[Federal Register: October 14, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 198)]
[Notices]               
[Page 55101-55102]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14oc98-54]

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DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy Information Administration

 
Agency Information Publication Activities

AGENCY: Energy Information Administration, DOE.

ACTION: Solicitation of comments on proposed termination of an 
electronic publication bulletin board service known as ``EPUB''.

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SUMMARY: The Energy Information Administration (EIA) is soliciting 
comments from the public on its proposal to terminate EPUB, effective 
December 31, 1998. All data files that are currently maintained on EPUB 
are also available on the Internet website ``http://www.eia.doe.gov.''

DATES: Comments may be submitted in writing on or before November 13, 
1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments to Jacob Bournazian, EI-42, Energy Information 
Administration, U.S. Department of Energy, 1000 Independence Avenue, 
S.W., Washington, DC 20585-0650, (202) 586-1256, e-mail 
Jacob.Bournazian@eia.doe.gov, and fax (202) 586-4913.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information 
should be directed to Jacob Bournazian at the address listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background
II. Current Actions
III. Request for Comments

I. Background

    In order to fulfill its responsibilities under the Federal Energy 
Administration Act of 1974 (Pub. L. No. 93-275) and the Department of 
Energy Organization Act (Pub. L. No. 95-91), the EIA is obliged to 
carry out a central, comprehensive, and unified energy data and 
information program. As part of this program, EIA collects, evaluates, 
assembles, analyzes, and disseminates data and information related to 
energy resource reserves, production, demand, and technology, and 
related economic and statistical information relevant to the adequacy 
of energy resources to meet demands in the near and longer term future 
for the Nation's economic and social needs. In disseminating data,

[[Page 55102]]

EIA maintains an electronic publication bulletin board system known as 
EPUB. Since 1990, the general public has accessed selected energy data 
from EPUB, free of charge, 24 hours a day.

II. Current Actions

    The EIA proposes to discontinue the electronic publication bulletin 
board system known as EPUB, effective December 31, 1998. This 
publication system is a menu-driven bulletin board type service for the 
general public to electronically access selected EIA data. All of the 
data files that are currently maintained on EPUB are also available to 
the general public through the Internet on the EIA website ``http://
www.eia.doe.gov.'' The general public has significantly increased its 
use of the EIA home page on the Internet to access EIA data. As a 
result, the use of EPUB has declined over the last 5 years. In order to 
reduce duplication and costs, EIA proposes to eliminate EPUB in favor 
of Internet.

III. Request for Comments

    Current and prospective users of the EPUB, and other interested 
parties, are invited to comment on the actions discussed in item II. 
EIA will carefully consider all comments regarding the use of the EPUB 
and alternative ways for users to electronically access EIA data.

    Issued in Washington, D.C. on October 7, 1998.
Lynda T. Carlson,
Director, Statistics and Methods Group, Energy Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 98-27520 Filed 10-13-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450-01-P