Part-B-ss-RW-859-2006

B.

Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods
1.

Respondent Universe

The universe for this survey is comprised of owners of commercial nuclear reactors including
operating reactors, shutdown reactors, and those under construction, and other owners of spent
nuclear fuel. A total of 52 utilities or storage site operators currently report for 123 reactors and
4 storage sites. Of the 123 reactors, 103 are currently operating, 16 have been shutdown, and 4
are considered as under construction or never operated and may be cancelled.

2.

Procedures for Collecting the Information

The Form RW-859, instructions and diskettes are sent via certified mail to ensure their receipt
by the proper respondent organization and to ascertain the correct mailing address. Survey
mailout packages also include a printed hardcopy of data for each reactor and a franked
envelope to return these materials. A log is kept to record all forms received. After the EIA
receives the completed Form RW-859 data diskettes, data are input to a series of Microsoft
Access database files on a PC dedicated to the Form RW-859 processing system. The data are
then subjected to quality assurance checks. EIA then updates each reactor's master files with the
data from the most recent submission.
3.

Methods to Maximize Response Rates

Telephone calls are used to ensure receipt of all forms. Response rates are 100%. Extensive
edits and data checks ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information collected. If there
are omissions, or incorrect data are reported, telephone calls are made by the survey manager as
follow-up to respondents.
4.

Tests or Procedures

This collection has been ongoing since 1984; therefore, no additional tests or procedures are
necessary. Copies of a draft version of the Form RW-859 survey form and instructions were
sent to the utility and industry representatives that requested them in response to the Federal
Register Notice. No comments were received.

5.

Name and Telephone Number of Individual

Jim Finucane of the Office of Coal, Nuclear, Electric and Alternate Fuels, EI-52, Energy
Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington, DC 20585-0650,
telephone: (202)287-1966, e-mail: [email protected] is the contact person regarding
this information collection.