Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request, 42637-42639 [E6-12039]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Energy Information Administration

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 144 (Thursday, July 27, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42637-42639]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-12039]


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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.

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SUMMARY: The EIA is soliciting comments on a proposed three-year 
extension and revision to Form EIA-1605, The EIA also proposes to 
discontinue the Form EIA-1605EZ (short form).

DATES: Comments must be submitted by September 25, 2006, to the 
addresses listed below.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments to the attention of Stephen E. Calopedis. 
To ensure receipt of the comments by the due date, submission by e-mail 
(stephen.calopedis@eia.doe.gov) or fax (202-586-3045) is recommended. 
Comments submitted by mail should be sent to Stephen E. Calopedis, U.S. 
Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration, EI-81, 1000 
Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20585. Questions on this 
action should be directed to Stephen E. Calopedis at 202-586-1156 or 
stephen.calopedis@eia.doe.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of the revised reporting form and instructions should be 
directed to Stephen E. Calopedis at 202-586-1156 or stephen.calopedis@
eia.doe.gov. The revised version of the Form EIA-1605, ``Voluntary 
Reporting of Greenhouse Gases,'' and instructions, can also be

[[Page 42638]]

downloaded from the Program's Web site at https://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/
1605/Forms.html.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

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

I. Background

    Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program collections are 
conducted pursuant to Section 1605(b) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 
(Pub. L. 102-486, 42 U.S.C. 13385) under General Guidelines issued by 
the DOE's Office of Policy and International Affairs. The EIA-1605 and 
EIA-1605EZ forms are designed to collect voluntarily reported data on 
greenhouse gas emissions, achieved reductions of these emissions, and 
increased carbon fixation, as well as information on commitments to 
reduce greenhouse gas emissions and sequester carbon in future years. A 
summary of the results of the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases 
Program appear in the Program's annual report titled Voluntary 
Reporting of Greenhouse Gases (https://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/vrrpt/
). Additionally, EIA produces and makes publicly available, a ``public-
use'' database containing all the non-confidential information reported 
to EIA's Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program on the Forms 
EIA-1605 and EIA-1605EZ (https://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/
databases.html).
    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 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) under section 3507(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

II. Current Actions

    In response to the finalization and issuance of the revised 
Guidelines for reporting to the 1605b Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse 
Gases Program (April 21, 2006; https://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/
Gen%20Guidelines%20final%20rule %20Apr21.pdf), the EIA has developed 
and plans to issue revised reporting forms and instructions for 
reporting under the revised Program Guidelines. The first year of 
reporting to the Program under the revised Guidelines is expected to 
occur in the Summer of 2007, for 2006 data.
    EIA will be requesting OMB approval for revisions to Form EIA-1605 
and for discontinuation of Form EIA-1605EZ (short form). The revisions 
to Form EIA-1605 are summarized below.
    On the existing Schedule I, ``Entity Identification and 
Certification,'' the focus was limited to asking for information to 
identify the reporting entity, the type of reporting entity, the 
geographic scope of activities, the Standard Industrial Classification 
Code (SIC), the applicability of confidentiality, and the reporting 
entities attesting to/certifying the accuracy of the information 
reported. The revised Schedule I, ``Entity Information,'' has been 
expanded to include an inventory of emissions and emissions reductions, 
carbon flux, and emissions offsets, all calculated at the entity level. 
In addition, Schedule I includes the collection of NAICS codes (instead 
of SIC codes), an expanded list of entity type categories, information 
on any changes in entity statement from previous reporting years, and 
other reporter characteristics, such as base period, voluntary program 
affiliation, and entity organization.
    On the existing Schedule II, ``Project-level Emissions and 
Reductions,'' the reporting entity was asked to provide information on 
individual projects that had achieved reductions in greenhouse gas 
emissions and/or have sequestered carbon. The revised Schedule II, 
``Subentity Information,'' collects data that are similar to data 
collected on Schedule I of the revised Form EIA-1605, but on a 
subentity-level basis. Project-level or action-specific reductions can 
be registered under limited circumstances using the calculation methods 
specified in the Technical Guidelines and embodied in Addendum A of the 
revised form.
    On the existing Schedule III, ``Entity-level Emissions and 
Reductions,'' the reporting entity was able to establish a record of 
its greenhouse gas emissions, emissions reductions and carbon 
sequestration achievements. Schedule III was used to report information 
such as actual emissions for the baseline period of 1987 to 1990, 
emissions for subsequent years (1991 to the present), emission 
reductions for the years 1991 to the present, and causes for changes in 
the levels of emissions and/or emissions reductions, all at the entity-
level. The collection of entity-level emissions and reductions has been 
incorporated into Schedule I in the revised form. The revised Schedule 
III, ``Emissions Reductions Summary,'' focuses on summarizing the 
entity-level emissions reductions, based on information reported by the 
entity on Schedule I or Schedule II. Reporters may subdivide the entity 
into two or more subentities to permit the use of different calculation 
methods for estimating reductions.
    On the existing Schedule IV, ``Commitments to Reduce Greenhouse 
Gases,'' the reporting entity was provided the opportunity to report on 
its commitments made, under a variety of governmental initiatives, to 
reduce greenhouse gases. The information gathered included descriptions 
of the commitment, the type of reference case used to calculate 
emissions reductions, the voluntary program the reduction activity was 
affiliated with (if applicable), as well as information on financial 
commitments made to support activities designed to reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions. Collection of commitment information has been 
discontinued in the revised form.
    The revised Schedule IV, ``Verification and Certification,'' 
provides an opportunity for reporters to document optional independent, 
``third-party'' verification of the information reported on the Form 
EIA-1605 and expands the certification statement that all reporters 
must sign. Third-party verification was not included on the existing 
EIA-1605 form. Schedule IV of the revised form consists of two 
sections. The first section titled, ``Independent Verification,'' 
collects information on the identity and qualifications of the 
independent verifier and verification approach and includes the 
independent verifier's certification. The second section titled 
``Reporter Self-Certification,'' is a self-certification, including the 
reporter's declaration that the form meets all three requirements for 
``reported'' reductions, and in the case of ``registered'' reductions, 
five additional requirements.
    The form includes the following addenda for portions of the form 
that will not be required for all reporters: Addendum A, Emission 
Reduction Methods; Addendum B, Subentity Emissions Inventory; and 
Addendum C, Country-specific Factors Used to Estimate Emissions from 
Foreign Sources.
    Please refer to the revised version of the form and instructions 
for more information about the purpose, who may report, when to report, 
where to submit, the elements to be reported, instructions for 
reporting, provisions for confidentiality, and uses (including possible 
nonstatistical uses) of the information (https://www.eia.doe.gov/

[[Page 42639]]

oiaf/1605/Forms.html). For instructions on obtaining materials, see the 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section.

III. Request for Comments

    Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment 
on the actions discussed in item II. The following issues 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 instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If 
not, which instructions need clarification?
    C. Can the information be submitted by the due date?
    D. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to 
range between 32 hours to 64 hours per response on Form EIA-1605, 
depending on the type of report and level of detail the respondent 
chooses to report at, or an average of 48 hours. The estimated burden 
includes the total time necessary to provide the requested 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 annual costs 
for operation, maintenance, and purchase 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 
methods 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. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

    Issued in Washington, DC, July 17, 2006.
Jay H. Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Energy Information Administration.
 [FR Doc. E6-12039 Filed 7-26-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P