[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 147 (Thursday, July 31, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41046-41047]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-20176]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5866-4]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request for the Prevention of Significant Deterioration 
(PSD) and Nonattainment New Source Review (NSR) Programs

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 the following continuing 
Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Information 
Collection Request for 40 CFR part 51 and 52 Prevention of Significant 
Deterioration and Nonattainment New Source Review: OMB No. 2060-0003, 
Exp. September 30, 1997. The ICR describes the nature of the 
information collection and its expected burden and cost.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 2, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CALL: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 260-
2740, and refer to EPA ICR No.1230.09.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which must submit an application for a permit to construct a new 
source or to modify an existing source of air pollution, permitting 
agencies which review the permit applications, and members of the 
public who are due the opportunity to comment on permitting actions.
    Title: Information Collection Request for 40 CFR parts 51 and 52 
Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Nonattainment New Source 
Review: OMB No. 2060-0003, Exp. September 30, 1997. This is a request 
for extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Part C of the Clean Air Act (Act)--``Prevention of 
Significant Deterioration,'' and Part D--``Plan Requirements for 
Nonattainment Areas,'' require all States to adopt preconstruction 
review programs for new or modified stationary sources of air 
pollution. Implementing regulations for State adoption of these two New 
Source Review (NSR) programs into a State Implementation Plan (SIP) are 
promulgated at 40 CFR 51.160 through 51.166 and appendix S to part 51. 
Federal permitting regulations are promulgated at 40 CFR 52.21 for PSD 
areas that are not covered by a SIP program.
    In order to receive a construction permit for a major new source or 
major modification, the applicant must conduct the necessary research, 
perform the appropriate analyses and prepare the permit application 
with documentation to demonstrate that their project meets all 
applicable statutory and regulatory NSR requirements. Specific 
activities and requirements are listed and described in the Supporting 
Statement for the ICR.
    Permitting agencies, either State, local or Federal, review the 
permit application to affirm the proposed source or modification will 
comply with the Act and applicable regulations. The permitting Agency 
then provides for public review of the proposed project and issues the 
permit based on its consideration of all technical factors and public 
input. The EPA, more broadly, reviews a fraction of the total 
applications and audits the State and local programs for their 
effectiveness. Consequently, information prepared and submitted by the 
source is essential for the source to receive a permit, and for 
Federal, State and local environmental agencies to adequately review 
the permit application and thereby properly administer and manage the 
NSR programs.
    To facilitate adequate public participation, information that is 
submitted by sources as a part of their permit application, should 
generally be a matter of public record. See sections 165(a)(2) and 
110(a)(2) (C), (D), and (F) of the Act. Notwithstanding, to the extent 
that the information required for the completeness of a permit is 
proprietary, confidential, or of a nature that it could impair the 
ability of the source to compete in the marketplace, that information 
is collected and handled according to EPA's policies set forth in title 
40, chapter 1, part 2, subpart B--Confidentiality of Business 
Information (see 40 CFR part 2). See also section 114(c) of the Act.
    An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a 
currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's 
regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15. The 
Federal Register Notice required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published on December 
31, 1996 (61 FR 69090). The comments received are summarized in 
Appendix H to the Supporting Statement for the ICR, and are responded 
to in the appropriate sections of the Supporting Statement for the ICR. 
The Agency also notes that, in order to respond effectively to the 
comments received, the original expiration date for the existing ICR 
was extended from March 31, 1997 to September 30, 1997.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is broken down as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                Major    Major          
            Type of permit action                PSD     part D   Minor 
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Number of sources............................      320      590   56,500
Burden Hours per Response:                                              
    Industry.................................      839      577       40
    Permitting agency........................      272      109       30
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or 
provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes 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

[[Page 41047]]

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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Industrial plants, State and Local 
permitting agencies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: (114,820).
    Frequency of Response: (1 per respondent).
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: (4,715, 260) hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $(0).
    Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the 
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods 
for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques to the following addresses.
    Please refer to EPA ICR No.1230.09 and OMB Control No. 2060-0003 in 
any correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OPPE Regulatory 
Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460
    and
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503

    Dated: July 25, 1997.
Joseph Retzer, Director,
Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 97-20176 Filed 7-30-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE: 6560-50-P