Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request

I. Background II. Current Actions III. Request for Comments

I. Background

The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93-275, 15 U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the Department of Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 94-91, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) requires the Energy Information Administration (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 (Pub. L. 104-13, 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. Any comments received help the EIA to prepare data requests that maximize the utility of the information collected, and to assess the impact of collection requirements on the public. Also, the EIA will later seek approval by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) of the collections under Section 3507(h) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. On June 21, 1993, the EIA-882T, ``Generic Clearance of Questionnaire Testing, Evaluation and Research'' (OMB No. 1905-0185) was approved by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for three years. Eleven studies were conducted (or proposed to be conducted). The testing activities included several methods: focus group, mail questionnaire, telephone questionnaires, and personal interviews. The main focus of these efforts was pretesting activities to improve questionnaires. A survey was conducted to pretest activities on a new data collection to improve the collection of data on solar thermal collectors and photovoltaic devices. A follow-up study was conducted to see why energy supplies completed most of the questionnaires, after the due date on an energy consumption survey. Another energy consumption survey conducted a pilot study to assess the methodological and performance aspects of the effectiveness of random-digit-dialing (RDD) and computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI). Also, a telephone survey for evaluating the effectiveness of an effort to improve response on a natural gas survey was conducted. As agreed to between EIA and OMB, OMB was provided a summary of the results of the activities conducted under this generic clearance. The EIA-882T approval was extended for three years on July 12, 1996, and expires July 31, 1999. During the past three years, another 8 surveys were conducted under the generic clearance. As requested by OMB, two surveys were conducted that collected information to assess recent changes in electric industry structure and operations and to determine what electric power data the states collect, and the confidentiality provisions of the data collected by the states. EIA conducted roundtable meetings with groups of EIA customers to solicit input on the main themes that should be pursued in our analysis agenda. A study was completed to test the effectiveness of a computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) field activities for a residential survey that was previously conducted through personal interviews. Selected natural gas questions were pretested on a manufacturing survey. A telephone survey was conducted to see if detailed building characteristics can be collected using CATI techniques, and whether energy consumption expenditures can be collected from building owners, managers, or tenants, rather than from the building's energy suppliers. A related telephone survey was conducted to verify whether data provided by the building owners, managers, or tenants was accurate. A wide variety of uses were made of the data obtained through this generic clearance. These projects represent significant strides in our efforts to improve the pretesting of EIA surveys. As EIA gains more experience, we hope to broaden involvement in testing, evaluation, and research that meet the criteria for the clearance.

II. Current Actions

EIA plans to request a 3-year extension of the OMB approval for this collection. For each study that EIA intends to undertake under this generic clearance, OMB will be notified, at least two weeks in advance, and provided with an information copy of the questionnaire (if one is used), and all other materials describing the testing activity.

III. Request for Comments

Prospective respondents and other interested persons are invited to comment on the actions discussed in item II. The following guidelines are provided to assist in the preparation of comments.

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 any agency, taking into account its accuracy, adequacy, reliability, timeliness, and the agency's ability to process the information it collects. B. What enhancements can be made to the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected?

As a Potential Respondent

A. Public reporting burden for collections under the generic clearance are estimated to average 25 minutes per response. The range for burden varies significantly depending on the particular type of testing activity undertaken. The estimated burden for each response includes the total time, effort, or financial resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose and provide the information. Please comment on (1) the accuracy of the agency's estimate and (2) how the agency could minimize the burden of collecting this information, including the use of information technology. B. The agency estimates respondents will incur no additional costs for reporting other than the hours required to complete the collection. What is 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 these data collections? C. Does any other Federal, state, or local agency collect similar information? If so, specify the agency, the data element(s), and the method of collection.

As a Potential User

A. Are there alternate sources for the information and are they useful? If so, what are their deficiencies and/or strengths? Comments submitted in response to this notice will be summarized and/or included in the request for OMB approval of the form. They also will become a matter of public record.

Statutory Authority: Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

Issued in Washington, D.C. March 9, 1999. Jay H. Casselberry, Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy Information Administration. [FR Doc 99-6326 Filed 3-15-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450-01-M