                                                choice programs. EIA is requesting
                                                information on the volume and revenue                      EIA is not proposing any other                     95–91, codified at 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.
                                                for natural gas commodity sales and any                 substantive changes to Form EIA–910.                    Issued in Washington, DC, on April 18,
                                                receipts for distribution charges and                      EIA proposes one additional change                 2017.
                                                taxes associated with the sale of natural               to Form EIA–912. EIA proposes to                      Nanda Srinivasan,
                                                gas.                                                    include an additional geographic data                 Director, Office of Survey Development and
                                                  Form EIA–912 collects information on                  element for working gas collection and                Statistical Integration, U. S. Energy
                                                weekly inventories of natural gas in                    publication in the Lower 48 states:                   Information Administration.
                                                underground storage facilities.                            a. Divide the ‘‘South Central’’                    [FR Doc. 2017–08742 Filed 4–28–17; 8:45 am]
                                                  EIA proposes a permanent change in                    reporting region into ‘‘South Central                 BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
                                                the confidentiality pledge to                           Salt’’ and ‘‘South Central Nonsalt.’’
                                                respondents to Forms EIA–910 and                        Currently EIA categorizes storage
                                                EIA–912. EIA revised its confidentiality                operators as either Salt facilities or                FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS
                                                pledge to Forms EIA–910 and EIA–912                     Nonsalt facilities and allocates their                COMMISSION
                                                survey respondents under the                            volumes entirely to that region. This
                                                Confidential Information Protection and                 proposed change would require                         [OMB 3060–0737]
                                                Statistical Efficiency Act (44 U.S.C.                   respondents to allocate volumes in their
                                                                                                                                                              Information Collection Being Reviewed
                                                3501 (note)) (CIPSEA) in an emergency                   reported data between Salt facilities and
                                                                                                                                                              by the Federal Communications
                                                Federal Register notice published on                    Nonsalt facilities; this would improve
                                                                                                                                                              Commission Under Delegated
                                                January 12, 2017 in 82 FR 3764. These                   the accuracy of EIA’s published
                                                                                                                                                              Authority
                                                revisions were necessary because of                     estimates on underground storage. For
                                                requirements from the Federal                           example, under the current                            AGENCY: Federal Communications
                                                Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2015                   methodology, volumes reported by a                    Commission.
                                                (Pub. L. 114–11, Division N, Title II,                  respondent with majority salt storage                 ACTION: Notice and request for
                                                Subtitle B, Sec. 223). This law permits                 would be allocated entirely to the                    comments.
                                                and requires the Secretary of the                       ‘‘South Central Salt’’ region, even if
                                                Department of Homeland Security                         nearly half of their volumes were stored              SUMMARY:   As part of its continuing effort
                                                (DHS) to provide Federal civilian                       in nonsalt facilities. Currently, operators           to reduce paperwork burdens, and as
                                                agencies’ information technology                        with more than 15 billion cubic feet                  required by the Paperwork Reduction
                                                systems with cybersecurity protection                   (Bcf) of storage capacity in the South                Act (PRA), the Federal Communications
                                                for their Internet traffic. Federal                     Central region report volumes separately              Commission (FCC or Commission)
                                                statistics provide key information that                 between Salt facilities or Nonsalt                    invites the general public and other
                                                the Nation uses to measure its                          facilities. This proposed change will                 Federal agencies to take this
                                                performance and make informed                           require all operators in the reporting                opportunity to comment on the
                                                choices about budgets, energy,                          sample to report the same way.                        following information collections.
                                                employment, health, investments, taxes,                    Request for Comments: EIA invites                  Comments are requested concerning:
                                                and a host of other significant topics.                 comments on the extension of this                     Whether the proposed collection of
                                                Strong and trusted confidentiality and                  information collection package and the                information is necessary for the proper
                                                exclusively statistical use pledges under               proposed changes discussed above to                   performance of the functions of the
                                                the Confidential Information Protection                 the corresponding survey forms and                    Commission, including whether the
                                                and Statistical Efficiency Act (CIPSEA)                 instructions.                                         information shall have practical utility;
                                                and similar statistical confidentiality                    (5) Estimated Total Number of Survey               the accuracy of the Commission’s
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                                                pledges are effective and necessary in                  Respondents: 3,340.                                   burden estimate; ways to enhance the
                                                honoring the trust that businesses,                        EIA–176 consists of 2,050                          quality, utility, and clarity of the
                                                individuals, and institutions, by their                 respondents.                                          information collected; ways to minimize
                                                responses, place in statistical agencies.                  EIA–191 consists of 145 respondents.               the burden of the collection of
                                                EIA proposed to make this change                           EIA–757 consists of 600 respondents.               information on the respondents,
                                                permanent in a separate Federal                            EIA–857 consists of 330 respondents.               including the use of automated
                                                Register notice released on March 1,                       EIA–910 consists of 100 respondents.               collection techniques or other forms of


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Document Created: 2017-04-29 03:16:31
Document Modified: 2017-04-29 03:16:31
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionAgency information collection activities: Information collection extension; notice and request for comments.
DatesComments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before June 30, 2017. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in
ContactRequests for additional information or copies of the any forms and instructions should be directed to Mr.
FR Citation82 FR 20333 

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