Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 6062-6063 [E6-1564]

Download as PDF 6062 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 24 / Monday, February 6, 2006 / Notices rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1 production of biobased fuels and biobased products. Tentative Agenda: Agenda will include the following: • Orientation Session for New Members. • Review of the Updated Vision Document. • Review of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 Impact on Biomass Research. • Review of Organization for the 2006 Biomass Roadmap Regional Workshops. • Discussion of Analysis and Policy Subcommittee Business. • Discussion of Public Relations Efforts. • Review of the 2006 Work Plan. • Review of Biomass Efforts in the Colorado Region. Public Participation: In keeping with procedures, members of the public are welcome to observe the business of the Biomass Research and Development Technical Advisory Committee. To attend the meeting and/or to make oral statements regarding any of the items on the agenda, you should contact Neil Rossmeissl at 202–586–8668 or the Biomass Initiative at 202–586–4541 or harriet.foster@ee.doe.gov (e-mail). You must make your request for an oral statement at least 5 business days before the meeting. Members of the public will be heard in the order in which they sign up at the beginning of the meeting. Reasonable provision will be made to include the scheduled oral statements on the agenda. The Chair of the Committee will make every effort to hear the views of all interested parties. If you would like to file a written statement with the Committee, you may do so either before or after the meeting. The Chair will conduct the meeting to facilitate the orderly conduct of business. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting will be available for public review and copying at the Freedom of Information Public Reading Room; Room 1E–190; Forrestal Building; 1000 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Issued at Washington, DC on February 1, 2006. Rachel Samuel, Deputy Advisory Committee Management Officer. [FR Doc. 06–1066 Filed 2–3–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6450–01–P VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:55 Feb 03, 2006 Jkt 208001 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Energy Information Administration Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of Energy (DOE). ACTION: Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; comment request. AGENCY: SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting comments on the proposed three-year extension to the Form EIA–28, ‘‘Financial Reporting System (FRS).’’ DATES: Written comments must be filed by April 7, 2006. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person identified below as soon as possible. ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to Gregory P. Filas of EIA. To ensure receipt of the comments by the due date, submission by Fax (202–586– 9753) or e-mail (greg.filas@eia.doe.gov) is recommended. Mr. Filas’ mailing address is Energy Information Administration (EI–62), Financial Analysis Team, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585. Mr. Filas may be telephoned at (202) 586–1347. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Mr. Filas at the address listed above. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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. 95–91, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), require 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 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 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. Under Public Law 95–91, section 205(h), the Administrator of the EIA is required to ‘‘identify and designate’’ the major energy companies who must annually file Form EIA–28 to ensure that the data collected provide ‘‘a statistically accurate profile of each line of commerce in the energy industry in the United States.’’ Data collected on Form EIA–28 are published and used in analyses of the energy industry. II. Current Actions EIA is proposing a three-year extension with changes to the previously approved Form EIA–28 for the FRS survey to be conducted in 2007 collecting information for 2006. U.S. major energy companies report financial and operating information to the FRS survey each year on a consolidated corporate level, by individual lines of business, by major functions within each line of business, and by various geographic regions. From this information, EIA produces the annual publication Performance Profiles of Major Energy Producers. The data are also used for analyses and inquiries concerning earnings, profitability, investments, production and refining costs, reserve growth, and other issues related to the financial performance of major energy producers. In 2004, EIA expanded the form to include the downstream natural gas and electric power lines of business. The expanded form increased the time and cost of processing the additional data. In addition, some of the new questions required very detailed information from the operational units of the FRS respondent companies, which increased the time required for companies to compile data for the form. After working with the expanded form for two years, EIA reviewed the detailed elements of the form and the responses and is proposing to reduce the scope of the data collected in the downstream natural gas and electric power sections of the Form EIA–28. The reductions will eliminate some of the intra-line of business flows and some detailed operating information, which E:\FR\FM\06FEN1.SGM 06FEN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 24 / Monday, February 6, 2006 / Notices will allow for more streamlined processing of the data and more effective use of resources, including providing more focus on information about profits, profitability, investment, and operating costs in these lines of business. Reducing the scope of the survey will also reduce the reporting burden on the survey respondents. The proposed modifications include elimination of Schedule 5341, ‘‘Domestic Coal Operations, Reserves and Production Statistics,’’ Schedule 5750, ‘‘Eliminations in Consolidation’’ for Downstream Natural Gas, and Schedule 5850, ‘‘Eliminations in Consolidation’’ for Electric Power. The following schedules for the downstream natural gas and electric power lines of business will be reduced in scope: • Schedule 5711, Downstream Natural Gas Operating Expenses, • Schedule 5712, Purchases and Sales of Natural Gas and Natural Gas Liquids, • Schedule 5741, Downstream Natural Gas Capacity Measures, and Downstream Natural Gas Output Measures, and all of the Electric Power schedules, including: • Schedule 5810, Consolidating Statement of Income, • Schedule 5811, Electric Power Operating Expenses, • Schedule 5812, Purchases and Sales of Fuel and Electric Power. • Schedule 5841, Electric Power Capacity and Output Statistics. Copies of the proposed new schedules and the instructions are available from Mr. Filas. 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. rmajette on PROD1PC67 with NOTICES1 General Issues A. Is the proposed collection of information necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency and does the information have practical utility? Practical utility is defined as the actual usefulness of information to or for an agency, taking into account its accuracy, adequacy, reliability, timeliness, and the agency’s ability to process the information it collects. B. What enhancements can be made to the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected? As a Potential Respondent to the Request for Information A. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the quality, VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:55 Feb 03, 2006 Jkt 208001 objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information to be collected? B. Are the Form EIA–28 instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If not, which instructions require clarification? C. Can information be submitted by the due date? D. Public reporting burden for the Form EIA–28 collection, including proposed changes, is estimated to average 450 hours per response. The estimated burden includes the total time, effort, or financial resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose and provide the information. In your opinion, how accurate is this estimate? E. The agency estimates that the only cost to a respondent is for the time it will take to complete the collection. Will a respondent incur any start-up costs for reporting, or any recurring costs for operation maintenance, and purchases of services associated with the information collection? F. What additional actions could be taken to minimize the burden of this collection of information? Such actions may involve the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology. G. Does any other Federal, State, or local agency collect similar information? If so, specify the agency, the data element(s), and the method(s) of collection. As a Potential User of the Information to be Collected A. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information disseminated? B. Is the information useful at the levels of detail to be collected? C. For what purpose(s) would the information be used? Be specific. D. Are there alternate sources for the information and are they useful? If so, what are their weaknesses 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 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104–13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). Issued in Washington, DC, January 31, 2006. Jay H. Casselberry, Agency Clearance Officer, Energy Information Administration. [FR Doc. E6–1564 Filed 2–3–06; 8:45 am] PO 00000 Frm 00031 Fmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. ER06–354–000; EL06–44–000] Before Commissioners: Joseph T. Kelliher, Chairman; Nora Mead Brownell, and Suedeen G. Kelly; California Independent System Operator; Order Accepting and Modifying Tariff Filing and Instituting a Section 206 Proceeding Issued January 13, 2006. 1. On December 21, 2005, the California Independent System Operator Corporation (CAISO) filed a tariff amendment (Amendment No. 73) proposing to change its current ‘‘soft’’ $250/MWh bid cap for real-time energy bids and adjustment bids to a ‘‘hard’’ $400/MWh bid cap, effective January 1, 2006 or as soon thereafter as possible. The CAISO asked the Commission to review its application on an expedited basis with a shortened comment period. In this order, the Commission accepts with modification, as described below, the CAISO’s proposed tariff amendment, effective upon issuance of this order. 2. To remove any opportunity for market distortions created by the Commission’s approval of an increase in the CAISO bid cap, we will institute, under section 206 of the Federal Power Act (FPA),1 an investigation into the price cap in the WECC outside the CAISO. We also institute a section 206 investigation into the CAISO ancillary service capacity bid cap, in order to consider whether any incentives that distort a supplier’s choice between offering energy or ancillary services will result from the rise in gas prices and the increase in the CAISO energy bid cap. We hereby establish a refund effective date pursuant to the provisions of section 206. Background The CAISO’s Filing 3. The CAISO filed Amendment No. 73 requesting that the Commission accept its tariff revision altering the CAISO’s current bid cap. Section 28 of the CAISO tariff establishes a bid cap that sets a limit on the level of bids submitted for the CAISO’s energy and ancillary service capacity markets. According to the CAISO, this bid cap also applies to adjustment bids used in the day-ahead and hour-ahead congestion management markets. Amendment No. 73 proposes to modify section 28.1.2 to replace the current 1 16 BILLING CODE 6450–01–P Sfmt 4703 6063 E:\FR\FM\06FEN1.SGM U.S.C. 824e (2000). 06FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 24 (Monday, February 6, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 6062-6063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-1564]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

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

ACTION: Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; 
comment request.

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

SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting 
comments on the proposed three-year extension to the Form EIA-28, 
``Financial Reporting System (FRS).''

DATES: Written comments must be filed by April 7, 2006. If you 
anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, 
contact the person identified below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to Gregory P. Filas of EIA. To 
ensure receipt of the comments by the due date, submission by Fax (202-
586-9753) or e-mail (greg.filas@eia.doe.gov) is recommended. Mr. Filas' 
mailing address is Energy Information Administration (EI-62), Financial 
Analysis Team, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 
Washington, DC 20585. Mr. Filas may be telephoned at (202) 586-1347.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the form and instructions should be directed to Mr. Filas at 
the address listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    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. 95-91, 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.), require 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.
    Under Public Law 95-91, section 205(h), the Administrator of the 
EIA is required to ``identify and designate'' the major energy 
companies who must annually file Form EIA-28 to ensure that the data 
collected provide ``a statistically accurate profile of each line of 
commerce in the energy industry in the United States.'' Data collected 
on Form EIA-28 are published and used in analyses of the energy 
industry.

II. Current Actions

    EIA is proposing a three-year extension with changes to the 
previously approved Form EIA-28 for the FRS survey to be conducted in 
2007 collecting information for 2006.
    U.S. major energy companies report financial and operating 
information to the FRS survey each year on a consolidated corporate 
level, by individual lines of business, by major functions within each 
line of business, and by various geographic regions. From this 
information, EIA produces the annual publication Performance Profiles 
of Major Energy Producers. The data are also used for analyses and 
inquiries concerning earnings, profitability, investments, production 
and refining costs, reserve growth, and other issues related to the 
financial performance of major energy producers.
    In 2004, EIA expanded the form to include the downstream natural 
gas and electric power lines of business. The expanded form increased 
the time and cost of processing the additional data. In addition, some 
of the new questions required very detailed information from the 
operational units of the FRS respondent companies, which increased the 
time required for companies to compile data for the form.
    After working with the expanded form for two years, EIA reviewed 
the detailed elements of the form and the responses and is proposing to 
reduce the scope of the data collected in the downstream natural gas 
and electric power sections of the Form EIA-28. The reductions will 
eliminate some of the intra-line of business flows and some detailed 
operating information, which

[[Page 6063]]

will allow for more streamlined processing of the data and more 
effective use of resources, including providing more focus on 
information about profits, profitability, investment, and operating 
costs in these lines of business. Reducing the scope of the survey will 
also reduce the reporting burden on the survey respondents.
    The proposed modifications include elimination of Schedule 5341, 
``Domestic Coal Operations, Reserves and Production Statistics,'' 
Schedule 5750, ``Eliminations in Consolidation'' for Downstream Natural 
Gas, and Schedule 5850, ``Eliminations in Consolidation'' for Electric 
Power. The following schedules for the downstream natural gas and 
electric power lines of business will be reduced in scope:
     Schedule 5711, Downstream Natural Gas Operating Expenses,
     Schedule 5712, Purchases and Sales of Natural Gas and 
Natural Gas Liquids,
     Schedule 5741, Downstream Natural Gas Capacity Measures, 
and Downstream Natural Gas Output Measures, and all of the Electric 
Power schedules, including:
     Schedule 5810, Consolidating Statement of Income,
     Schedule 5811, Electric Power Operating Expenses,
     Schedule 5812, Purchases and Sales of Fuel and Electric 
Power.
     Schedule 5841, Electric Power Capacity and Output 
Statistics.
    Copies of the proposed new schedules and the instructions are 
available from Mr. Filas.

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

As a Potential Respondent to the Request for Information

    A. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the 
quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information to be 
collected?
    B. Are the Form EIA-28 instructions and definitions clear and 
sufficient? If not, which instructions require clarification?
    C. Can information be submitted by the due date?
    D. Public reporting burden for the Form EIA-28 collection, 
including proposed changes, is estimated to average 450 hours per 
response. The estimated burden includes the total time, effort, or 
financial resources expended to generate, maintain, retain, disclose 
and provide the information. In your opinion, how accurate is this 
estimate?
    E. The agency estimates that the only cost to a respondent is for 
the time it will take to complete the collection. Will a respondent 
incur any start-up costs for reporting, or any recurring costs for 
operation maintenance, and purchases of services associated with the 
information collection?
    F. What additional actions could be taken to minimize the burden of 
this collection of information? Such actions may involve the use of 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology.
    G. Does any other Federal, State, or local agency collect similar 
information? If so, specify the agency, the data element(s), and the 
method(s) of collection.

As a Potential User of the Information to be Collected

    A. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the 
quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information 
disseminated?
    B. Is the information useful at the levels of detail to be 
collected?
    C. For what purpose(s) would the information be used? Be specific.
    D. Are there alternate sources for the information and are they 
useful? If so, what are their weaknesses 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 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

    Issued in Washington, DC, January 31, 2006.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. E6-1564 Filed 2-3-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P

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