[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 69 (Monday, April 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17662-17663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-8951]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6322-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Reporting Requirements Under EPA's Voluntary 
Aluminum Industrial Partnership--EPA ICR No. 1867.01

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 Requirements Under 
EPA's Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership--EPA ICR No. 1867.01. 
The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its 
expected burden and cost.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 12, 1999.

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. 1867.01.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Reporting Requirements Under EPA's Voluntary Aluminum 
Industrial Partnership (EPA ICR No. 1867.01). This

[[Page 17663]]

is a new collection. As such there is no OMB Control No. for this ICR.
    Abstract: In April 1993, President Clinton issued the Climate 
Change Action Plan, which establishes the nation's commitment to 
returning U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to their 1990 levels by the 
year 2000. EPA's Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership (VAIP) is an 
important voluntary program contributing to the overall reduction in 
greenhouse gas emissions. This program focuses on reducing 
perfluorocarbon (PFC) emissions from aluminum smelting operations. The 
twelve companies that have joined the VAIP have cumulatively committed 
to reduce their PFC emissions 45 percent from 1990 levels by the year 
2000. PFCs are very potent greenhouse gases that are persistent in the 
atmosphere and have a high global warming potential. The VAIP, along 
with Energy Star Buildings and Green Lights, Energy Star Labeling, and 
other EPA programs is a voluntary program aimed at preventing pollution 
rather than controlling it after its creation. All of these programs 
focus on greenhouse gas emissions.
    EPA has developed this ICR to obtain authorization to collect 
information from companies participating in the VAIP. Companies that 
join the VAIP voluntarily agree to the following: designating a VAIP 
liaison; undertaking technically feasible and cost-effective actions to 
reduce PFC emissions; and reporting to EPA, on an annual basis, the 
success of such actions. The information contained in the annual 
reports of the companies that join the VAIP may be considered 
confidential business information and is maintained as such. EPA uses 
the data obtained from the companies to assess the success of the 
program in achieving its goals.
    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 September 
18, 1998 (63 FR 49909); no comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 
321.13 hours per response. 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: Aluminum companies.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 12.
    Frequency of Response: One per respondent per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 1,866 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Labor Cost Burden: $208,889.
    Estimated Total Annual Operating and Maintenance Cost Burden: 
$17,509.
    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. 1867.01 in any correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of 
Policy, 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 15, 1999.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 99-8951 Filed 4-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P