[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36894-36895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18084]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6122-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Outer Continental Shelf Air Regulations

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 and/or continuing Information Collection Request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Air Pollution 
Regulations for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Activities: 
Reporting, Recordkeeping and Testing Requirements, OMB Control Number 
2060-0249, ICR number 1601.03, expiration date: August 31, 1998. 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 September 8, 1998.

ADDRESSES: A copy of the supporting statement may be obtained from the 
Ozone Policy and Strategies Group, Air Quality Strategies and Standards 
Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, MD-15, Research 
Triangle Park, NC 27711 or is available at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/
oarpg/t1/fr__notice/ocs-icr.wpd. Comments must be mailed to David H. 
Stonefield, Ozone Policy and Strategies Group, Air Quality Strategies 
and Standards Division, MD-15, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Stonefield, telephone: 919-541-
5350, Facsimile: 919-541-0824, E-MAIL: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
air pollution sources which are located on the outer continental shelf 
along the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans and in the Gulf of 
Mexico east of longitude 87 deg.30'.
    Title: Air Pollution Regulations for the Outer Continental Shelf 
(OCS) Activities: Reporting, Recordkeeping and Testing Requirements, 
OMB Control Number 2060-0249, ICR number 1601.03, expiration date: 
August 31, 1998.
    Abstract: Section 328 (Air Pollution From Outer Continental Shelf 
Activities) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) as amended in 1990, gives EPA 
responsibility for regulating air pollution from OCS sources located 
offshore of the States along the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific coasts, 
and along the eastern Gulf of Mexico coast (off the coast of Florida).
    The U.S. Department of Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS) 
retained the responsibility for regulating air pollution from sources 
located in the western Gulf of Mexico. To comply with the requirements 
of section 328 of the CAA, EPA, on September 4, 1992 at 57 FR 40792, 
promulgated regulations to control air pollution from OCS sources in 
order to attain and maintain Federal and State ambient air quality 
standards and to meet other air quality goals. Sources located within 
25 miles of a State's seaward boundary must comply with the same State/
local air pollution control requirements as would be applicable if the 
source were located in the corresponding onshore area (COA). Sources 
located more than 25 miles from a State's seaward boundary (25-mile 
limit) must comply with EPA air

[[Page 36895]]

pollution control regulations. The regulations are codified as part 55 
of chapter I of title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
    The proposed ICR addresses the information collection burden to 
industry respondents who are subject to the reporting, recordkeeping, 
and testing requirements of the OCS air regulations. Industry 
respondents include owners or operators of existing and new or modified 
stationary sources. The proposed ICR also addresses the burden to the 
agencies who are responsible for implementing and enforcing the OCS 
regulations. The EPA has delegated the authority to implement and 
enforce the OCS regulations for sources located off the coast of 
California to four local air pollution control agencies. The EPA 
implements and enforces the regulations for all other sources under its 
jurisdiction. All burden estimates are calculated for the 3-year period 
beginning September 1, 1998 and ending August 31, 2001.
    The type, quantity and submission requirements of information will 
depend on the type and location of the source. Exploration facilities 
are generally smaller sources which operate for a short period of time 
(2 to 6 months), are required to submit an application to operate and 
are required to submit a copy of their log book to document their 
operation. Development and production facilities are generally larger 
sources which operate for periods up to 30 years, are required to 
obtain new source review and operating permits, conduct initial and 
periodic emission tests, and submit compliance information on a routine 
basis.
    The requirements for sources located or locating within 25 miles of 
the States' seaward boundaries are essentially the same as the 
requirements for the sources located in the COA. These requirements 
will depend upon whether the area is attaining the air quality 
standards and the local regulatory requirements. For example, a new 
source locating off the coast of a nonattainment area would have to 
meet the stringent requirements of the nonattainment area, such as 
smaller size cut-offs for new source review requirements and control 
requirements for the lowest achievable emission rate. While sources 
locating off an area which is attaining the standards would have higher 
cut-off requirements and control requirements for the best available 
control technology.
    In addition, since EPA has delegated authority to implement and 
enforce the regulations to four southern California air pollution 
control districts, sources locating off the coast of those districts 
would be submitting their applications and data to the local districts.
    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, 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.
    Burden Statement: There are two types of respondents affected by 
this proposed ICR: new and existing sources. New sources must submit 
adequate information to determine if the sources will meet the 
appropriate new source review requirements. The annual average of these 
one-time-only burdens for the respondents is estimated to be 16,742 
hours. Existing sources must submit information to obtain an operating 
permit and information on the sources' emissions. The annual burden for 
the existing sources is 16,308 hours. The total estimate annual burden 
for the respondents is 33,050 hours and an annualized cost of 
$1,775,646. The burden for the State and local agencies to implement 
and enforce the regulations is estimated to be 4,109 hours and an 
annualized cost of $158,476. The burden for the EPA to implement and 
enforce the regulations is estimated to be 4,114 hours and an 
annualized cost of $177,099. 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: June 18, 1998.
John S. Seitz,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 98-18084 Filed 7-7-98; 8:45 am]
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