### 15092 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 14, 2012 / Notices

should the Board’s tasks require such representation.

EMAB meets the criteria for, and is subject to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). Members are

selected in accordance with FACA requirements and serve on an uncompensated, volunteer basis. Members, however, may be reimbursed

in accordance with the Federal Travel Regulations for authorized per diem and travel expenses incurred while attending Board meetings.

The Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Environmental Management is accepting nominations through April 20, 2012, to fill vacancies on its Environmental Management Advisory Board (EMAB or Board). Applicants with expertise in project management, acquisition management, human capital management, environmental management and engineering, or other related fields are preferred. This expertise may be drawn from service in the private sector, academia, research institutions, professional organizations, or local and state governments. The Board requires a balanced membership so that a diversity of perspectives is represented on the issues that come before it. This membership balance is not static, however, and may change depending on the work of the

committee.

Any interested person or organization may nominate qualified individuals for membership. Self-nominations are also

welcome. Nominations must include a resume and short biography describing the educational and professional qualifications of the nominee and the nominee’s current occupation, position, address and daytime telephone number. Nominations are open to all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, mental or physical handicap, marital status, or sexual orientation. Please note, however, that Federally-registered lobbyists and individuals already serving on another Federal advisory committee are ineligible for nomination.

All nominees will be vetted before

selection.

Nominations can be sent by U.S. Mail or electronically to Ms. Kristen Ellis, Designated Federal Officer, at the

address above. For further information on EMAB, please visit the Web site: www.em.doe.gov/emab or contact Ms. Ellis directly. Issued at Washington, DC, on March 7,

2012. LaTanya R. Butler,
Acting Deputy Committee Management Officer.

[FR Doc. 2012–6141 Filed 3–13–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**U.S. 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.

**SUMMARY :**  The EIA invites public comment on the proposed collection of information, EIA–882T, ‘‘Generic Clearance for Questionnaire Testing, Evaluation, and Research’’ that 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.

**DATES :**  Comments regarding this proposed information collection must be received on or before May 14, 2012. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed in **ADDRESSES** as soon as possible.

**ADDRESSES :**  Written comments may be sent to Richard Reeves, Energy Information Administration, 1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20585 or by fax at 202–586–5271 or by email at richard.reeves@eia.gov.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection
instrument and instructions should be directed to Richard Reeves, Energy Information Administration, 1000 Independence Ave. SW., Washington DC 20585, phone: 202–586–5856, email: richard.reeves@eia.gov.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  This information collection request contains:

(1) OMB No.: New; (2) Information Collection Request
Title: Generic Clearance for Questionnaire Testing, Evaluation, and Research;

(3) Type of Request: Proposed; (4) Purpose: The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is planning to request 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 forms. This authority would allow EIA to conduct pretest surveys, pilot surveys, respondent debriefings, cognitive interviews, usability interviews, and focus groups. Through the use of these methodologies, EIA will improve the quality of data being collected, reduce or minimize respondent burden, increase agency efficiency, and improve responsiveness to the public. 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
industries.

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.

The methods proposed are the following:

Field Testing. Field testing surveys
conducted under this clearance will generally be methodological studies of 500 cases or less. The samples may not be statistically representative because it will be designed to clarify particular issues rather than to be representative of the universe. Collection may be on the basis of convenience, e.g., limited to specific geographic locations, but the selection of sample cases will not be completely arbitrary in any instance. The sample designs will be determined at the time of development and will vary based on the content of the information collection or survey being
tested.

Pilot Surveys. Pilot surveys conducted under this clearance will generally be methodological studies of 500 cases or less, but 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. Pilots will normally be utilized when


### 15093 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 50 / Wednesday, March 14, 2012 / Notices

EIA undertakes a complete redesign of a particular data collection methodology
or when EIA undertakes data collection in new areas, such as greenhouse gases
or alternative fueled motor vehicle transportation system studies.

Respondent Debriefings. Respondent debriefings conducted under this clearance will generally be methodological studies of 500 cases or less, involving either purposive or statistically representative samples. The debriefing form is administered after a respondent completes a questionnaire either in paper form, electronically, or through in-person interviews. The debriefings contain questions that probe to determine how respondents interpret the questions and whether they have problems in completing the survey/ questionnaire. Respondent debriefings also are useful in determining potential issues with data quality and in determining a more accurate respondent
burden measure. This structured approach to debriefing enables both quantitative and qualitative analyses of data when administered to a statistically representative sample and allows EIA to improve its understanding of variance for the items in the questionnaire.

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 survey questions, reads survey materials, or completes other activities as part of a survey process. A number of different techniques may be involved, including asking respondents to paraphrase questions, asking respondents probing questions to determine how they come up with their answers, and so on. The objective is to identify problems of ambiguity or misunderstanding, or other difficulties respondents have answering questions,
and reduce measurement error in a

survey.

Usability Interviews. Usability interviews 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,
Web site and/or associated materials. The object of a usability interview is to
make sure that electronic questionnaires, Web sites and other associated materials are user-friendly, allowing respondents to easily and intuitively navigate the electronic item and find the information that they seek.

Focus Groups. Focus groups involve group sessions guided by a moderator who follows a topic guide containing questions or topics focused on a particular issue, rather than adhering to a standardized questionnaire. Focus groups are useful for identifying and exploring issues with populations of interest, e.g., from a specific group of
stakeholders.

(5) Annual Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,000;

(6) Annual Estimated Number of Total Responses: 1,000;

(7) Annual Estimated Number of
Burden Hours: 1,000;

(8) Annual Estimated Reporting and Recordkeeping Cost Burden: There are no costs associated with these survey
methods other than the burden hours.

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 March 6,

2012. Stephanie Brown, Director, Office of Survey Development and Statistical Integration, U. S. Energy Information Administration.

[FR Doc. 2012–6154 Filed 3–13–12; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6450–01–P**

**DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY**

**Federal Energy Regulatory**
**Commission**

**[Project No. 2351–017]**

**Public Service Company of Colorado;**

Notice of Application Tendered for Filing With the Commission and Establishing Procedural Schedule for Licensing and Deadline for Submission
of Final Amendments

Take notice that the following hydroelectric application has been filed
with the Commission and is available for public inspection.

a. Type of Application: New Major

License.

b. Project No.: 2351–017.

c. Date Filed: February 27, 2012.
d. Applicant: Excel Energy Services,
Inc. on behalf of Public Service Company of Colorado.

e. Name of Project: Cabin Creek Pumped Storage Project.

f. Location: The existing project is
located on the South Clear Creek and its tributary Cabin Creek in Clear Creek County, Colorado. The project, as currently licensed, is located on 267
acres of U.S. Forest Service lands within the Arapahoe National Forest.

g. Filed Pursuant to: Federal Power Act, 16 USC 791 (a)-825(r).

h. Applicant Contact: Christine E. Johnston, Xcel Energy, 4653 Table Mountain Drive, Golden, CO 80403; (720) 497–2156.

i. FERC Contact: David Turner, (202)

502–6091. j. This application is not ready for environmental analysis at this time.

k. The Project Description: The existing project includes the following facilities: (1) A 210-foot-high, 1,458- foot-long concrete-faced rockfill Upper Dam across Cabin Creek; (2) a 25.4 acre upper reservoir with 1,087 acre-feet of usable storage between the maximum operating elevation of 11,196 feet mean sea level (msl) and the minimum operating elevation of 11,140 feet msl; (3) a 95-foot-high, 1,195-foot-long
earthfill and rockfill Lower Dam across South Clear Creek; (4) a 44.8-acre lower reservoir with 1,221 acre-feet of usable storage between the maximum operating elevation of 10,002 feet msl and 9,975 feet msl; (5) a 145-foot-long auxiliary spillway constructed in the
embankment of the lower reservoir with a crest elevation of 10,013 feet; (6) an
intake structure located near the bottom of the upper reservoir; (7) a 12 to 15- foot-diameter, 4,143-foot-long powertunnel; (8) two 75-foot-long, 8.5-footdiameter penstocks directing flow from the power tunnel to the powerhouse turbines; (9) a powerhouse installed at the lower reservoir containing two reversible turbine-generator units rated at 150 megawatts (nameplate capacity) each; (10) a switchyard located next to the powerhouse; (11) three miles of gravel access roads; and (12) appurtenant facilities.

Cabin Creek is a pumped storage project. The normal daily operation cycle involves pumping water from the lower reservoir to the upper reservoir during off-peak periods of energy demand and generating electricity with water released from the upper reservoir during the high energy demand part of the day. Under the current license, the applicant is required to provide a
continuous release from the lower reservoir of three cubic feet per second or inflow, whichever is less, to South
Clear Creek.

The applicant proposes the following changes to the project: (1) Upgrade the pump-generation equipment; (2) raise the usable storage capacity of the upper reservoir 75 acre-feet by raising the height of the dam 4.5 feet; and (3) increase the project boundary by 59

acres.

l. Locations of the Application: A copy of the application is available for
review at the Commission in the Public Reference Room or may be viewed on
the Commission’s Web site at http:// www.ferc.gov using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number
field to access the document. For assistance, contact FERC Online Support at