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###### Department of Energy

###### Energy Information Administration 

# AGENCY:

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 three-year extension to the Form EIA-63A, “Annual Solar Thermal Collector Manufacturers Survey,” and EIA-63 B, “Annual Photovoltaic Module/Cell Manufacturers Survey.” 

# DATES:

Comments must be filed on or before May 7, 2001. If you anticipate difficulty in submitting comments within that period, contact the person listed below as soon as possible. 

# ADDRESSES:

                        Send comments to James Holihan, Energy Information Administration, EIA-52, Renewable Energy Branch, Forrestal Building, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585-0650, telephone (202) 287-1735; e-mail                         *jholihan@eia.doe.gov;*                         FAX (202) 287-1946. Alternatively, Fred Mayes may be contacted by telephone at (202) 287-1750; FAX at (202) 287-1946, or e-mail at fred.mayes@eia.doe.gov.                     

# FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Requests for additional information or copies of any forms and instructions should be directed to James Holihan at the address listed above. 

# SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background 

II. Current Actions 

III. Request for Comments 

## I. Background 

                    The Federal Energy Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93-275, 15 U.S.C. 761*et seq.*) and the DOE Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 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) of the collections under section 3507(a) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. 

                    The forms currently are used to gather information on the supply and distribution of solar thermal collectors, photovoltaic cells, and photovoltaic modules. Specifically, the forms collect information on manufacturing, imports, exports, and shipments. The EIA has been collecting this information annually and proposes to continue the surveys. The data collected will be published in the Renewable Energy Annual and will also be available through EIA's Internet site at                     *http://www.eia.doe.gov/​fuelrenewable.html*.                 

## II. Current Actions 

The EIA will request a three-year extension through August 31, 2004 to continue using Forms EIA-63A and EIA-63B. No substantive modifications to the currently approved forms will be proposed unless substantive suggestions are received and approved. 

## III. Request for Comments 

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. (If the notice covers more than one form, add “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. Are the instructions and definitions clear and sufficient? If not, which instructions need clarification? 

B. Can the information be submitted by the due date? 

C. 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? 

                    D. 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                           ( print page 13516)                        annual costs for operation, maintenance, and purchase of services associated with the information collection?                 

E. 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. 

F. 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? 

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. 

*Statutory Authority:*                        Section 3507(h)(1) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. No. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35).                     

Issued in Washington, DC, February 26, 2001. 

Jay H. Casselberry, 

Agency Clearance Officer, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy Information Administration. 

[FR Doc. 01-5432 Filed 3-5-01; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450-01-P