[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 222 (Friday, November 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57714-57715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28391]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5332-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities; EPA's Energy Star 
Buildings Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for 
review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of 
the proposed information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 17, 1996.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Atmospheric Pollution 
Prevention Division, Mail Code: 6202J, 401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 
20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested persons may obtain 
additional information concerning the proposed information collection 
by contacting Michael L. Hadrick of EPA either via phone at (202) 233-
9282, fax at (202) 233-9579, or by mail at the address above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities affected by this 
action will be those that agree to participate in EPA's Energy Star 
Buildings Program, which is a voluntary program for increasing the 
energy efficiency of existing commercial and industrial buildings.

Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's Energy 
Star Buildings Program

    Abstract: EPA's Energy Star Buildings Program is a voluntary, non-
regulatory 

[[Page 57715]]
program for increasing the energy efficiency of existing commercial and 
industrial buildings. The program encourages corporations, state and 
local governments, and other organizations to participate in a 
partnership with EPA to make cost-effective energy-efficiency 
improvements in their buildings. In return, EPA provides technical 
support to help program participants apply proven technologies to 
achieve maximum efficiency at the lowest cost. EPA also publicly 
recognizes participants for their efforts and publicizes participant 
achievements. The overall goal of the program is to reduce utility-
generated emissions by reducing the energy consumed in commercial and 
industrial buildings.
    Participation in the program is initiated by completing and signing 
an Energy Star Buildings Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU 
outlines the responsibilities of the participant and EPA, and is used 
to establish participation in the program and agreement to the terms of 
participation. Other than the name of the organization, signature, and 
date, no other information is requested on the MOU. The Energy Star 
Buildings MOU is an addendum to the Green Lights MOU, which requests 
more detailed information. The burden associated with the Green Lights 
MOU was covered in ICR No. 1614 and is not covered in this ICR. 
Information from the MOU is entered into a data base that serves as a 
source of general information and as a mailing list.
    As a condition of program participation, partners agree to complete 
and submit to EPA an annual facility report on each building undergoing 
energy efficiency improvements. On the annual reports, partners provide 
information such as stage of project completion, project cost, 
historical and current energy use and cost data, and ancillary 
information such as building name, location, and size. EPA reviews the 
annual facility reports to track project implementation efforts and to 
obtain data on the costs and benefits of the energy efficiency 
improvements being made. This information is used to calculate the 
amount of utility-generated emissions prevented, evaluate program 
effectiveness, and publicize partner achievements and program results.
    EPA will also collect additional, project-specific technical 
information from some partners concerning the energy-efficiency 
improvements made. This collection will include information such as 
building age and construction, utility and fuel rates, financial and 
economic criteria used to evaluate and select investment opportunities, 
types and sources of project financing, project and equipment costs and 
rates of return, and technical details concerning the building's 
lighting, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment and 
systems. EPA will use this information to evaluate and refine its 
technical strategies and implementation support tools.
    The EPA would like to solicit comments to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information;
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., 
permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Burden Statement: EPA estimates an average annual respondent burden 
of 4,362 hours for the information collection activities associated 
with the Energy Star Buildings program. The total burden is comprised 
of the following information collections:

    (i) MOU: EPA estimates that, on average, 191 new partners will 
join the Energy Star Buildings program each year by completing and 
submitting an MOU. The total annual respondent burden for the MOU is 
1,385 hours, or 7.25 hours per MOU.
    (ii) Annual Facility Report: EPA estimates that, on average, a 
total of 565 annual facility reports will be submitted by 353 
partners (respondents) each year, for a total annual respondent 
burden of 2,697 hours. This equates to 1.6 annual facility reports 
per partner, or 4.8 hours per report.
    (iii) Additional Technical Information: EPA estimates that, on 
average, 35 partners (respondents) each year will submit additional 
technical information on their actual upgrade projects. The burden 
for this information collection is 280 hours, or 8 hours per 
response.

    These estimates include the time needed to review instructions; 
develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the 
purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, 
processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing 
information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously 
applicable instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to 
respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete 
and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise 
disclose the information.
    No person is required to respond to a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
    Send comments regarding these matters, or any other aspect of the 
information collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, 
to the address listed above.

    Dated: November 2, 1995.
Jean Lupinacci,
Chief, Energy Star Commercial and Industrial Buildings Customer Support 
Branch.
[FR Doc. 95-28391 Filed 11-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P