### 70123 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 218 / Thursday, November 10, 2011 / Notices

Æ Electricity market analyses, including locational marginal price (LMP) patterns.

Æ Reliability analyses and actions, including transmission loading relief (TLR) actions.

Æ Historic energy flows.

Æ Current and projected electric supply and generation plans.

Æ Recent, current and planned transmission and interconnection
queues.

Æ Current and forecast electricity loads, including energy efficiency, distributed generation (DG) and demand response (DR) plans and policies.

Æ The location of renewable resources and state and regional policies with respect to renewable development.

Æ Projected impacts of current or pending environmental regulation on generation availability.

Æ Effects of recent or projected economic conditions on demand and congestion.

Æ Analytic results from the eastern and western interconnection-level planning studies undertaken with DOE support.

Æ Filings under FERC Order 890. DOE intends to release a draft version of the 2012 Congestion Study in 2012 for a 60-day comment period. After reviewing and considering the comments received, DOE will issue a final version of the study. III. Pre-Study Workshops

In December 2011, DOE will host four regional half-day pre-study workshops to receive and discuss input relevant to the 2012 Congestion Study, including comments on what publicly-available data should be considered to identify and understand the significance and character of transmission congestion. Each workshop will consist of panels of invited speakers who will present their views, followed by a discussion among the panelists led by DOE staff. Each workshop will begin at 9 a.m. and end by 12:30 p.m. Workshops: The cities, dates, and locations for the technical workshops

are:

1. Philadelphia, PA, December 6, 2011, at the Philadelphia Airport Hilton, 4509 Island Avenue, Philadelphia, PA
19153.

2. St. Louis, MO, December 8, 2011, at the St. Louis Airport Hilton, 10330 Natural Bridge Road, St. Louis, MO
63134.

3. Portland, OR, December 13, 2011, at the Sheraton Portland Airport Hotel, 8235 Northeast Airport Way, Portland, OR 97220.

4. San Diego, CA, December 15, 2011, at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina, 1380 Harbor Island Drive, San Diego, CA 92101.

Additional details about the workshops are available at http:// energy.gov/oe/congestion-study-2012

.

Public Participation: The workshops will be open to the public, and will be simulcast over the Internet. Advance registration for the Webcasts is required by visiting http://www.iian.ibeam.com/ events/ener001/26552/. A complete archive of each event will be on this Web site soon after the conclusion of the event, and will be downloadable in podcast format.

Members of the public interested in offering oral comments at a pre-study workshop may do so on the day of the workshop, subject to the time available. Approximately one-half hour will be reserved for public comments. Time allotted per speaker will depend on the number who wish to speak but is not expected to exceed three minutes. Anyone who is not able to attend the workshop or has had insufficient time to present material is invited to submit a written statement in the manner indicated in the **ADDRESSES** section of this notice.

Note: The Department will consult with the States and regional reliability organizations in the preparation of the 2012 Congestion Study. DOE recognizes that in addition to (or as an alternative to) participating in the regional pre-study workshops, some States or other organizations may wish to discuss congestion matters with the Department on a bilateral basis. DOE will reserve time at the sites of the regional workshops for such bilateral discussions, and it invites interested States or other organizations to contact the Department to identify mutually convenient times. In addition, the Department will maintain an ‘‘open door’’ policy, and will schedule congestion meetings at DOE headquarters upon request with States, reliability organizations, Regional Transmission Organizations, Independent System Operators, utilities, and other stakeholders.

IV. Comments in Response to This Notice

All comments filed in response to today’s notice should be marked ‘‘Re Preparation of the 2012 Congestion Study,’’ and sent to the Department in the manner indicated in the **ADDRESSES** section of this notice. In written comments in response to this notice and at the regional workshops, DOE requests States, utilities, regional transmission organizations (RTOs), independent system operators (ISOs), and other stakeholders to describe changes in their respective areas since 2009 that affect the location, duration, frequency, magnitude, and significance of transmission congestion, including related transmission constraints. Special attention should be given to the question of how to gauge the magnitude or significance of congestion using publicly available data, including FERC 890 filings. In addition, DOE is particularly interested in comments that speak to the most appropriate and effective methods for distinguishing between the effects of technical limits on line loadings and possible contractual limits on the use of those same lines.

Issued in Washington, DC, on November 4,
2011. Patricia A. Hoffman, Assistant Secretary, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.
[FR Doc. 2011–29189 Filed 11–9–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**Energy Information Administration**

**Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;**  **Comment Request**

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

**ACTION :**  Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request.

**SUMMARY :**  The EIA is soliciting comments on the proposed 3-year extension of EIA Form EIA–914 Monthly Natural Gas Production Report.

**DATES :**  Comments must be filed by January 9, 2012. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed below as soon as possible.

**ADDRESSES :**  Send comments to Mr. Jeffrey Little. The mailing address is Jeffrey Little, EI–24, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585. To ensure receipt of the comments by the due date, submission by email ( Jeffrey.Little@eia.gov ) is recommended. Alternatively, Mr. Little may be contacted by telephone at (202)
586–6284.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Requests for additional information or copies of any forms and instructions should be directed to Mr. Jeffrey Little at the contact information listed above. The proposed forms and instructions are also available on the Internet at: http://www.eia.doe.gov/oil

_gas/natural

_ gas/survey

_ forms/nat

_survey

_ forms. html.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :** 


### 70124 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 218 / Thursday, November 10, 2011 / Notices

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 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) under Section 3507(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Currently there are 243 respondents, a sample of operators of natural gas wells report on the Form EIA–914. From a universe of about 9,300 active operators, a cut-off sample is selected of the largest natural gas producers by State or area, known to have produced at least 20 million cubic feet (10 million cubic feet in Oklahoma) of natural gas per day. Using information collected on Form EIA–914, EIA estimates and disseminates timely and reliable monthly natural gas production data for Texas (onshore and offshore) and Louisiana (onshore and offshore), New Mexico, Oklahoma, Wyoming, the Federal Offshore Gulf of Mexico, Other States (onshore and offshore for the remaining gas producing States with Alaska excluded), and the lower 48 States. This collection is essential to the mission of the DOE in general and the EIA in particular because of the increasing demand for natural gas in the United States and the requirement for accurate and timely natural gas production information necessary to monitor the United States natural gas supply and demand balance. These estimates are essential to the development, implementation, and evaluation of energy policy and legislation. Data are disseminated through the EIA Natural Gas Monthly, Monthly Natural Gas Gross Production Report, and EIA Natural Gas Annual Web site. Secondary publications that use the data include EIA’s Short-Term Energy Outlook, Annual Energy Outlook, Monthly Energy Review, and Annual Energy Review.

II. Current Actions

This section contains the following information about the energy information collection submitted to OMB for review: (1) The collection numbers and title; (2) the sponsor (i.e., the Department of Energy component); (3) the current OMB docket number (if applicable); (4) the type of request (i.e., new, revision, extension, or reinstatement); (5) response obligation (i.e., mandatory, voluntary, or required to obtain or retain benefits); (6) a description of the need for and proposed use of the information; (7) an estimate of the number of respondents; (8) an estimate of the total annual responses; (9) an estimate of the total annual reporting burden; (10) an estimate of reporting and recordkeeping
costs.

1. Information Collection Request Title: Form EIA–914, ‘‘Monthly Natural Gas Production Report’’.

2. Agency: U.S. Energy Information Administration.

3. OMB Control Number: 1905–0205.
4. Type of review: Three-year extension.

5. Type of collection: Mandatory. 6. The purpose of the survey is to collect monthly data on the production of natural gas in seven geographical areas (Texas (including State offshore), Louisiana (including State offshore), Oklahoma, New Mexico, Wyoming, Federal Gulf of Mexico offshore and Other States (defined as all remaining states, except Alaska, in which the operator produced natural gas during the report month)). Data will be used to monitor natural gas supplies. Survey respondents would be a sample of well operators.

7. Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 243.

8. Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 2,916.

9. Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 8,748.

10. Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: $0. III. Request for Comment

Prospective respondents and other interested parties should comment on the actions discussed in item II. The following guidelines are provided to assist in the preparation of comments. As a Potential Respondent to the Request for Information

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?

B. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information to be collected?

C. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If not, which instructions need clarification?

D. Can the information be submitted by the respondent by the due date?

E. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to average 3 hours per response. The estimated burden includes the total time necessary to provide the requested information. In your opinion, how accurate is this estimate?

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.

H. 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 proposed collection of information necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency and does the information have practical utility?

B. What actions could be taken to help ensure and maximize the quality, objectivity, utility, and integrity of the information disseminated?

C. Is the information useful at the levels of detail to be collected?

D. For what purpose(s) would the information be used? Be specific.

E. 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


### 70125 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 218 / Thursday, November 10, 2011 / Notices

approval of the form. They also will become a matter of public record.

Statutory Authority: Section 13(b) of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974, Pub. L. 93–275, codified at 15 U.S.C. 772(b).

Issued in Washington, DC, on November 2,
2011. Stephanie Brown, Director, Office of Survey Development and Statistical Integration, U.S. Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011–29187 Filed 11–9–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**Energy Information Administration**

**Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB**  **Review; Comment Request**

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

**ACTION :**  Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request.

**SUMMARY :**  The EIA has submitted the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s Monthly Biodiesel Production Survey to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for revision and a three-year extension under section 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104–13) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq).

**DATES :**  Comments must be filed by December 12, 2011. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments but find it difficult to do so within that period, you should contact the OMB Desk Officer for DOE listed below as soon as possible.

**ADDRESSES :**  Send comments to OMB Desk Officer for DOE, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. To ensure receipt of the comments by the due date, submission by Fax at (202) 395–7285 or email to Chad

_ S

_ Whiteman@omb.eop.gov is recommended. The mailing address is 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 20503. The OMB DOE Desk Officer may be telephoned at (202) 395–4718. (A copy of your comments should also be provided to EIA’s Office of Survey Development and Statistical Integration at the address below.)

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Requests for additional information should be directed to Jason Worrall. To ensure receipt of the comments by the due date, submission by email ( Jason.worrall@eia.gov ) is also recommended. The mailing address is Office of Survey Development and Statistical Integration (EI–21), Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585–0670. Mr. Worrall may be contacted by telephone at (202) 586–6075.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  This section contains the following information about the energy information collections submitted to OMB for review: (1) The collection numbers and title; (2) the sponsor (i.e., the Department of Energy component); (3) the current OMB docket number (if applicable); (4) the type of request (i.e, new, revision, extension, or reinstatement); (5) response obligation (i.e., mandatory, voluntary, or required to obtain or retain benefits); (6) a description of the need for and proposed use of the information; (7) a categorical description of the likely respondents; (8) estimated number of respondents annually; (9) an estimate of the total annual reporting burden in hours (i.e., the estimated number of likely respondents times the proposed frequency of response per year times the average hours per response); and (10) an estimate of the total annual reporting and recordkeeping cost burden (in thousands of dollars).

1. EIA–22M, ‘‘Monthly Biodiesel Production Survey.’’

2. U.S. Energy Information Administration.

3. OMB Number 1905–0207. 4. Three-year extension. 5. Mandatory. 6. The purpose of the survey is to collect information from biodiesel producers regarding the following: Plant location, capacity, and operating status; Biodiesel and co-product production; Inputs to production; Sales for end-use and resale; Sales revenue; and Biodiesel stocks.

7. Business or other for-profit. 8. 150 Respondents 9. Annual total of 5400, hours, collected 12 times per year, three hours
per response.

10. Annual total of $0. Please refer to the supporting statement as well as 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.

Statutory Authority: Section 13(b) of the Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974, P.L. 93–275, codified at 15 U.S.C. 772(b). Issued in Washington, DC, on November 2,
2011. Stephanie Brown, Director, Office of Survey Development and Statistical Integration, U.S. Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2011–29147 Filed 11–9–11; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**Western Area Power Administration**

**Notice of Availability of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for**  **the Proposed Solar Reserve LLC Quartzsite Solar Energy Project, La**  **Paz County, AZ (DOE/EIS—0440) and the proposed Amendment to the**  **Bureau of Land Management Yuma Field Office Resource Management**  **Plan**

**AGENCY :**  Western Area Power Administration, DOE.

**ACTION :**  Notice of Availability.

**SUMMARY :**  In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) of 1976, as amended, Western Area Power Administration (Western) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed Quartzsite Solar Energy Project (Project), in La Paz County, Arizona, and the proposed amendment to the Yuma Field Office (Yuma) Resource Management Plan (RMP), and by this notice are announcing the opening of the public comment period. Western is the lead Federal agency for purposes of satisfying the NEPA requirements with the BLM acting as a cooperating agency.

**DATES :**  The public is invited to submit comments on the DEIS for the proposed Project and the proposed RMP amendment during the public comment period. To ensure that comments will be considered, Western or BLM must receive written comments on the DEIS/ proposed RMP amendment within 90 days following the date the Environmental Protection Agency publishes its Notice of Availability in the Federal Register . Oral comments will be taken at a public hearing, which will be announced at least 15 days in advance through public notices, media releases, and/or mailings.

**ADDRESSES :**  Written comments on the Project may be sent to Ms. Liana Reilly, NEPA Document Manager, Western Area Power Administration, P.O. Box 281213, Lakewood, CO 80228–8213 or