OMB Memo

Department of Energy

Washington, DC 20585

August 15, 2023

MEMORANDUM FOR RICHARD REVESZ

ADMINISTRATOR

OFFICE OF INFORMATION AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS

OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET

FROM: GENE RODRIGUES

ASSISTANT SECRETARY

OFFICE OF ELECTRICITY

SUBJECT: Emergency Information Collection Request – Distribution Transformer Inventories

Pursuant to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) procedures established in 5

C.F.R Part 1320, Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the Public, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is requesting that the proposed information of collection, Distribution Transformer Inventories, be processed as an Emergency Clearance Information Collection Request (ICR) as referenced in 5 C.F.R. § 1320.13, Emergency processing.

DOE has determined that the information must be collected prior to the time periods established under Part 1320 of the regulation, and that this information is essential to DOE’s ability to comply with its legal obligations under the Defense Production Act of 1950, Public Law 81-774, and Presidential Policy Directive 21, and to fulfill DOE’s role as Emergency Support Function #12 under FEMA’s National Response Framework. Specifically, DOE requires emergency approval for this collection to address a nation-wide distribution transformer supply shortage so that it can effectively respond to extreme weather this hurricane season.

Due to unprecedented extreme weather events impacting multiple regions of the country, DOE is requesting a waiver for requesting comments from the public via the Federal Register. DOE is requesting an Emergency Clearance to collect critical data from utilities for a six-month approval period, which will enable DOE to satisfy its legal obligations and help the nation recover after extreme weather events. During this approval period, DOE will work to establish a regular submission for this ICR. Due to the expedited timeframe for collecting this information, DOE is requesting a waiver for requesting comments from the public via the Federal Register.

We would appreciate if you could please provide an approval/disapproval determination of this request to collect information under an emergency clearance by noon on Friday, September 1, 2023.

Gene Rodrigues

Assistant Secretary

Office of Electricity

U. S. Department of Energy