Coal Stripping Ratio Study

OMB Control Number 1905-0186

June 13, 2019

Form EIA-7A Annual Survey of Coal Production and Preparation

Cognitive Testing Protocol

June 2019

Research Goals:

• Assess respondents ability to report an annual stripping ratio from open surface mining operations;

• Estimate the burden per response on Form EIA-7A.

• Assess respondents familiarity with coal mining terms;

• Assess how operators of surface coal mining operations track their production;

Part A – Introduction

• What is your position within your company?

• Do you currently complete Form EIA-7A?

• Do you file more than one 7A report for other mines?

  • If yes, how many reports?

• How long have you been completing Form EIA-7A?

Part B – Current Burden

Now let’s talk about how much time and effort it takes you to currently complete Form EIA-7A.

• How long does it take you to complete Form EIA-7A (current burden 3.25 hours)? 

• Can you split the total time it takes you between gathering the information, and completing the report? 

• Do you track the information you report on Form EIA-7A as part of your normal business operations?

  • (If no) What information do you report on Form EIA-7A to EIA that you do not normally track in your business records?

• Does filling out any part of the form require data or input from anyone else? 

• From your experience, is this the usual time that it takes your company to fill out and file this report? 

Part C – Ability to report the stripping ratio for the mine?

• What does the term raw coal mean to you?

• What does the term clean coal mean to you?

• What does the term prepared coal mean to you?

• What does the term shipped coal mean to you?

  • (If not a similar definition) What term do you use to describe the coal you are able to sell or transfer?

• What does the term overburden mean to you?

  • (If not a similar definition) What term to you use to describe all the soil and rocks you remove from the coal?

• What does the term interburden mean to you?

  • (If not a similar definition) What term do you use to describe the material that lies between coal seams?

• Do you track the ratio of the amount of soil and rock removed to the amount of coal recovered?

  • Do you have a name for this ratio?

  • (if they don’t mention stripping ratio) Would you consider the term stripping ratio as a similar term or suitable replacement?

• Can you describe how you calculate the stripping ratio?

• Can your company report an annual stripping ratio?

Part D – Change in Burden based on reporting new information

• If EIA requested the stripping ratio for surface mining operations, how much additional time would it take for you to gather the component information and report the stripping ratio?

  • What steps are involved in obtaining that information?

• If you reported the stripping ratio every year, would the time it takes you to calculate that number decline over future years or would the level of effort be the same each year?

Part E - Wrapping Up

• Do you ever receive callbacks or emails from EIA to check the data you reported?

  • (If yes) Do the questions from EIA vary or do they ask for same information each time?

  • (If yes) Approximately how much time did you spend responding to calls/emails last year?

• Do you experience any problems filling out this form?

Thank you for your time today!

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