[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 74 (Friday, April 17, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 19252]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10225]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5998-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under 
EPA's Natural Gas STAR 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 document announces that the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: ``Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Requirements under EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program,'' OMB Control Number 
2060-0328, and expiration date 6/30/98. The ICR describes the nature of 
the information collection and its expected burden and cost; where 
appropriate, it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 18, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 
260-2740, by email at [email protected], or download off the 
Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 1736.02.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: ``Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements under EPA's 
Natural Gas STAR Program''. (OMB Control No. 2060-0328; EPA ICR No. 
1736.02) expiring 6/30/98. This is a request for extension of a 
currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Natural Gas STAR is an EPA-sponsored, voluntary program 
that encourages natural gas companies to adopt cost effective methods 
for reducing methane emissions. Natural Gas STAR Partners agree to 
implement cost effective Best Management Practices (BMPs), which will 
both save participants money and improve the protection of the 
environment. EPA needs to collect information to establish program 
participation and to obtain general information on new Natural Gas STAR 
Partners. EPA also uses the information collection to evaluate a 
Partner's progress and performance, and assess overall program results. 
Participation in the Natural Gas STAR program is voluntary. Natural Gas 
STAR Partners may designate information submitted under this ICR as 
confidential business information. EPA will treat all such information 
as confidential business information and will not make the company or 
agency-specific information collected under this ICR available to the 
general public. 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 document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), 
soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 
12/20/97; No comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 39 
hours per facility. 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Natural Gas Companies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 78.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 3,692 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. 1736.02 and OMB Control No. 2060-0328 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: April 13, 1998.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 98-10225 Filed 4-16-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P