Agency Information Collection Proposed New Survey or Extension, 27592-27593 [2018-12696]
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 13, 2018 / Notices
station regulatory compliance costs and
time for regulatory processing have been
shown to be substantial. Courses-ofaction may include areas such as:
Identifying gaps in existing regulations,
codes and standards; streamlining
regulatory, permitting, and certification
processes; reducing unneeded
compliance actions; or consolidating
regulatory requirements. The RFI [DE–
FOA–0001948] is available at: https://
eere-exchange.energy.gov/.
Confidential Business Information
Because information received in
response to this RFI may be used to
structure future programs, funding and/
or otherwise be made available to the
public, respondents are strongly advised
to not include any information in their
responses that might be considered
business sensitive, proprietary, or
otherwise confidential. If, however, a
respondent chooses to submit business
sensitive, proprietary, or otherwise
confidential information, it must be
clearly and conspicuously marked as
such in the response as detailed in the
RFI [DE–FOA–0001948] at: https://eereexchange.energy.gov/.
Issued in Washington, DC, on June 7, 2018.
Sunita Satyapal,
Director, Fuel Cell Technologies Office.
[FR Doc. 2018–12699 Filed 6–12–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Agency Information Collection
Extension
U.S. Department of Energy.
Submission for Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) review
and comment.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
The Department of Energy
(DOE) has submitted an information
collection request to the OMB for
extension under the provisions of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The
information collection requests a threeyear extension of its Procurement
Collection, OMB Control Number 1910–
4100. This information collection
request covers information necessary to
administer and manage DOE’s
procurement and acquisition programs.
DATES: Comments regarding this
collection must be received on or before
July 13, 2018. If you anticipate that you
will be submitting comments, but find
it difficult to do so within the period of
time allowed by this notice, please
advise the OMB Desk Officer of your
intention to make a submission as soon
as possible. The Desk Officer may be
telephoned at (202) 395–4650.
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SUMMARY:
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18:01 Jun 12, 2018
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Written comments should
be sent to the: DOE Desk Officer, Office
of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
Office of Management and Budget, New
Executive Office Building Room 10102,
735 17th Street NW, Washington, DC
20503.
If you wish access to the collection of
information, without charge, contact the
person listed as soon as possible.
Sharon Archer, Procurement Analyst,
MA–61/L’Enfant Plaza Building, U.S.
Department of Energy, 950 L’Enfant
Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024,
Sharon.Archer@hq.doe.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Requests for additional information or
copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be
directed to Sharon Archer, by email:
Sharon.Archer@hq.doe.gov, or by
telephone at (202) 287–1739.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This
information collection request contains:
(1) OMB No. 1910–4100 (Renewal); (2)
Information Collection Request Title:
Procurement Information Collection; (3)
Type of Request: Renewal; (4) Purpose:
Under 48 CFR part 952 and Subpart
970.52, DOE must collect certain types
of information from those seeking to do
business with the Department or those
awarded contracts by the Department.
This information collection is necessary
for the solicitation, award,
administration, and closeout of DOE
procurement contracts. (5) Annual
Estimated Number of Respondents:
7,387; (6) Annual Estimated Total
Burden Hours: 666,082; (7) Annual
Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping
Cost Burden: $56,616,970.
ADDRESSES:
Statutory Authority: 42 U.S.C. 2201.
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 31,
2018.
John Bashista,
Director, Office of Acquisition Management.
[FR Doc. 2018–12698 Filed 6–12–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration
Agency Information Collection
Proposed New Survey or Extension
U.S. Energy Information
Administration (EIA), Department of
Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice and request for
comments.
AGENCY:
EIA is requesting a three-year
extension of EIA–882T, ‘‘Generic
Clearance for Questionnaire Testing,
Evaluation, and Research.’’ EIA–882T
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00055
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
provides EIA with the authority to
utilize qualitative and quantitative
methodologies to pretest questionnaires
and validate the quality of data
collected on EIA’s surveys. EIA uses
EIA–882T to meet its obligation to
publish, and otherwise make available
independent, high-quality statistical
data to federal government agencies,
state and local governments, the energy
industry, researchers, and the general
public.
EIA must receive all comments
on this proposed information collection
no later than August 13, 2018. If you
anticipate any difficulties in submitting
your comments by the deadline, contact
the person listed in the ADDRESSES
section of this notice as soon as
possible.
DATES:
Send your comments to
Brian Hewitt, U.S. Energy Information
Administration, 1000 Independence
Avenue SW, EI–21 Washington, DC
20585. If you prefer, you can email them
to: brian.hewitt@eia.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If
you need additional information, send
your request to Brian Hewitt, U.S.
Energy Information Administration,
1000 Independence Avenue SW, EI–21,
Washington, DC 20585. If you prefer,
you can email brian.hewitt@eia.gov or
contact him by telephone at 202–586–
5045.
ADDRESSES:
This
information collection request contains:
(1) OMB No.: 1905–0186;
(2) Information Collection Request
Title: Generic Clearance for
Questionnaire Testing, Evaluation, and
Research;
(3) Type of Request: Renewal;
(4) Purpose: The U.S. Energy
Information Administration (EIA) is
requesting a three-year approval from
the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) to utilize qualitative and
quantitative methodologies to pretest
questionnaires and validate the quality
of the data that is collected on EIA and
DOE survey forms. Through the use of
these methodologies, EIA will conduct
research studies to improve the quality
of energy data being collected, reduce or
minimize survey respondent burden,
and increase agency efficiency. This
authority would also allow EIA to
improve data collection in order to meet
the needs of EIA’s customers while also
staying current in the evolving nature of
the energy industry.
The specific methods proposed for the
coverage by this clearance are described
below. Also outlined is the legal
authority for these voluntary
information gathering activities.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 13, 2018 / Notices
The following methods are proposed:
Pilot Surveys. Pilot surveys conducted
under this clearance will generally be
methodological studies, and will always
employ statistically representative
samples. The pilot surveys will replicate
all components of the methodological
design, sampling procedures (where
possible), and questionnaires of the full
scale survey. Pilot surveys will normally
be utilized when EIA undertakes a
complete redesign of a particular data
collection methodology or when EIA
undertakes data collection in new
energy areas, such as HGL production,
alternative fueled motor vehicles, and
other emerging areas of the energy
sector where data collection would
provide utility to EIA.
Cognitive Interviews. Cognitive
interviews are typically one-on-one
interviews in which the respondent is
usually asked to ‘‘think aloud’’ or is
asked ‘‘retrospective questions’’ as he or
she answers questions, reads survey
materials, defines terminology, or
completes other activities as part of a
typical survey process. A number of
different techniques may be involved
including, asking respondents what
specific words or phrases mean or
asking respondents probing questions to
determine how they estimate, calculate,
or determine specific data elements on
a survey. The objectives of these
cognitive interviews are to identify
problems of ambiguity or
misunderstanding, examine the process
that respondents follow for reporting
information, assess survey respondents’
ability to report new information, or
identify other difficulties respondents
have answering survey questions in
order to reduce measurement error from
estimates based on a survey.
Respondent Debriefings. Respondent
debriefings conducted under this
clearance will generally be
methodological or cognitive research
studies. The debriefing form is
administered after a respondent
completes a questionnaire either in
paper format, electronically, or through
in-person interviews. The debriefings
contain probing questions to determine
how respondents interpret the survey
questions, how much time and effort
was spent completing the questionnaire,
and whether they have problems in
completing the survey/questionnaire.
Respondent debriefings also are useful
in determining potential issues with
data quality and in estimating
respondent burden.
Usability Testing. Usability tests are
similar to cognitive interviews in which
a respondent is typically asked to ‘‘think
aloud’’ or asked ‘‘retrospective
questions’’ as he or she reviews an
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18:01 Jun 12, 2018
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electronic questionnaire, website, visual
aid, or hard copy survey form. The
objective of usability testing is to check
that respondents can easily and
intuitively navigate electronic survey
collection programs, websites, and other
survey instruments to submit their data
to EIA.
Focus Groups. Focus groups, in
person or online, involve group sessions
guided by a moderator who follows a
topic guide containing questions or
subjects focused on a particular issue
rather than adhering to a standardized
cognitive interview protocol. Focus
groups are useful for exploring issues
concerning the design of a form and the
meaning of terms from a specific group
of respondents, data users, or other
stakeholders of EIA data.
(5) Annual Estimated Number of
Respondents: 1,870;
(6) Annual Estimated Number of
Total Responses: 1,870;
(7) Annual Estimated Number of
Burden Hours: 1,915;
(8) Annual Estimated Reporting and
Recordkeeping Cost Burden: There are
no additional costs associated with
these survey methods other than the
burden hours. The information is
maintained in the normal course of
business. The annual cost in burden
hours to the respondents is estimated to
be $144,946 (1,915 burden hours times
$75.69 per hour), which represents a
reduction of 85 burden hours from the
prior renewal of this collection.
Therefore, other than the cost of burden
hours, EIA estimates that there are no
additional costs for generating,
maintaining, and providing the
information.
Comments are invited on whether or
not: (a) The proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper
performance of agency functions,
including whether the information will
have a practical utility; (b) EIA’s
estimate of the burden of the proposed
collection of information, including the
validity of the methodology and
assumptions used, is accurate; (c) EIA
can improve the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information it will collect;
and (d) EIA can minimize the burden of
the collection of information on
respondents, such as automated
collection techniques or other forms of
information technology.
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.
PO 00000
Frm 00056
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
27593
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 29,
2018.
Nanda Srinivasan,
Director, Office of Survey Development and
Statistical Integration, U.S. Energy
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018–12696 Filed 6–12–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
[Docket No. EL18–171–000]
Notice of Complaint: Kathryn E.
Leonard v. Deepwater Wind Block
Island, LLC, Narragansett Electric
Company, Inc., Rhode Island Public
Utilities Commission
Take notice that on June 7, 2018,
pursuant to section 206 of the Federal
Power Act (FPA), 16 U.S.C. 824e and
Rule 206 of the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission’s (Commission)
Rules of Practice and Procedure, 18 CFR
385.206, Kathryn E. Leonard
(Complainant) filed a formal complaint
against Deepwater Wind Block Island,
LLC (Deepwater Wind), Narragansett
Electric Company, Inc., and Rhode
Island Public Utilities Commission
(jointly Respondents) alleging that,
Rhode Island Public Utility Commission
on August 16, 2010, as directed by the
Rhode Island General Assembly,
approved a 20-year Purchase Power
Agreement between Deepwater Wind
and National Grid that appears to
constitute a violation of the FPA, all as
more fully explained in the complaint.
Complainant certifies that copies of
the complaint were served on the
contacts for the Rhode Island Public
Utility Commission as listed on the
Commission’s list of Corporate Officials,
as well as contacts for National Grid and
Deepwater Wind.
Any person desiring to intervene or to
protest this filing must file in
accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of
the Commission’s Rules of Practice and
Procedure (18 CFR 385.211, 385.214).
Protests will be considered by the
Commission in determining the
appropriate action to be taken, but will
not serve to make protestants parties to
the proceeding. Any person wishing to
become a party must file a notice of
intervention or motion to intervene, as
appropriate. The Respondent’s answer
and all interventions, or protests must
be filed on or before the comment date.
The Respondent’s answer, motions to
intervene, and protests must be served
on the Complainants.
E:\FR\FM\13JNN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 114 (Wednesday, June 13, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27592-27593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-12696]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Energy Information Administration
Agency Information Collection Proposed New Survey or Extension
AGENCY: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Department of
Energy (DOE).
ACTION: Notice and request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: EIA is requesting a three-year extension of EIA-882T,
``Generic Clearance for Questionnaire Testing, Evaluation, and
Research.'' EIA-882T provides EIA with the authority to utilize
qualitative and quantitative methodologies to pretest questionnaires
and validate the quality of data collected on EIA's surveys. EIA uses
EIA-882T to meet its obligation to publish, and otherwise make
available independent, high-quality statistical data to federal
government agencies, state and local governments, the energy industry,
researchers, and the general public.
DATES: EIA must receive all comments on this proposed information
collection no later than August 13, 2018. If you anticipate any
difficulties in submitting your comments by the deadline, contact the
person listed in the ADDRESSES section of this notice as soon as
possible.
ADDRESSES: Send your comments to Brian Hewitt, U.S. Energy Information
Administration, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, EI-21 Washington, DC
20585. If you prefer, you can email them to: [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you need additional information,
send your request to Brian Hewitt, U.S. Energy Information
Administration, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, EI-21, Washington, DC
20585. If you prefer, you can email [email protected] or contact him
by telephone at 202-586-5045.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This information collection request
contains:
(1) OMB No.: 1905-0186;
(2) Information Collection Request Title: Generic Clearance for
Questionnaire Testing, Evaluation, and Research;
(3) Type of Request: Renewal;
(4) Purpose: The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is
requesting a three-year approval from the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) to utilize qualitative and quantitative methodologies to
pretest questionnaires and validate the quality of the data that is
collected on EIA and DOE survey forms. Through the use of these
methodologies, EIA will conduct research studies to improve the quality
of energy data being collected, reduce or minimize survey respondent
burden, and increase agency efficiency. This authority would also allow
EIA to improve data collection in order to meet the needs of EIA's
customers while also staying current in the evolving nature of the
energy industry.
The specific methods proposed for the coverage by this clearance
are described below. Also outlined is the legal authority for these
voluntary information gathering activities.
[[Page 27593]]
The following methods are proposed:
Pilot Surveys. Pilot surveys conducted under this clearance will
generally be methodological studies, and will always employ
statistically representative samples. The pilot surveys will replicate
all components of the methodological design, sampling procedures (where
possible), and questionnaires of the full scale survey. Pilot surveys
will normally be utilized when EIA undertakes a complete redesign of a
particular data collection methodology or when EIA undertakes data
collection in new energy areas, such as HGL production, alternative
fueled motor vehicles, and other emerging areas of the energy sector
where data collection would provide utility to EIA.
Cognitive Interviews. Cognitive interviews are typically one-on-one
interviews in which the respondent is usually asked to ``think aloud''
or is asked ``retrospective questions'' as he or she answers questions,
reads survey materials, defines terminology, or completes other
activities as part of a typical survey process. A number of different
techniques may be involved including, asking respondents what specific
words or phrases mean or asking respondents probing questions to
determine how they estimate, calculate, or determine specific data
elements on a survey. The objectives of these cognitive interviews are
to identify problems of ambiguity or misunderstanding, examine the
process that respondents follow for reporting information, assess
survey respondents' ability to report new information, or identify
other difficulties respondents have answering survey questions in order
to reduce measurement error from estimates based on a survey.
Respondent Debriefings. Respondent debriefings conducted under this
clearance will generally be methodological or cognitive research
studies. The debriefing form is administered after a respondent
completes a questionnaire either in paper format, electronically, or
through in-person interviews. The debriefings contain probing questions
to determine how respondents interpret the survey questions, how much
time and effort was spent completing the questionnaire, and whether
they have problems in completing the survey/questionnaire. Respondent
debriefings also are useful in determining potential issues with data
quality and in estimating respondent burden.
Usability Testing. Usability tests are similar to cognitive
interviews in which a respondent is typically asked to ``think aloud''
or asked ``retrospective questions'' as he or she reviews an electronic
questionnaire, website, visual aid, or hard copy survey form. The
objective of usability testing is to check that respondents can easily
and intuitively navigate electronic survey collection programs,
websites, and other survey instruments to submit their data to EIA.
Focus Groups. Focus groups, in person or online, involve group
sessions guided by a moderator who follows a topic guide containing
questions or subjects focused on a particular issue rather than
adhering to a standardized cognitive interview protocol. Focus groups
are useful for exploring issues concerning the design of a form and the
meaning of terms from a specific group of respondents, data users, or
other stakeholders of EIA data.
(5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,870;
(6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 1,870;
(7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 1,915;
(8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: There
are no additional costs associated with these survey methods other than
the burden hours. The information is maintained in the normal course of
business. The annual cost in burden hours to the respondents is
estimated to be $144,946 (1,915 burden hours times $75.69 per hour),
which represents a reduction of 85 burden hours from the prior renewal
of this collection. Therefore, other than the cost of burden hours, EIA
estimates that there are no additional costs for generating,
maintaining, and providing the information.
Comments are invited on whether or not: (a) The proposed collection
of information is necessary for the proper performance of agency
functions, including whether the information will have a practical
utility; (b) EIA's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions
used, is accurate; (c) EIA can improve the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information it will collect; and (d) EIA can minimize
the burden of the collection of information on respondents, such as
automated collection techniques or other forms of information
technology.
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.
Issued in Washington, DC, on May 29, 2018.
Nanda Srinivasan,
Director, Office of Survey Development and Statistical Integration,
U.S. Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2018-12696 Filed 6-12-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
