[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 96 (Wednesday, May 19, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27253-27254]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12587]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6345-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; NSPS, Sulfuric Acid Plants

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: NSPS subpart H, Sulfuric Acid 
Plants, OMB Control Number: 2060-0041 and expiration date: 06/30/99. 
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 June 18, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 260-2740, 
by E-Mail at Farmer.S[email protected] or download a copy of the ICR 
off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 
1057.08.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: NSPS Subpart H, Sulfuric Acid Plants (OMB Control No. 2060-
0041; EPA ICR No. 1057.08 ) expiring 06/30/99. This is a request for 
extension of a currently approved collection.

    Abstract: This ICR contains recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements that are mandatory for compliance with 40 CFR 60.80, 
subpart H, New Source Performance Standards for Sulfuric Acid Plants. 
This information notifies the Agency when a source becomes subject to 
the regulations, and informs the Agency that the source is in 
compliance when it begins operation. The Agency is informed of the 
sources' compliance status by semiannual reports. The calibration and 
maintenance requirements aid in a source remaining in compliance.

    In the Administrator's judgement, SO2 and acid mist 
emissions from the manufacture of sulfuric acid cause or contribute to 
air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public 
health and welfare. Therefore, New Source Performance Standards have 
been promulgated for this source category as required under section 111 
of the Clean Air Act.

    The control of SO2 and acid mist requires not only the 
installation of properly designed equipment, but also the proper 
operation and maintenance of that equipment. Sulfur dioxide and acid 
mist emissions from sulfuric acid plants result from the burning of 
sulfur or sulfur-bearing feed stocks to form SO2, catalytic 
oxidation of SO2 to SO3, and absorption of 
SO2 in a strong acid stream. These standards rely on the 
capture of SO2 and acid mist by venting to a control device.

    Owners or operators of Sulfuric Acid Plants subject to the NSPS are 
required to make the following one-time-only reports: notification of 
the date of construction or reconstruction; notification of the 
anticipated and actual dates of startup; notification of any physical 
or operational change to an existing facility which may increase the 
regulated pollutant emission rate; notification of demonstration of the 
continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS); notification of the date 
of the initial performance test; and the results of the initial 
performance test. After the initial recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements, semiannual reports are required if there has been any 
exceeding of control device operating parameters.

    Owners or operators are also required to maintain records of the 
occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the 
operation of an affected facility, or any period during which the 
monitoring system is inoperative. These notification, reports and 
records are required, in general, of all sources subject to NSPS.

    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 01/05 /99; 
no comments were received.

    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 117 
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: Owners or Operators of Sulfuric Acid 
Plants.


[[Page 27254]]


    Estimated Number of Respondents: 106.

    Frequency of Response: 2.

    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 24,823 hours.

    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $477,000.

    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. 1057.08 and OMB Control No. 2060-0041 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: May 13, 1999.
Joseph Retzer,
Director,
Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 99-12587 Filed 5-18-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P