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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 250 (Wednesday, December 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 78845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30708]

[[Page 78845]]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration

Proposed Agency Information Collection

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

ACTION: Agency information collection activities: Proposed collection; 
notice and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: EIA invites public comment on the proposed collection of 
information, Form EIA-63C, Densified Biomass Fuel Report, which EIA is 
developing for submission to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Comments are invited 
on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for 
the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the 
collection of information on respondents, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.
    When submitting comments regarding the reporting burden or costs of 
reporting this information, describe in detail any start-up costs you 
expect to incur such as new software, processes, or training. If you 
claim that you may incur start-up costs in reporting this requested 
information, describe how your current record keeping practices differ 
from the information to be collected on the proposed Form EIA-63C.

DATES: Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be 
received on or March 2, 2015. If you anticipate difficulty in 
submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in 
ADDRESSES as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Use email address: EIA-63C@eia.gov to send comments 
electronically and to ensure receipt of the comments by the due date. 
The postal mailing address for sending written comments is Attn: 
Rebecca Peterson, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Energy Information 
Administration, Mail Stop EI-23, Forrestal Building, 1000 Independence 
Avenue SW., Washington, DC 20585.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Rebecca Peterson at the email address 
Rebecca.Peterson@eia.gov. Ms. Peterson may also be contacted by 
telephone on (202) 586-4509. The draft form and instructions are 
available on the EIA Web site at http://www.eia.gov/survey/form/eia_63c/proposed/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  This information collection request 
contains:
    (1) OMB No.: New;
    (2) Information Collection Request Title: Form EIA-63C, Densified 
Biomass Fuel Report;
    (3) Type of Request: New;
    (4) Purpose: The consumption of densified biomass fuel, a renewable 
energy source, is increasing in the United States, particularly in the 
northeast where a number of states are conducting successful incentive 
programs for switching from fuel oil to biomass for heating. Production 
of densified biomass fuel for export is also rapidly growing, 
particularly in the southeastern United States, driven by demand from 
the European community where greenhouse gas reduction initiatives are 
driving conversion of coal to biomass for electric power generation. 
The survey will gather information on pellet fuel and other densified 
biomass fuel production, sales, and inventory levels by operators of 
pellet fuel manufacturing facilities in the United States. The data 
collected will be used to estimate densified biomass fuel consumption 
in the United States as well as production, sales, and inventory at 
state, regional, and national levels. A summary of the data will be 
published on the EIA Web site and in various EIA publications, 
including the Monthly Energy Review.
    (5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: We estimate the number 
of respondents to be approximately 150;
    (6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 1,800 (150 
respondents x 12 months);
    (7) Annual Estimated Number of Burden Hours: 1,800 (150 respondents 
x 12 months x 1 hour for each response);
    (8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: EIA 
estimates that there are no capital and start-up costs associated with 
this data collection. The information is maintained in the normal 
course of business. The cost of burden hours to the respondents is 
estimated to be $124,794 (1800 burden hours times $69.33 per hour). 
Therefore, other than the cost of burden hours, EIA estimates that 
there are no additional costs for generating, maintaining and providing 
the information.

    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).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on December 23, 2014.
Nanda Srinivasan,
Director, Office of Survey Development and Statistical Integration, 
U.S. Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 2014-30708 Filed 12-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P
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