### 4614 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 24, 1995 / Notices

occupancy, energy conservation measures, energy-using equipment, and both the types and uses of energy consumed. Energy consumption data for the building are obtained from the suppliers of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil and district heat to the building after receiving permission from the building owner, manager or tenant. The energy suppliers survey is a mail interview.

The data obtained from this survey are published primarily in EIA reports titled Commercial Buildings Characteristics (date of survey) and Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption and Expenditures (date of survey). Selected data from the surveys are also published in the Monthly Energy Review and the Annual Energy Review. Data are available electronically through the EPUB and on diskettes for use with personal computers.

II. Current Actions

Anticipated changes for the 1995 CBECS include: Ten Primary Sampling Units that were dropped in 1989 will be reinstated; the section ‘‘Construction Improvements and Maintenance and Repairs Supplement,’’ conducted for the Bureau of Census will be deleted; (3) two types of buildings (parking garages and buildings on industrial sites) will not be included in the sample; (4) the Building Characteristics Questionnaire (Form EIA–871A) will be substantially reduced from the 1992 questionnaire so
that it is similar to the 1989 questionnaire; (5) the building
characteristics data will be collected using Computer Assisted Personal Interviewing techniques in order to provide data in a more timely fashion; and (6) the suppliers of district chilled water will not be surveyed. No major changes pertaining to the type of data collected on the Energy Suppliers Forms (EIA–871C–F) are anticipated. However, the format of the Energy Supplier Forms will be modified to provide data in a more timely fashion.

III. Request for Comments

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

As a potential respondent: A. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If not, which instructions require clarification?

B. Can the data be submitted using the
definitions included in the instructions?

C. Can data be submitted in accordance with the response time specified in the instructions? D. Public reporting burden for this collection is estimated to average 45 minutes per interview (Form EIA–871A) and about 30 minutes per energy supplier response (Forms EIA–871C–F).
Note: There is no Form EIA–871B. How much time, including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information, do you estimate it will require you to complete and submit the required form?

E. What is the estimated cost of completing this form, including the
direct and indirect costs associated with
the data collection? Direct costs should include all costs, such as administrative costs, directly attributable to providing
this information.

F. How can the form be improved?
G. Do you know of any other Federal, State, or local agency that collects similar data? If you do, specify the agency, the data element(s), and the
means of collection.

As a potential user:
A. Can you use data at the levels of
detail indicated on the form?

B. For what purpose would you use the data? Be specific.

C. How could the form be improved to better meet your specific needs?

D. Are there alternate sources of data and do you use them? What are their deficiencies and/or strengths?

E. For the most part, information is published by EIA in U.S. customary units, e.g., cubic feet of natural gas, short tons of coal, and barrels of oil. Would you prefer to see EIA publish more information in metric units, e.g., cubic meters, metric tons, and kilograms? If yes, please specify what information (e.g., coal production, natural gas consumption, and crude oil imports), the metric unit(s) of measurement preferred, and in which EIA publication(s) you would like to see
such information.

EIA is also interested in receiving comments from persons regarding their
views on the need for the information
contained in the CBECS.

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: Section 2(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Public Law No. 96– 511, which amended Chapter 35 of Title 44, United States Code, (see 44 U.S.C. 3506(a) and (c)(1)). Issued in Washington, DC, January 17,
1995. Yvonne M. Bishop,
Director, Office of Statistical Standards, Energy Information Administration.
[FR Doc. 95–1752 Filed 1–23–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Appliance and Equipment Energy Efficiency and Water Standards: Recommendations for Establishing State and Local Incentive Programs for Voluntary Replacement of Plumbing Products by Consumers

AGENCY: Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, U.S. Department of Energy.

ACTION : Notice of public meeting.

SUMMARY : The Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires the Department of Energy (DOE or Department) to issue
recommendations to the States for establishing State and local incentive programs designed to encourage the acceleration of voluntary replacement, by consumers, of existing showerheads, faucets, water closets, and urinals with those products that meet the standards established in the legislation.

In order to consult with State and local government and industry representatives about the development of such recommendations, the Department will hold a public meeting in Santa Fe, New Mexico, to discuss programs that promote water conservation. All persons are hereby given notice of the opportunity to attend the public meeting.

DATES : The public meeting will be held on Friday, January 27, 1995.

ADDRESSES : The meeting will begin at 4:00 p.m. and will be held in the Santa Fe Room at the La Fonda Hotel, 100 E. Santa Fe Street, Santa Fe, New Mexico, in conjunction with the mid-winter meeting of the American Water Works
Association’s Water Conservation
Committee.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Twigg,U.S. Department of

Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Forrestal Building, Mail Station EE–431, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586–
9127 Eugene Margolis, Esq., U.S. Department

of Energy, Office of General Counsel, Forrestal Building, Mail Station GC– 72, 1000 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20585, (202) 586–
9507

### 4615 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 15 / Tuesday, January 24, 1995 / Notices

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : 1. Authority

Part B of Title III of the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, Public Law 94– 163, created the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products other than Automobiles (Program). The most recent amendment, the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT), Public Law 102– 486, identified several new categories of products and equipment for inclusion in various required and voluntary testing and information programs to promote energy efficiency and water
conservation. Section 123 of EPACT
established maximum water use standards for showerheads, faucets, water closets and urinals for equipment manufactured after January 1, 1994. In addition, Section 123 requires the Secretary of Energy to issue
recommendations to the States for establishing State and local incentive programs designed to encourage the acceleration of voluntary replacement, by consumers, of existing showerheads, faucets, water closets, and urinals with those products that meet the new statutory standards. In developing the recommendations, the Secretary is required to consult with the heads of other Federal agencies, including the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency; State officials; manufacturers, suppliers, and installers of plumbing products; and other interested parties.

2. Background

On June 20, 1994, the Department of Energy held a meeting in New York City as part of the American Water Works
Association’s annual conference to receive suggestions on how it should proceed to elicit broad participation in the process for developing recommendations, with input on all pertinent issues regarding State and local incentive programs. Approximately 30 people attended, of whom 6 submitted written proposals suggesting various courses of action for the Department. Discussions continued at a meeting of the National Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors in Las Vegas on September 29, 1994. Ideas and suggestions have
been consolidated into an outline which will form the basis for a resource guide being developed by the Department and its contractor, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory.

3. Public Meeting Procedure

The purpose of the meeting is to
discuss the outline and resource document developed thus far by the Department of Energy. Informal discussion will follow an introductory presentation by the Department.

Issued in Washington, DC, January 19,
1995.

Marvin E. Gunn, Jr., Acting Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
[FR Doc. 95–1756 Filed 1–23–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P

Office of Energy Research

Energy Research Financial Assistance Program Notice 95–13: National
Information Infrastructure

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

ACTION : Notice inviting grant applications.

SUMMARY : The Office of Scientific Computing of the Office of Energy Research (ER), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) hereby announces its interest in receiving research grant applications to support DOE’s program
in the President’s National Information Infrastructure (NII) initiative. The DOE program is integral to and supportive of the multi-agency NII initiative through the High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC) program which has been in place since 1992.

DOE supports NII’s goals through the Information Infrastructure Technology and Applications (IITA) component of the HPCC program by (1) supporting research and development to solve important scientific and technical challenges; (2) reducing the
uncertainties in industrial research and development through increased cooperation between government, industry, and universities and by continued use of government and government-funded facilities as a prototype user of early commercial NII products; and (3) supporting the underlying research, network, and computational infrastructures on which NII applications are based.

DATES : To permit timely consideration of awards in FY 1995, formal applications submitted in response to this notice must be received by March 15, 1995. Earlier submission is encouraged.

ADDRESSES : Formal applications referencing Program Notice 95–13
should be forwarded to: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Research, Acquisition and Assistance Management Division, ER–64, (GTN), Washington, DC 20585. Attn: Program Notice 95–13. The following address must be used when submitting applications by U.S. Postal Service Express Mail, any commercial mail delivery service, or when hand-carried by the applicant: U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Research, Acquisition and Assistance Management Division, ER–64, 19901 Germantown Road, Germantown, MD
20874.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Anne Scott, Program Manager, Office of Scientific Computing, Office of Energy Research, ER–30/GTN, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585. (301) 903–9958. E-mail to hpcc@er.doe.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION : The NII program announced by Vice President Gore in 1993 encapsulates the promise of the Information Age to transform our society. Historically, communication and computing technology, i.e., leading edge information technology, has been a powerful instrument of change in our society. The National Information Infrastructure program seeks to enhance national competitiveness and improve the quality of life of the general populace. The principles and goals of the NII are: (1) Promote private sector investment; (2) extend the ‘‘universal service’’ concept to assure that
information resources are available to all at affordable prices; (3) promote technological innovation and new applications; (4) promote seamless, interactive, user-driven operation of the NII; (5) ensure information security and network reliability; (6) improve management of the radio frequency spectrum; (7) protect intellectual property rights; (8) coordinate with other levels of government and with other nations; and (9) provide access to government information and improve government procurement.

The DOE program is to approach these goals by supporting the NII through the Information Infrastructure Technology and Applications (IITA) component of the HPCC program and requests applications for grants to support research in the following areas:

I. Wide Area and Distributed Network Based Technologies To Support Energy Demand and Supply Management

The management of energy demand is
a serious concern for two reasons: there is the dependence on imported oil and gas, which affects the balance of payments, and there are environmental concerns with respect to the burning of fossil fuels. The utility companies use telecommunications to support their principal business of managing and providing energy to their customers. However, the evolving nature of the