[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 74 (Monday, April 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19149-19151]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9717]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6327-8]


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 document announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following two continuing Information Collection Requests (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting the ICRs to 
OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific 
aspects of the information collections as described at the beginning of 
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 18, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Office of Air and Radiation, Atmospheric Pollution 
Prevention Division, Mail Code: 6202-J, 401 M St., SW, Washington, DC 
20460. A hard copy of an ICR may be obtained without charge by calling 
the identified information contact individual for each ICR in Section B 
of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific information on the 
individual ICRs see Section B of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

For All ICRs

    An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required 
to respond to, a collection information unless it displays a currently 
valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations 
are displayed in 40 CFR part 9.
    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 automated collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses.
    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.

A. List of ICRs Planned To Be Submitted

    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 two continuing Information Collection Requests (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB):
    (1) Title: Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements under EPA's

[[Page 19150]]

Green Light Program, ICR #1614.01, OMB #2060-0255, expires April 30, 
1999.
    (2) Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's 
Energy Star Buildings Program, ICR #1772.01, OMB #2060-0347, expires 
April 30, 1999.

B. Contact Individuals for ICRs

    (1) Title: Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements under EPA's 
Green Light Program; Contact: Denessa Moses at EPA, (202) 564-9789, FAX 
number (202) 565-2083; Internet address: [email protected]. (OMB 
#2060-0255, ICR #1614.01, expires April 30, 1999.)
    (2) Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's 
Energy Star Buildings Program; Contact: Denessa Moses at EPA, (202) 
564-9789, FAX number (202) 565-2083; Internet address: 
[email protected]. (OMB #2060-0347, ICR #1772.01, expires April 30, 
1999.)

C. Individual ICRs

    (1) Title: Reporting and Record Keeping Requirements under EPA's 
Green Light Program, ICR #1614.01, OMB #2060-0255, expires April 30, 
1999.
    Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
the participants in the EPA Green Lights Program.
    Abstract: Green Lights is a voluntary EPA program that encourages 
corporations, state and local governments, colleges and universities, 
and other organizations to adopt energy efficient lighting as a 
profitable mean of preventing pollution and improving lighting quality. 
The program consists of three types of participants: partners, allies, 
and endorsers. Green Lights partners agree survey and upgrade lighting 
fixtures, if profitable. Allies work with EPA to increase awareness of 
energy-efficient lighting and provide information on products and 
services. Allies also agree to survey and upgrade their lighting. 
Endorsers agree to encourage their members to promote the Green Lights 
goal of using lighting in the most energy-efficient manner possible.
    Partners and allies in the Green Lights program sign a Memorandum 
of Understanding (MOU) that outlines the responsibilities of both the 
Green Lights participant and EPA. The MOU commits a Green Lights 
participant to survey all of its U.S. facilities and consider a full 
set of lighting options that maximize energy savings while being 
profitable and not compromising lighting quality. The participants 
agrees to complete lighting upgrades within five years of signing the 
MOU in 90% of the square footage of its facilities that meet these 
criteria. Upon completion of a lighting upgrade, partners and allies 
must complete and submit to EPA an implementation report that documents 
energy-efficient improvements and cost savings.
    EPA needs to collect information to evaluate a participant's 
progress and performance, and overall program results including energy 
savings and pollution prevented. The information provided also allows 
EPA to identify the fixture types, lighting controls, maintenance 
methods, and implementation methods most commonly utilized, and to 
provide technical and other assistance to participants in completing 
their planned upgrades. By agreeing to participate in the Green Lights 
program, the participant agrees to complete and submit this information 
upon completion of a project. However, because Green Lights is a 
voluntary program, responses to the collection of this information are 
voluntary.
    Burden Statement: The estimated annual burden to the respondent for 
this collection of information will vary, depending upon the type of 
participant and the length of time the respondent has participated in 
the program. With this in mind, it is estimated that the annual burden 
for respondents is approximately 107,997 hours with an annual cost of 
approximately $5,977,935. The average annual respondent burden is 
estimated at approximately 40 hours and the average number of 
participants is approximately 2,700. The frequency of response is 
estimated to be once per year.
    (2) Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's 
Energy Star Buildings Program, ICR #1772.01, OMB #2060-0347, expires 
April 30, 1999.
    Affected Entities: Entities affected by this action will be those 
that agree to participate in EPA's Energy Star Buildings Program, which 
is a voluntary program for increasing the energy efficiency of existing 
commercial and industrial buildings.
    Abstract: EPA's Energy Star Buildings Program is a voluntary, non-
regulatory program for increasing the energy efficiency of existing 
commercial and industrial buildings. The program encourages 
corporations, state and local governments, and other organizations to 
participate in a partnership with EPA to make cost-effective energy-
efficiency improvements in their buildings. In return, EPA provides 
technical support to help program participants apply proven 
technologies to achieve maximum efficiency at the lowest cost. EPA also 
publicly recognizes participants for their efforts and publicizes 
participant achievements. The overall goal of the program is to reduce 
utility-generated emissions by reducing the energy consumed in 
commercial and industrial buildings.
    Participation in the program is initiated by completing and signing 
an Energy Star Buildings Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU 
outlines the responsibilities of the participant and EPA, and is used 
to establish participation in the program and agreement to the terms of 
participation. Through the MOU, EPA obtains general information on the 
new participant such as contact information for the energy director and 
communications director and building information including the size and 
type of building.
    As a condition of program participation, partners agree to complete 
and submit to EPA an annual facility report on each building undergoing 
energy efficiency improvements. On the annual reports, partners provide 
information such as stage of project completion, project cost, 
historical and current energy use and cost data, and ancillary 
information such as building name, location, and size. EPA reviews the 
annual facility reports to track project implementation efforts and to 
obtain data on the costs and benefits of the energy efficiency 
improvements being made. This information is used to calculate the 
amount of utility-generated emissions prevented, evaluate program 
effectiveness, and publicize partner achievements and program results. 
By agreeing to participate in the Energy Star Buildings Program, the 
participant agrees to complete and submit this information annually. 
However, because Energy Star Buildings is a voluntary program, 
responses to the collection of this information are voluntary.
    EPA will also collect additional, project-specific technical 
information from some partners concerning the energy-efficiency 
improvements made. This collection will include information such as 
building age and construction, utility and fuel rates, financial and 
economic criteria used to evaluate and select investment opportunities, 
types and sources of project financing, project and equipment costs and 
rates of return, and technical details concerning the building's 
lighting, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment and 
systems. EPA will use this information to evaluate and refine its 
technical strategies and implementation support tools.

[[Page 19151]]

    Burden Statement: EPA estimates an average annual respondent burden 
of 4,362 hours for the information collection activities associated 
with the Energy Star Buildings program. The total burden is comprised 
of the following information collections:
    (i) MOU: EPA estimates that, on average, 191 new partners will join 
the Energy Star Buildings program each year by completing and 
submitting an MOU. The total annual respondent burden for the MOU is 
1,385 hours, or 7.25 hours per MOU. The frequency of collection will be 
one time per respondent.
    (ii) Annual Facility Report: EPA estimates that, on average, a 
total of 565 annual facility reports will be submitted by 353 partners 
(respondents) each year, for a total annual respondent burden of 2,697 
hours. This equates to 1.6 annual facility reports per partner, or 4.8 
hours per report.
    (iii) Additional Technical Information: EPA estimates that, on 
average, 35 partners (respondents) each year will submit additional 
technical information on their actual upgrade projects. The burden for 
this information collection is 280 hours, or 8 hours per response. The 
frequency of collection is annually.
    These estimates include 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: April 13, 1999.
Jean Lupinacci,
Chief, Energy Star Commercial and Industrial Buildings Customer Support 
Branch.
[FR Doc. 99-9717 Filed 4-16-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P