[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19487-19488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10396]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5999-4]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under 
EPA's AgSTAR 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

[[Page 19488]]

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 AgSTAR 
Program,'' OMB Control Number 2060-0329 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 20, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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. 1735.02.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: ``Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements under EPA's 
AgSTAR Program.'' (OMB Control No. 2090-0329; EPA ICR No. 1735.02) 
expiring 6/30/98. This is a request for extension of a currently 
approved collection.
    Abstract: AgSTAR is an EPA-sponsored, voluntary program that 
encourages livestock producers to implement methane recovery 
technologies to increase livestock production profit margins and reduce 
emissions from manure methane, a greenhouse gas. AgSTAR further 
encourages utilities, regulatory agencies and universities to support 
and promote the use of methane recovery technologies. The program 
organization consists of two types of AgSTAR participants: ``Partners'' 
and ``Allies.'' AgSTAR Partners, who are primarily livestock producers, 
agree to survey and install methane recovery technologies, if 
profitable. AgSTAR Allies, which are primarily utilities and marketers 
of methane recovery systems or members of related associations, work 
with EPA to increase awareness of methane reduction technologies and 
provide information on products and services.
    For AgSTAR Partners, participation in the AgSTAR program begins 
with completion and submittal to EPA of a Memorandum of Understanding 
(MOU), which provides information on the AgSTAR Partner and its 
operations and outlines the responsibilities of the AgSTAR Partner and 
EPA. The MOU commits an AgSTAR Partner to survey all of its facilities 
and consider the full set of technical, operational, and procedural 
options that maximize on-farm profits and minimize methane emissions. 
The Partner further agrees to consider installing methane recovery 
technologies within three years of signing the MOU, if such 
technologies are expected to be profitable. As a program participant, 
the Partner submits an Annual Report describing improvements made to 
demonstrate the benefits of methane recovery systems. In addition, the 
AgSTAR Partner agrees to make appropriate use of EPA-developed 
materials and inform EPA of any changes or problems with the program.
    As mentioned above, agricultural and energy industries, energy 
regulatory offices, universities, and electric utilities may choose to 
become Allies of the AgSTAR program. Ally participation also begins 
with completion and submittal of an MOU. The MOU commits the Ally to 
providing information for the development of AgSTAR methane recovery 
systems. In addition, Allies work with EPA to increase awareness of 
methane emissions recovery systems and to promote and provide technical 
support to Partners. Specifically, Allies agree to provide case studies 
of successful methane emissions reduction systems. Allies also agree to 
consider developing promotional and educational documents for Partners. 
Allies must also obtain EPA approval for the use of EPA-developed 
materials or reproduction of materials bearing the AgSTAR logo.
    EPA needs to collect information to establish program participation 
and to obtain general information on AgSTAR participants. EPA also uses 
the information collection to evaluate a Partner's progress and 
performance, and assess overall program results. Participation in the 
AgSTAR program is voluntary. AgSTAR 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 
Notice 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 2.3 
hours per AgSTAR Partner and 2.2 hours per AgSTAR Ally. 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: Livestock Producers ( Partners) and 
Utilities/Marketers of Methane Recovery Systems or related association 
members (Allies).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 75 Partners and 86 Allies.
    Frequency of Response: varies.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 181 for Partners and 194 for 
Allies.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $500 for Partners and 
Allies combined.
    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. 1735.02 and OMB Control No. 2060-0329 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 14, 1998.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 98-10396 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P