Group 4 (Producers of Motor Gasoline Blending Components and oxygenates for fuel use) MTBE/ETBE merchant plants current reporting on Form EIA-819
Cognitive Testing Protocol
May 2018
(This protocol is a guide – the questions presented here won’t necessarily be asked exactly as worded in the protocol or in this order. It is important to note that not all questions will be asked in every interview.)
Research Goals:
To assess respondents’ ability to complete the new Form EIA-819
To estimate any changes in reporting burden associated with collecting this information and obtain feedback on the appropriateness of current reporting burden
Purpose of Interview:
Let me start by telling you a little about what we will be doing today.
Introduce self and observers
EIA is merging two survey forms into one survey. The two surveys are Form EIA-22 and EIA-819. EIA is also proposed to collect more information on the new form. Your feedback will help EIA design the new form to minimize any increase in your current reporting burden.
Have you heard of either these two EIA surveys?
Section I – Introduction
Before we start, could you please share with us a little more about yourself and your company?
Do you currently fill out any EIA surveys?
How long have you been completing this form?
Do you complete any other EIA surveys for your company?
Did you review any prior reports to prepare for this interview? How much time did you spend reviewing old reports?
Section II – Capacity Terminology
EIA is interested in ensuring that the language and terminology we use is understood and reflective of the industry
What is your definition of the term “production capacity”?
What is your definition of the term “design capacity”?
What is your definition of the term “nameplate capacity”?
(If needed) Does your facility have multiple nameplate capacities?
Do capacities change over time or are they static figures? (nameplate?)
(If needed) What event or events would cause the change? For example, would a new capacity result from a change to plant equipment? Do process changes affect capacity?
What is your definition of the term “utilization rate”?
Does your organization track the utilization rate of your plant?
(If needed) How does your company calculate this figure? Which information (production and capacity) does the company use for this calculation?
(If needed) What is the current utilization rate of your facility?
(If needed) Does your utilization rate ever exceed 100%?
Burden for Section
Can you please describe the process you would go through to fill out these sections?
How much time would it take to fill out these sections of the form?
Can you access the information requested for these sections?
Do these units of measurements differ than what are kept in your records?
Would you have to work with others inside or outside of your company?
How long will it take to set up your systems to fill out these sections?
Is the data that we are requesting easily accessible in your systems?
(Follow up) How easy or difficult would it be to provide the data in this structure?
Do you believe there should be any additional instructions for filling out these sections of the form?
(Follow up) What additional instructions should be included?
Can you provide this data to EIA on a monthly basis?
Inventory Section
Let’s discuss your company’s stocks and inventory records
What kinds of information on your company’s inventories and stocks are in your records?
Beginning stocks?
Ending stocks?
Stocks in transit?
How does your company measure its inventories?
Physical measurement?
(If needed) Can you explain how your company measures inventories using this method?
Meters/gauges?
Stick?
Other?
Accounting measurement?
(If needed) Can you explain how your company measures inventories using this method? (Measured stock level plus receipts minus shipments? Another method?)
What are the frequencies of the different measurements?
(If needed) How frequently does your facility physically measure its stocks?
(If needed) How frequently does your facility measure its stocks via accounting? For example, do you have a weekly stock level measurement that is adjusted daily based on receipts and shipments?
How does your company adjust for differences between the physical inventory measurement and the accounting inventory measurement?
(If needed) How frequently do these adjustments occur?
(If needed) Does your company keep records on its stocks in transit? (What will be delivered to the company)
What kinds of information does your company keep on its stocks in transit?
Do your company’s records have information on the method of transportation for the stocks coming in transit? (Boat, truck, rail, other)
Do you know when the stocks in transit leave the origin facility?
(If needed) How do you know when they have left the facility?
Do you know when the stocks in transit will arrive at your facility?
(If needed) How do you know when they will arrive at your facility?
If EIA asked you to report your stocks in transit (inventories/stocks currently on their way to your facility), can you explain to me the process of gathering and reporting that information?
(If needed) Are you able to separate the stocks in transit for the rest of your inventories/stocks?
EIA considers stocks that have arrived at a facility after transportation to no longer be “in transit”, is that how your facility/records also see it?
How much time do you estimate it would take to gather and report your stocks in transit to EIA on a monthly basis?
Section III Part 10 – Usability Testing
[Show participant new Form EIA-819] Please review this survey.
Based on the descriptions of the types of operations, how would you classify your organization?
Group 1 (Producers of fuel ethanol) Current EIA-819 Respondents
Group 2 (Producers of biodiesel) Current EIA-22 M Respondents
Group 3 (Producers of renewable diesel fuel, heating oil, jet fuel, naphtha, gasoline, and other renewable fuels not listed elsewhere) Possible EIA-810 Respondents
Group 4 (Producers of Motor Gasoline Blending Components and oxygenates for fuel use) EIA-819 respondents
Which parts of the survey is your company required to complete monthly?
(Follow up) What about yearly?
Where would you report your production?
What are you reviewing on this page?
Are you looking for familiar labels?
[Walk the participant through each column on the survey form. Ask the participant their ability to report each item. Ask participant if there are any confusing product descriptions]
[If there are any confusing column or row titles describe below]
Row
Motor gasoline blending components
Oxygenates for fuel use
Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE)
Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (ETBE)
Other oxygenates for fuel use
Feedstocks for oxygenate production
Ethanol
Natural gas liquids
Propane
Normal Butane
Isobutane
Refinery Olefins
Propylene
Butylene
Isobutylene
Other feedstocks for oxygenate production
Balance item to make input = production (see note)Biodiesel (B51-B100)
Column
Stocks beginning of the month (equal to stocks on-site at end of the prior month)
Receipts
Input
Production
Shipment
Internal plant use and loss
Stocks on-site end of current report month
Row balance item (equals zero when a row is balanced)
Stocks in transit by water and rail end of the current report
Can you please describe the process you would go through to filling out this survey form?
Is this the same process you take on the form you currently fill out?
Compared to the form you currently fill out do you believe that the new form will take less time, more time or the same amount of time?
How easy or difficult would using this form be?
What section did you look to first?
(Follow up) Why?
Were there any specific places you were confused by when trying to complete this form?
Can you please describe what aspect confused you?
Does the layout of this form make it easier or more difficult than the form you currently fill out?
On the row balance item column what would be a reasonable number discrepancy? +-5%? 10%?
Burden for Section
Can you please describe the process you would go through to fill out these sections?
How much time would it take to fill out these sections of the form?
Can you access the information requested for these sections?
Do these units of measurements differ than what is kept in your records?
Would you have to work with others inside or outside of your company?
How long will it take to set up your systems to fill out these sections?
After your systems are set up how long will it take to complete these sections?
Is the data that we are requesting easily accessible in your systems?
(Follow up) How easy or difficult would it be to provide the data in this structure?
Do you believe there should be any additional instructions for filling out these sections of the form?
(Follow up) What additional instructions should be included?
Can you provide this data to EIA on a monthly basis?
Section IV Part 11
Usability Testing
Do you understand what we mean when we ask for the Quantity of Products consumed as fuel?
[Ask the participant to review the list of fuel products. Probe for any confusing terms]
Natural gas (all fuel including use in CHP) in scf
Coal in short tons
Liquefied Petroleum Gases (Propane, normal butane, and isobutane) in gallons
Purchased electricity in kWh
Purchased steam in pounds
Other fuels including renewable (e.g. corn stover, crop residue) in pounds
How about the quantity of products consumed as feedstock?
Natural gas for use as hydrogen feedstock in scf
Purchased hydrogen in scf
Is this terminology you are familiar with?
(if not) What terminology is used in the industry?
Can you please describe the process you would go through to fill out this section?
Burden for Section
Can you access the information requested for this section?
Do these units of measurements differ than what is kept in your records?
Would you have to work with others inside or outside of your company?
How long will it take to set up your systems to fill out this form?
After your systems are set up how long will it take to complete this section?
Is the data that we are requesting easily accessible in your systems?
(Follow up) How easy or difficult would it be to provide the data in this structure?
Do you believe there should be any additional instructions for filling out this form?
(Follow up) What additional instructions should be included?
Can you provide this data to EIA on a yearly basis?
Section V– Wrapping Up
Do you have any problems when completing Form EIA-819?
Do you have any suggestions on how to improve this survey?
Thank you for your time!
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Hamelin, Anna |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-21 |