Agency Information Collection Proposed Extension, 9140-9141 [2024-02727]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
• Energy Information Administration

[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 28 (Friday, February 9, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9140-9141]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02727]


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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration


Agency Information Collection Proposed Extension

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

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: EIA invites public comment on the proposed extension of the 
collection of information for the Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities 
Survey, as required under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The 
original collection was approved by the Office of Management and Budget 
on January 26, 2024, under the emergency approval provisions of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act.

DATES: EIA must receive all comments on this proposed information 
collection no later than April 9, 2024. 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: Written comments may be sent to Glenn McGrath by email at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Glenn McGrath, EI-23, U.S. Energy 
Information Administration, telephone 1-202-586-4325, email 
[email protected]. The form and instructions are available at 
www.eia.gov/survey/#eia-862.

SUPPLEMENTARY 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

[[Page 9141]]

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.
    This information collection request contains:
    (1) OMB No.: 1905-0213;
    (2) Information Collection Request Title: Cryptocurrency Mining 
Facilities Survey;
    (3) Type of Request: Three-year extension without change;
    (4) Purpose: The mining of cryptocurrency is an energy-intensive 
activity that requires substantial amounts of electricity. Several 
cryptocurrencies, most notably Bitcoin, use a proof of work approach 
that requires cryptocurrency miners to validate blocks of transactions 
by solving complex cryptographic puzzles that require significant 
computational power. Commercial mining facilities typically operate 
thousands of computers that work to add blocks of virtual currency 
transactions to a distributed ledger called a blockchain. The 
computational equipment must be cooled, which further increases the 
associated electricity consumption. Given its high rate of consumption, 
companies, organizations and government agencies engaged in the 
electricity business require detailed information about how much 
electrical energy is being consumed by cryptocurrency miners and where 
it is occurring. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) has 
engaged in a rigorous evaluation of U.S. cryptocurrency mining activity 
using publicly available information. EIA estimates cryptocurrency 
mining activity demands as much as 2.3% of U.S. electricity 
consumption. Furthermore, there is evidence that this electricity 
consumption is growing rapidly. The combined effects of increased 
cryptocurrency mining and stressed electricity systems create 
heightened uncertainty in electric power markets, which could 
contribute to public harm during an unexpected event.
    On January 26, 2024, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
granted approval under the emergency approval provisions of the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) for EIA to immediately begin collecting 
monthly information that will inform the public on the impact of recent 
increases in U.S. commercial cryptocurrency mining activity on both the 
supply and demand side of the electric power system. The Cryptocurrency 
Mining Facilities Survey, Form EIA-862, uses facility-level reporting 
to provide a baseline snapshot of the cryptocurrency mining companies 
in the sample and their energy use, quantify the rate of change in 
cryptocurrency mining activity among the companies and their 
facilities, identify electricity sources supplying U.S. cryptocurrency 
mining activity, and identify regions in the U.S. with concentrated 
cryptocurrency mining activity.
    Due to the need to begin collecting this information right away, 
EIA was unable to allow for the time periods normally required for 
clearance under the PRA. The approval granted by OMB is through July 
31, 2024. This approval allows EIA to conduct the Cryptocurrency Mining 
Facilities Survey for up to 6 months. EIA now seeks to extend clearance 
for the survey for an additional three years.
    (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 82;
    (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 984;
    (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 492;
    (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: The 
cost of the burden hours is estimated to be $42,981 (492 burden hours 
times $87.36 per hour). EIA estimates that respondents will have no 
additional costs associated with the surveys other than the burden 
hours and maintenance of the information as part of the normal course 
of business.
    Statutory Authority: 15 U.S. C. 772(b) and 42 U.S.C. 7101 et seq.

    Signed in Washington, DC, on February 5, 2024.
Samson A. Adeshiyan,
Director, Office of Statistical Methods and Research, U. S. Energy 
Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-02727 Filed 2-8-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P