[Federal Register: March 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 43)]
[Notices]               
[Page 10997-11000]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07mr05-54]                         

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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 the proposed revision and 
three-year extension under section 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995 of the surveys in the Natural Gas Data Collection 
Program Package. The surveys covered by this request include:
     Form EIA-176, ``Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental 
Gas Supply and Disposition''
     EIA-191, ``Monthly and Annual Underground Gas Storage 
Report''
     EIA-857, ``Monthly Report of Natural Gas Purchases and 
Deliveries to Consumers''
     EIA-895, ``Monthly and Annual Quantity and Value of 
Natural Gas Production Report'' (The EIA proposes to eliminate the 
current monthly reporting of Form EIA-895 and only require an annual 
report.)
     EIA-910, ``Monthly Natural Gas Marketer Survey''
     EIA-912, ``Weekly Underground Natural Gas Storage Report''
    In addition, EIA is proposing that the following new survey be 
approved by OMB.
     EIA-913, ``Monthly and Annual Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) 
Storage Report''

DATES: Comments must be filed by May 6, 2005. If you anticipate 
difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the 
person listed below as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Mr. Stephen Nalley, Natural Gas Division, 
Office of Oil and Gas, Energy Information Administration. To ensure 
receipt of the comments by the due date, submission by fax (202-586-
4420) or e-mail (stephen.nalley@eia.doe.gov) is recommended. The 
mailing address is Mr. Stephen Nalley, Energy Information 
Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave., SW, 
EI-44, Washington, DC 20585. Also, Mr. Nalley may be contacted by 
telephone at 202-586-0959.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or 
copies of any forms and instructions should be directed to Mr. Nalley 
at the address listed above.
    Also, the draft forms and instructions are available on the EIA Web 
site at http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil_gas/fwd/proposed.html.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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

I. Background

    The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. 93-275, 15 
U.S.C. 761 et seq.) and the DOE Organization Act (Pub. L. 95-91, 42 
U.S.C. 7101 et seq.) require the 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

[[Page 10998]]

both 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 the collection of energy information conducted by or in 
conjunction with the EIA. Any comments received help the EIA prepare 
data requests that maximize the utility of the information collected, 
and assess the impact of collection requirements on the public. As 
required by section 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, 
the EIA will later seek approval by the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB).
    The natural gas surveys included in the Natural Gas Data Collection 
Program Package collect information on natural gas production, 
underground storage, transmission, distribution, and consumption by 
sector, and wellhead and consumer prices. This information is used to 
support public policy analyses of the natural gas industry and 
estimates generated from data collected on these surveys are posted to 
the EIA Web site (http://www.eia.doe.gov) in various EIA products, 

including the Weekly Natural Gas Storage Report (WNGSR), Natural Gas 
Monthly (NGM), Natural Gas Annual (NGA), Monthly Energy Review (MER), 
Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO), Annual Energy Outlook (AEO), and 
Annual Energy Review (AER). Respondents to EIA natural gas surveys 
include State agencies, underground storage operators, transporters, 
marketers, and distributors. Each form included as part of this package 
is discussed in detail below.

EIA-176, ``Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental Gas Supply and 
Disposition''

    In conjunction with data collected in other EIA surveys, Form EIA-
176 provides EIA with the major elements of information required to 
develop annual gas supply and disposition balances and relevant cost, 
price, and related information at the State level. It is used for the 
following purposes:
    (1) To develop and make available to Congress, State government, 
and the public an accurate quantified overview of the supply of natural 
and supplemental gas available to each of the States from all sources 
both internal and external to the State, and the manner in which such 
supply was utilized or otherwise disposed of,
    (2) To determine the quantity of natural and supplemental gas 
consumed within each of the States by market sector, the average sales 
prices for such gas, and the changes in consumption and price patterns 
over time.

EIA-191, ``Monthly and Annual Underground Gas Storage Report''

    Form EIA-191 is comprised of a monthly (EIA-191M) and annual (EIA-
191A) schedule. The EIA-191M currently requests monthly data on the 
location and operations of all active underground natural gas storage 
fields. The EIA-191A collects data on total field capacity, operation 
capability and field type as of December 31 of the reporting year. 
Storage data are a critical link in understanding the deliverability of 
the natural gas system of the United States and overall system 
operations.
    The information collected on Form EIA-191 will be used in the 
following ways:
    (1) To provide State-level data on underground natural gas storage 
with respect to injections, withdrawals, inventories, and type of 
storage facility, location, and capacity. These data will be made 
available through EIA's NGM, NGA, MER, and AER. Monthly data collection 
also provides reliable baseline data on storage operations necessary 
for analyses, modeling, and comparison with normal industry operations 
in cases of severe weather, natural disaster, or other extreme 
circumstances,
    (2) To provide data on all aspects of underground natural gas 
storage to enable EIA and other elements of DOE to identify and assess 
the supplies of gas in storage by geographic location.

EIA-857, ``Monthly Report of Natural Gas Purchases and Deliveries to 
Consumers''

    Monthly State-level data collected on the Form EIA-857 consist of 
average price of natural gas purchased by local distribution companies 
at their city gates, consumption of natural gas by sector, and average 
sales price by sector. These data are necessary to provide timely 
information needed to measure the combined impact of government, 
industry, and consumer actions; geographic location; climatic 
conditions; and other factors on the natural gas industry and natural 
gas consumers. The data collected on the Form EIA-857 are used to 
develop information for publication in EIA's STEO, NGM, and MER, and to 
make the data available to Congress, State governments, industry, and 
the public.

EIA-895, ``Monthly and Annual Quantity and Value of Natural Gas 
Production Report''

    Form EIA-895 is a voluntary survey, which is comprised of monthly 
(EIA-895M) and annual (EIA-895A) schedules. The EIA-895M collects 
monthly information from the appropriate State agencies concerning 
natural gas production. It provides details on gross withdrawals from 
gas and oil wells and from coalbed methane wells, volumes vented and 
flared, volumes of nonhydrocarbon gases removed, gas used as fuel on 
leases, and the amount of natural gas available for market. These data 
are routinely collected by States for taxation, conservation, or 
statistical purposes. In addition to providing an annual summary of the 
monthly collected data, the EIA-895A provides detail on the value of 
marketed production.

EIA-910, ``Monthly Natural Gas Marketer Survey''

    Form EIA-910 collects monthly information for developing accurate 
estimates of State-level prices paid by residential and commercial 
consumers of natural gas in states where a choice program exists. Data 
from the EIA-910 are combined with data from the EIA-857 to produce 
more complete and accurate price estimates.

EIA-912, ``Weekly Underground Natural Gas Storage Report''

    The EIA-912 data collection responds to requests to provide weekly 
measures of natural gas underground storage operations. Through this 
survey instrument, EIA provides a weekly data series on underground 
storage of natural gas similar to what was previously published by the 
American Gas Association (AGA). AGA discontinued its data collection on 
May 1, 2002. EIA first released data from the survey on May 9, 2002. 
Data are now published weekly in the WNGSR. EIA uses the data to 
prepare analytical products assessing storage operations in the three 
AGA regions and their impact on supplies available for the winter 
heating season, and in more detailed analyses correlating demand, 
heating-degree-days, and prior inventory levels. Such correlations help 
EIA to understand the impact of storage operations on natural gas 
supply and demand.

EIA-913, ``Monthly and Annual Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Storage 
Report''

    In 2003, EIA proposed a survey to monitor the monthly volume of LNG 
in storage and annual operational capacities of active LNG storage

[[Page 10999]]

facilities in the United States. However, EIA did not implement this 
proposal due to modest public interest and limited budget resources. At 
the time of that decision, EIA committed to monitor the LNG market and 
reevaluate the usefulness of an LNG storage survey at a later date. EIA 
has prepared a revised proposal that has reduced the budget 
requirements and has also reduced the survey scope. The current 
proposal is discussed further in Section II.
    Please refer to the proposed forms and instructions for more 
information about the purpose, who must report, when to report, where 
to submit, the elements to be reported, detailed instructions, 
provisions for confidentiality, and uses (including possible 
nonstatistical uses) of the information. For instructions on obtaining 
materials, see the For Further Information Contact section.

II. Current Actions

    EIA will be requesting a three-year extension of the collection 
authority for each of the above-referenced surveys, including the 
proposed new EIA-913. In addition, EIA proposes the changes outlined 
below that affect the EIA-176, EIA-191, EIA-857, EIA-895, EIA-910, EIA-
912, and EIA-913.

Form EIA-176, ``Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental Gas Supply 
and Disposition''

    No significant changes are proposed for the EIA-176. Minor changes 
will be made to the survey form and instructions in order to provide 
simplicity and clarity. Although EIA proposes to continue the 
collection of the ``Operation type'' data, EIA is requesting comments 
regarding the practical utility of the data. EIA proposes to add a 
question about the use of alternative fueled vehicles to assist in the 
development of a comprehensive survey frame of respondents for the EIA-
886, ``Annual Survey of Alternative Fueled Vehicles Suppliers and 
Users.''

Form EIA-191, ``Monthly and Annual Underground Gas Storage Report''

    In addition to several minor changes to the instructions and 
monthly and annual schedules of Form EIA-191 for the purpose of 
simplicity and clarity, EIA proposes significant revisions to the data 
collected under Form EIA-191 as detailed below:

EIA-191A

    In an effort to reduce respondent burden and simplify reporting 
requirements, EIA proposes to eliminate the ``Pipelines to which this 
field is connected,'' as well as to eliminate the check boxes used to 
note if data have changed from the previous annual report. EIA proposes 
to add the collection of ``Working Gas Capacity'' and the field status 
(i.e. active, abandoned, depleting, etc.) as of December 31 of each 
year. EIA is proposing that the data collected on the revised Annual 
Schedule of the EIA-191 will not be confidential, making individual 
company data of the following types available to the public: Storage 
Field Names, Reservoir Names, Location, Type of Facility, Total Field 
Capacity, Working Gas Capacity, and Maximum Deliverability, for all 
natural gas storage fields reporting on the EIA-191A.

EIA-191M

    In an effort to reduce respondent burden, EIA proposes to eliminate 
the request for ``Peak day'' and ``Peak day withdrawals'' from the EIA-
191M. The addition of a check box to signal capacity change for the 
field will be added.

Form EIA-857, ``Monthly Report of Natural Gas Purchases and Deliveries 
to Consumers''

    No significant changes are proposed for the Form EIA-857. The 
instructions will include minor changes to provide simplicity and 
clarity. Although EIA proposes to continue the collection of the 
``Purchased City-Gate'' data, EIA is requesting comment regarding the 
practical utility of the data.

Form EIA-895, ``Annual and Monthly Quantity and Value of Natural Gas 
Production Report''

    In addition to several minor changes to the instructions of Form 
EIA-895, EIA proposes significant revisions to the data collected under 
Form EIA-895 as detailed below:

EIA-895A

    EIA proposes to continue collecting the annual data with no 
significant change.

EIA-895M

    EIA proposes to eliminate the current monthly schedule for Form 
EIA-895 as a source of production and disposition of natural gas 
components and used to calculate monthly marketed production estimates. 
Estimates based on the EIA-914, ``Monthly Natural Gas Production 
Report,'' will replace this monthly data source. Thus, there will be no 
monthly reporting with Form EIA-895.

Form EIA-910, ``Monthly Natural Gas Marketer Survey''

    No significant changes are proposed for the EIA-910. Minor changes 
will be made to the survey form and instructions.

Form EIA-912, ``Weekly Underground Natural Gas Storage Report''

    No significant changes are proposed for the EIA-912. Minor changes 
will be made to the survey form and instructions.

Form EIA-913, ``Monthly (September-March) and Annual Liquefied Natural 
Gas (LNG) Storage Report''

    In 2003, EIA proposed to collect monthly and annual LNG storage 
information, but decided not to implement that proposal at that time. 
EIA promised to continue to monitor the LNG market and reconsider the 
proposed survey at a future time. LNG has an increasingly important 
role as a source of natural gas supply, especially during periods of 
peak demand. Therefore, EIA is proposing to conduct LNG storage 
surveys, subject to funds being provided in the FY2007 budget. If 
funding is made available, the survey would most likely not begin until 
calendar year 2007.
    The current LNG survey proposal is different from the 2003 LNG 
Storage Report proposal. The current proposal would have the survey 
operate seasonally and monitor monthly storage levels during September 
through March only, whereas the 2003 proposal would have monitored 
monthly storage levels throughout the entire year. The current proposal 
also requires that respondents report only one monthly data item; i.e., 
the amount of LNG in storage as of the report date. The 2003 proposal 
required respondents to report the amount of LNG in storage, LNG 
additions, LNG withdrawals, LNG peak day and LNG peak day withdrawals. 
Additionally, unlike the 2003 proposed survey, the 2005 proposed 
monthly survey would be administered via the telephone in order to 
increase timeliness of product dissemination and reduce respondent 
burden. The proposed annual survey form is similar to the one included 
in the 2003 proposal. Respondents will be required to report: Storage 
facility name, state location of the storage facility, storage facility 
design capacity, maximum liquefaction design capacity, maximum 
vaporization design capacity, trailer loading/unloading ability and 
number of bays, and whether the capacity had changed from what was 
previously reported.
    All operators of facilities that store LNG for baseload, seasonal, 
and peak demand delivery in the United States, or for delivery to 
United States customers for these purposes would be required to 
complete the mandatory report. This

[[Page 11000]]

will include operators with LNG inventories such as distribution 
companies, pipeline companies, liquefaction facilities, LNG 
wholesalers, and marine terminals providing peaking storage services. 
The survey coverage will not include LNG inventories held by any 
industrial, residential, commercial, or power generation operations for 
ultimate consumption.
    Respondents would be required to complete the EIA-913 Annual 
Schedule at the start of the survey and subsequently once a year in 
September thereafter and whenever a new facility begins operation or a 
change in storage operator or storage capacity occurs. The EIA would 
contact the respondents on the first Monday of the month or the first 
business day after the first Monday of the month in the event of a 
holiday.
    The aggregate data collected on the Form EIA-913 for the United 
States and several multi-state regions would be used to develop 
national and regional level estimates for publication in the NGM, MER, 
and NGA; no State level data would be published. EIA proposes that 
monthly respondent data would be treated as sensitive, proprietary 
information while respondent data from the annual schedule would not be 
confidential.

III. Request for Comments

    Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment 
on the actions discussed in items II and III. The following guidelines 
are provided to assist in the preparation of comments. Please indicate 
to which form(s) your comments apply.

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. Would burden be reduced if applicable data were collected in Btu 
(heat content) rather than Mcf basis (volumetric, as it is on some 
surveys)?
    B. Would burden be increased if EIA adopted a standard mandatory 
revision rule for its natural gas surveys requiring resubmission of 
data for revisions greater than 4 percent?
    C. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If 
not, which instructions need clarification?
    D. Can the information be submitted by the due date?
    E. Public reporting burden for the surveys included in the Natural 
Gas Data Collection Program Package is shown below as an average 
hour(s) per response. The estimated burden includes the total time 
necessary to provide the requested information. In your opinion, how 
accurate is this estimate for the proposed forms?
    (1) Form EIA-176, ``Annual Report of Natural and Supplemental Gas 
Supply and Disposition''; 12 hours per response.
    (2) Form EIA-191A, ``Annual Underground Gas Storage Report''; 1 
hour per response.
    (3) Form EIA-191M, ``Monthly Underground Gas Storage Report''; 2.5 
hours per response.
    (4) Form EIA-857, ``Monthly Report of Natural Gas Purchases and 
Deliveries to Consumers''; 3.5 hours per response.
    (5) Form EIA-895, ``Annual Quantity and Value of Natural Gas 
Production Report''; .5 hours per response.
    (6) Form EIA-910, ``Monthly Natural Gas Marketer Survey''; 2 hours 
per response.
    (7) Form EIA-912, ``Weekly Underground Natural Gas Storage 
Report''; 0.5 hour per response.
    (8) Form EIA-913A, ``Annual Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Storage 
Report''; 1 hour per response.
    (9) Form EIA-913M, ``Monthly (September-March) Liquefied Natural 
Gas (LNG) Storage Report''; 0.5 hour per response.
    F. 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?
    G. 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.
    I. 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. Is the information useful at the levels of detail to be 
collected?
    B. For what purpose(s) would the information be used? Be specific.
    C. Are there alternate sources for the information and are they 
useful? If so, what are their weaknesses and/or strengths?
    D. Would the information be more useful if published uniformly in 
Btu rather than volumetrically? Which is the perceived industry 
standard?
    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.

    Authority: Sec. 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on March 1, 2005.
Jay Casselberry,
Agency Clearance Officer, Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 05-4343 Filed 3-4-05; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P