[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 161 (Wednesday, August 20, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44271-44274]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22070]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5878-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities

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

[[Page 44272]]

proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Requests (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Municipal Incinerators, NSPS 
Subpart E, ICR Number 1058, OMB Control Number 2060-0040; Stationary 
Gas Turbines, NSPS Supbart GG, ICR Number 1071, OMB Control Number 
2060-0028; nd Benzene Equipment Leaks, NESHAP subpart V, ICR Number 
1153, OMB Control Number 2060-0068. Before submitting the ICRs 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 October 20, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Office of 
Compliance. People interested in getting copies of this ICR or making 
comments about the ICR should direct inquiries or comments to the 
Office of Compliance, Mail Code 2224A, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20460. Information may also be acquired electronically through the 
Enviro$en$e Bulletin Board, (703) 908-2092 or the Enviro$en$e WWW/
Internet Address, http//wastenot.inel.gov./envirosense/. Interested 
persons may obtain a copy of the ICR without charge by calling Sandy 
Farmer of OPPE at (202) 260-2740.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Chandler, (202) 564-7073, 
facsimile number (202) 564-0037, E-Mail: [email protected] 
for NSPS Subpart E; Jordan Spooner, (202) 564-7058, facsimile number 
(202) 564-0050, E-mail: [email protected] for NSPS Subpart 
GG; and Rafael Sanchez, (202) 564-7028, facsimile number (202) 564-
0050, E-Mail: [email protected] for NESHAP Subpart V.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

NSPS (Subpart E) for Municipal Incinerators

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which are subject to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) 
for Incinerators Subpart E. The NSPS Subpart E standards of 40 CFR 
60.50 apply to each incinerator with a charging rate of more than 45 
metric tons per day (50 tons per day), which commenced construction, 
reconstruction, or modification after August 17, 1991 and before the 
proposal date of NSPS Subpart Eb. For Subpart E an incinerator is 
defined as any furnace burning solid waste (refuse, more than 50 
percent of which is municipal type waste) to reduce the volume of waste 
by removing combustible matter. The Subpart Ea standards of CFR part 60 
apply to municipal incinerators with a capacity greater than 225 
megagrams per day (250 ton/day) of municipal solid waste or refuse-
derived fuel, for which construction, modification, or reconstruction 
commenced between March 20, 1989 and September 20, 1994. Large 
municipal waste combustors that are constructed, modified, or 
reconstructed after September 20, 1994 are subject to NSPS Subpart Eb.
    Title: NSPS Subpart E: New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for 
Municipal Incinerators Subpart E, OMB number 2060.0040, expires March 
31, 1998.
    Abstract: This ICR contains recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements that are mandatory for compliance with 40 CFR part 60, 
Subpart E, New Source Performance Standards for Incinerators. In the 
Administrator's judgement, the particulate matter (PM) emissions cause 
or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to 
endanger public health or welfare. Therefore, New Source Performance 
Standards have been promulgated for this source category as required 
under section 111.
    Owners or operators of units subject to Subpart E must provide EPA, 
or the delegated State regulatory authority, with the following one-
time-only reports: notification of the date of construction or 
reconstruction; notification of the anticipated and actual dates of 
startup; notification of any physical or operation change to an 
existing facility which may increase the regulated pollutant emission 
rate; notification of the date of the initial performance test; and the 
results of the initial performance test. The recordkeeping requirements 
for incinerators consist of the occurrence and duration of any startup 
and malfunctions in the operation of an affected facility, and 
measurements of PM emissions. The recordkeeping requirements include 
the initial performance test results including information necessary to 
determine the conditions of the performance test, and performance test 
measurements and results, including conversion factors and measurements 
of PM emissions. Owners or operators must also maintain records of 
daily charging rate and hours of operation. Records of startup, 
shutdowns, and malfunctions should be noted as they occur. Any owner or 
operator subject to this part shall maintain a file of these 
measurements, and retain the file for at least two years following the 
date of such measurements, maintenance reports, and records. These 
notifications, reports and records are required, in general, of all 
sources subject to NSPS. The notification and reports enable EPA or the 
delegated State regulatory authority to determine that the proper 
technology is installed and properly operated and maintained and to 
schedule inspections. This information notifies the Agency when a 
source becomes subject to the regulations and informs the Agency of the 
sources's compliance status when it begins operation. Performance test 
reports are needed as these are the Agency's record of a source's 
initial capability to comply with the emission standard, and note the 
operating conditions under which compliance was achieved.
    The EPA is charged under section 111 of the Clean Air Act, as 
amended, to establish standards of performance for new stationary 
sources. The standards must reflect application of the best 
technological system of continuous emission reductions. Such reductions 
should take into consideration the cost of achieving emission 
reduction, or any non-air quality health and environmental impact and 
energy requirements.
    Any information submitted to the Agency for which a claim of 
confidentiality is made will be safeguarded according to the Agency 
policies set forth in Title 40, Chapter 1, part 2, subpart B--
Confidentiality of Business Information (see 40 CFR part 2; 41 FR 
36902, September 1, 1976; amended by 43 FR 40000, September 8, 1978; 43 
FR 42251, September 20, 1978; 44 FR 1764, March 23, 1979).
    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 EPA would like to solicit comments to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the function 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, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used;
    (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

[[Page 44273]]

are to respond, including the use of appropriate automated electronic 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of 
responses.
    Burden Statement: The average annual burden to the industry over 
the next three years from these recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements is estimated at 8,277 person-hours. Respondents costs 
generally can be calculated on the basis of $14.50 per hour, plus 110 
percent overhead. The average annual burden to the industry over the 
next three years of the ICR is estimated to be $252,035. This is based 
on an estimated 93 respondents, with no new incinerators subject to 
Subpart E in the next three years of the ICR. New municipal 
incinerators capable of combusting more than 225 megagrams per day 
where construction is commenced after September 20, 1994, or 
reconstruction or modification is commenced after June 19, 1996, will 
be subject to NSPS subpart Eb.
    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 estimate 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 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.

NSPS Subpart GG: Stationary Gas Turbines

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those stationary gas turbines with a heat input at peak load equal to 
or greater than 10.7 gigajoules per hour, based on the lower heating 
value of the fuel fired. Any facilities using stationary gas turbines 
which commence construction, modification, or reconstruction after 
October 3, 1977 are also potentially affected.
    There are several exceptions to the standard. One exception 
includes those turbines with a heat input at peak load equal to or 
greater than 10.7 gigajoules per hour (10 million Btu/hr) but less than 
or equal to 107.2 gigajoules per hour (100 million Btu/hour) based on 
the lower heating value of the fuel fired, and that have commenced 
construction prior to October 3, 1982. Another exception includes those 
turbines with a heat input at peak load greater than 107.2 gigajoules 
per hour that commenced construction, modification, or reconstruction 
between the dates of October 3, 1977, and January 27, 1982, except for 
electric utility gas turbines. Additional exemptions are specified in 
detail at 40 CFR 60.332, Standard for Nitrogen Oxides.
    Title: NSPS for Stationary Gas Turbines, OMB number 2060-0028, 
expires January 31, 1998.
    Abstract: The New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for 
stationary gas turbines (GG) were promulgated on September 10, 1979 to 
regulate the emissions of Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) and Sulfur 
Dioxide (SO2) into the ambient air supply. The EPA is 
charged under section 111 of the Clean Air Act of 1990, as amended, to 
establish these standards for new stationary sources that reflect 
application of the best demonstrated technology. In addition, section 
114(a) of the Clean Air Act provides for monitoring, recordkeeping, and 
reporting requirements for these standards.
    Owners or operators of affected facilities must make one-time-only 
reports which include the following notifications: date of 
construction/reconstruction; anticipated and actual dates of start-up; 
any physical or operational change which may increase the 
SOX or NOX emission rates; commencement date for 
the continuous monitoring system performance demonstration; and date 
and results of the initial performance test. Plant owners or operators 
must also provide semi-annual reports of excess emissions, as 
promulgated in the December 13, 1990 Federal Register, 55 FR 51378.
    Owners or operators must maintain records of the occurrence and 
duration of any start-up, shutdown, or malfunction in operations, or 
any periods during which the monitoring system is inoperative. 
Recordkeeping is also required to document process information 
regarding the: sulfur and nitrogen content of the fuel; fuel:water 
ratio; rate of fuel consumption; and ambient conditions. This latter 
recordkeeping function involves daily measurements from the continuous 
monitoring system to monitor ambient conditions, and to record the fuel 
consumption and the ratio of water to fuel being fired in the turbine 
only for plants which use water or steam injection to control 
NOX emissions. There is generally no additional burden on 
the owner/operator to provide this information because adequate 
recordkeeping is required of plant operations.
    It is important to note that if these data and reports are not 
collected, the Agency has no means for ensuring that compliance with 
the standards is being achieved and/or maintained by the new, modified, 
or reconstructed sources which are subject to regulation. In the 
absence of information collection requirements, compliance with the 
standards could be ensured only through continuous on-site inspections 
by regulatory agency personnel. Consequently, not collecting the 
information would result in either greatly increased expenditures of 
resources, or the inability to ensure compliance with the standards. In 
addition to the purposes mentioned above, this kind of information is 
used for targeting plants for inspections and as evidence when 
compliance cases are taken to court.
    It is also important to note that 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. Any information submitted to the Agency for which a claim of 
confidentiality is requested will be safeguarded according to the 
Agency policies set forth in Title 40, Chapter 1, part 2, subpart B: 
Confidentiality of Business Information (see 40 CFR part 2; 41 FR 
36902, September 1, 1976; amended by 43 FR 39999, September 8, 1978; 43 
FR 42251, September 28, 1978; 44 FR 17674, March 23, 1979).
    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, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used;
    (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 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.

[[Page 44274]]

    Burden Statement: The average annual burden to the industry over 
the next three years from these recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements is estimated at 76,681.25 person-hours. This is based on 
an estimated 550 sources currently subject to the standard, and an 
additional 50 sources per year over the next three years. This estimate 
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 
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.

NESHAP Subpart V: Benzene for Equipment Leaks (Fugitive Emission 
Sources)

    Affected entities: Entities affected by this action are those 
owners or operators of process units operating in volatile hazardous 
air pollutant (VHAP) service (those containing or contacting fluids 
(liquid or gas) consisting by weight of at least 10 percent VHAP).
    Title: NESHAP for Equipment Leaks (Fugitive Emission Sources), OMB 
number 2060-0068, expires March 31, 1998.
    Abstract: The standards apply to fugitive emissions from equipment 
sources operating in VHAP service (containing or contacting fluids with 
at least 10 percent VHAP by weight). More specifically, it applies to 
each of the following sources that are intended to operate in VHAP 
service: pumps; compressors; pressure relief devices; sampling 
connection systems; open-ended valves or lines; valves, flanges and 
other connectors; product accumulator vessels; and control devices or 
systems that contain or contact fluids (liquid or gas) consisting by 
weight of at least 10 percent VHAP.
    Owners or operators of the affected process units must make the 
following one-time-only reports: application for approval of 
construction or modification; notification of startup; application of 
waiver of testing (if desired by source); application for equivalency 
(if desired by source); and an initial report, which is to include a 
list of the equipment installed for compliance, a description of the 
physical and functional characteristics of each piece of equipment, a 
description of the methods which have been incorporated into the 
standard operating procedures for measuring or calculating emissions, 
and a statement that the equipment and procedures are in place and are 
being used.
    Owners or operators are also required to submit semiannual reports 
of the number of valves, pumps, and compressors for which leaks were 
detected, and explanations for any leak repair delays.
    Generally, the one-time-only reports are required of all sources 
subject to the NESHAP. However, the recordkeeping and other reporting 
requirements are specific to the provisions of Subpart V (Equipment 
Leaks Standards). To fulfill the recordkeeping requirement, affected 
process units must be monitored to detect leaks by Method 21 of 
Appendix A of 40 CFR part 60. The recordkeeping requirements of 
Sec. 61.246 apply to leaks detected from pumps, compressors, valves, 
flanges, and pressure relief devices. Pumps are checked visually each 
calendar week, and pertinent information on each unit is recorded in a 
log, required in Sec. 61.246(e). Compressor sensors are checked daily, 
and valves are monitored monthly. Recordkeeping requirements for these 
units are in effect only when a leak is detected (Secs. 61.242-3, 242-
7). Action taken to repair leaks must also be recorded and kept on file 
in a readily accessible location.
    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 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: The majority of industry costs associated with 
the information collection activity in the standards are labor costs. 
The respondent costs have been calculated on the basis of $14.50 per 
hour plus 110 percent overhead. The current average annual burden to 
industry over the next three years is estimated to be $716,762. The 
current annual burden to industry over the next three years from these 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements is estimated to be 23,539 
person-hours. The estimated number of likely respondents within the 
term of this ICR is 200. The estimated average burden hours per 
response is 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 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.

    Dated: August 8, 1997.
Bruce R. Weddle,
Acting Director, Office of Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-22070 Filed 8-19-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P