82 FR 60720 - Agency Information Collection Extension

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 245 (December 22, 2017)

Page Range		60720-60721
FR Document		2017-27596

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), Form EIA-846 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey. Form EIA-846 collects information on energy consumption, expenditures, and building characteristics from establishments in the manufacturing sector of the U.S. economy.

Federal Register, Volume 82 Issue 245 (Friday, December 22, 2017)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 245 (Friday, December 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60720-60721]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27596]


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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: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: 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), Form EIA-846 Manufacturing Energy Consumption Survey. 
Form EIA-846 collects information on energy consumption, expenditures, 
and building characteristics from establishments in the manufacturing 
sector of the U.S. economy.

DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be 
received on or before February 20, 2018. If you anticipate difficulty 
in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in 
ADDRESSES as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Written comments may be sent to Tom Lorenz, U.S. Energy 
Information Administration, EI-22, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, 
Washington, DC 20585 or by fax at (202) 586-9753, or by email at 
[email protected].
    Access to the proposed form, instructions, and internet data 
collection screens can be found at: https://www.eia.gov/survey/form/eia_846/proposed/2018/form.pdf.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should 
be directed to Tom Lorenz by phone at (202) 586-3442, or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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; (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; and (e) ways to identify alternate sources of manufacturing 
consumption information EIA proposes to collect. EIA will evaluate 
comments on duplication of data sources based on terms of data 
coverage, level of aggregation, frequency of collection, data 
reliability, and statutory requirements to determine whether alternate 
data sources represent a suitable substitute for EIA data.
    This information collection request contains:
    (1) OMB Numbers: 1905-0169;
    (2) Information Collection Request Title: Manufacturing Energy 
Consumption Survey (MECS);
    (3) Type of Request: Three-year extension with changes;
    (4) Purpose: Form EIA-846, is a self-administered sample survey 
that collects energy consumption and expenditures data from 
establishments in the manufacturing sector. These establishments are 
classified under the North American Industry Classification System 
(NAICS) sector codes 31-33. The information from this survey is used to 
publish aggregate statistics on the energy consumption of the 
manufacturing sector including energy used for fuel and nonfuel 
purposes. The survey also gathers information on energy-related issues 
such as energy prices, on-site electricity generation, purchases of 
electricity from utilities and non-utilities, and fuel switching 
capabilities. MECS is also used to benchmark EIA's industry forecasting 
model and update changes in the energy intensity and greenhouse gases 
data series.
    (4a) Proposed Change to Information Collection: EIA proposes the 
following minor change to Form EIA-846.
    1. Questions about Tire-Derived Fuel: EIA proposes asking questions 
about tire-derived fuel (TDF) in the Waste Oils and Tars, and Waste 
Byproduct Gases section of the questionnaire starting on page 35 of the 
current Form EIA-846A, to be inserted after questions 138-139, 
specifically from those industries, Paper (NAICS 322) and Nonmetallic 
Mineral Products (NAICS 327), that use it as an energy source. This is 
not a substantive change as EIA already asks respondents to report TDF 
on the MECS in a section titled, ``Other.'' To make the reporting of 
TDF clear and easier for respondents, the questions in this section 
about TDF are the same questions that have always been asked about this 
energy source: Purchases, expenditures, transfers-in, amount produced 
on-site, whether it's a product/byproduct of another energy source 
consumed on-site, and fuel consumption. Over the past three MECS 
cycles, TDF has become a growing energy source within the ``Other'' 
section and accounts for over half of the energy consumed that is 
reported in that section. The use of TDF may be understated in the 
current form because some establishments may not report TDF fuel use 
because respondents may not know where to report their TDF volumes. By 
directly asking for these data as a separate data element, EIA will 
improve the coverage and accuracy of the use of this energy source.
    (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,000;
    (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 3,750;
    (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 34,565;
    Average Burden per Response: 9.2 hours.
    (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: EIA 
estimates that there are no additional costs to respondents associated 
with this data collection. The annual burden cost to the respondents is 
estimated to

[[Page 60721]]

be $2,546,058 (34,565 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, Pub. L. 95-91, 
codified at 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq. 42 U.S.C. 7135(i) as amended by 
section 3101 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986, Pub. 
L. 99-509.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 15, 2017.
Nanda Srinivasan,
Director, Office of Survey Development and Statistical Integration, 
U.S. Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2017-27596 Filed 12-21-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

60720 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 245 / Friday, December 22, 2017 / Notices

Title of Collection: Personal be received on or before February 20, System (NAICS) sector codes 31–33.
Authentication Service (PAS) for FSA 2018. If you anticipate difficulty in The information from this survey is
ID. submitting comments within that used to publish aggregate statistics on
OMB Control Number: 1845–0131. period, contact the person listed in the energy consumption of the
Type of Review: A revision of an ADDRESSES as soon as possible. manufacturing sector including energy
existing information collection. ADDRESSES: Written comments may be used for fuel and nonfuel purposes. The
Respondents/Affected Public: sent to Tom Lorenz, U.S. Energy survey also gathers information on
Individuals or Households. Information Administration, EI–22, energy-related issues such as energy
Total Estimated Number of Annual prices, on-site electricity generation,
1000 Independence Avenue SW,
Responses: 55,300,000. purchases of electricity from utilities
Total Estimated Number of Annual Washington, DC 20585 or by fax at (202)
586–9753, or by email at and non-utilities, and fuel switching
Burden Hours: 14,715,000. capabilities. MECS is also used to
Abstract: Federal Student Aid (FSA) Thomas.Lorenz@eia.gov.
Access to the proposed form, benchmark EIA’s industry forecasting
replaced the PIN system with the model and update changes in the energy
Personal Authentication Service (PAS) instructions, and internet data
collection screens can be found at: intensity and greenhouse gases data
which will employ an FSA ID, a series.
standard user name and password https://www.eia.gov/survey/form/eia_
846/proposed/2018/form.pdf. (4a) Proposed Change to Information
solution. In order to create an FSA ID to Collection: EIA proposes the following
gain access to certain FSA systems FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
minor change to Form EIA–846.
(FAFSA on the web, NSLDS, Requests for additional information or 1. Questions about Tire-Derived Fuel:
StudentLoans.gov, etc.) a user must copies of the information collection EIA proposes asking questions about
register on-line for an FSA ID account. instrument and instructions should be tire-derived fuel (TDF) in the Waste Oils
The FSA ID allows the customer to have directed to Tom Lorenz by phone at and Tars, and Waste Byproduct Gases
a single identity, even if there is a name (202) 586–3442, or by email at section of the questionnaire starting on
change or change to other personally Thomas.Lorenz@eia.gov. page 35 of the current Form EIA–846A,
identifiable information. The SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments to be inserted after questions 138–139,
information collected to create the FSA are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed specifically from those industries, Paper
ID enables electronic authentication and collection of information is necessary (NAICS 322) and Nonmetallic Mineral
authorization of users for FSA web- for the proper performance of the Products (NAICS 327), that use it as an
based applications and information and functions of the agency, including energy source. This is not a substantive
protects users from unauthorized access whether the information shall have change as EIA already asks respondents
to user accounts on all protected FSA practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the to report TDF on the MECS in a section
sites. agency’s estimate of the burden of the titled, ‘‘Other.’’ To make the reporting of
Dated: December 19, 2017.
proposed collection of information, TDF clear and easier for respondents,
including the validity of the the questions in this section about TDF
Kate Mullan,
methodology and assumptions used; (c) are the same questions that have always
Acting Director, Information Collection
ways to enhance the quality, utility, and been asked about this energy source:
Clearance Division, Office of the Chief Privacy
Officer, Office of Management. clarity of the information to be Purchases, expenditures, transfers-in,
collected; (d) ways to minimize the amount produced on-site, whether it’s a
[FR Doc. 2017–27591 Filed 12–21–17; 8:45 am]
burden of the collection of information product/byproduct of another energy
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
on respondents, including through the source consumed on-site, and fuel
use of automated collection techniques consumption. Over the past three MECS
or other forms of information cycles, TDF has become a growing
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY technology; and (e) ways to identify energy source within the ‘‘Other’’
Energy Information Administration alternate sources of manufacturing section and accounts for over half of the
consumption information EIA proposes energy consumed that is reported in that
Agency Information Collection to collect. EIA will evaluate comments section. The use of TDF may be
Extension on duplication of data sources based on understated in the current form because
terms of data coverage, level of some establishments may not report
AGENCY: U.S. Energy Information aggregation, frequency of collection, TDF fuel use because respondents may
Administration (EIA), Department of data reliability, and statutory not know where to report their TDF
Energy (DOE). requirements to determine whether volumes. By directly asking for these
ACTION: Notice and request for alternate data sources represent a data as a separate data element, EIA will
comments. suitable substitute for EIA data. improve the coverage and accuracy of
This information collection request the use of this energy source.
SUMMARY: EIA, pursuant to the
contains: (5) Annual Estimated Number of
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, (1) OMB Numbers: 1905–0169;
intends to extend with changes for three Respondents: 15,000;
(2) Information Collection Request (6) Annual Estimated Number of
years with the Office of Management Title: Manufacturing Energy
and Budget (OMB), Form EIA–846 Total Responses: 3,750;
Consumption Survey (MECS); (7) Annual Estimated Number of
Manufacturing Energy Consumption (3) Type of Request: Three-year Burden Hours: 34,565;
Survey. Form EIA–846 collects
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES

extension with changes; Average Burden per Response: 9.2
information on energy consumption, (4) Purpose: Form EIA–846, is a self- hours.
expenditures, and building administered sample survey that (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and
characteristics from establishments in collects energy consumption and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: EIA
the manufacturing sector of the U.S. expenditures data from establishments estimates that there are no additional
economy. in the manufacturing sector. These costs to respondents associated with
DATES: Comments regarding this establishments are classified under the this data collection. The annual burden
proposed information collection must North American Industry Classification cost to the respondents is estimated to

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Document Created: 2017-12-22 00:34:06
Document Modified: 2017-12-22 00:34:06

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Notices
Action		Notice and request for comments.
Dates		Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before February 20, 2018. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in
Contact		Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection instrument and instructions should be directed to Tom Lorenz by phone at (202) 586-3442, or by email at [email protected]
FR Citation		82 FR 60720

82 FR 60720 - Agency Information Collection Extension

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYEnergy Information Administration

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 245 (December 22, 2017)

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration