[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 98 (Friday, May 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27779-27780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12941]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6348-15]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; ``National Recycling and Emissions Reduction 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 that EPA is planning to submit the 
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): ``National Recycling and Emissions 
Reduction Program,'' EPA ICR Number: 1626.07, OMB Control Number: 2060-
0256, expiration date--June 30, 1999. 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 July 20, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in duplicate to the attention 
of Air Docket No. A-92-01 VIII.J; Environmental Protection Agency; 401 
M Street (6205J), S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20460. Materials relevant to 
this proposed rulemaking are contained in Air and Radiation Docket No. 
A-92-01 VIII.J. This docket is located in Room M-1500; Waterside Mall 
(Ground Floor); U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 401 M Street, 
S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20460. Dockets may be inspected Monday through 
Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A reasonable fee may be charged for 
copying docket materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julius Banks; Stratospheric Protection 
Division; U.S. EPA (6205J); 401 M Street, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20460; 
Phone: (202) 564-9870; Facsimile: (202) 565-2096. For questions only, 
you may use the electronic address [email protected]. All comments 
must be sent to the docket.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
refrigeration and air-conditioning service and repair shops; plumbing, 
heating, and air-conditioning contractors; refrigerated transport 
service dealers; scrap metal recyclers; automobile dismantlers and 
recyclers. Additional entities affected include Clean Air Act section 
608

[[Page 27780]]

technician certification programs, equipment certification programs, 
refrigerant wholesalers and reclaimers, and other establishments that 
perform refrigerant removal, service, and/or disposal.
    Title: ``National Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program'' (OMB 
Control No. 2060-0256; EPA ICR No. 1626.07) expiring 6/30/99.
    Abstract: In 1993, EPA promulgated regulations under section 608 of 
the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 for the recycling of ozone 
depleting refrigerants, specifically chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and 
hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs), in air-conditioning and refrigeration 
equipment. These regulations were published on May 14, 1993 (58 FR 
28660) and codified in 40 CFR subpart F (section 82.150 et seq.). 
Section 608 also establishes self-effectuating prohibitions on the 
knowing venting, release, or disposal of any substitute substance for 
ozone-depleting refrigerants during the maintenance, service, repair, 
and disposal of any device which contains and uses any substitute 
refrigerant for household or commercial purposes. Substitutes may be 
exempt from this prohibition if EPA determines that venting, releasing, 
or disposing of such substances does not pose a threat to the 
environment. Substitutes for CFCs and HCFCs are included in 
recordkeeping requirements which will not lead to additional burden 
hours on affected entities. The reasons for collection of the 
information; its intended use; and whether the requirements are 
mandatory, voluntary, or required to obtain a benefit are described 
below. 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: 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.
    The annual burden is reported in this Notice by annual respondent 
burden. This estimate 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.
    Additional burden hours associated with the implementation of this 
notice are avoided due to the marketplace balance that will occur as 
ozone-depleting substances are phased out and replaced by substitutes; 
therefore, this ICR renewal does not include any burden for third-party 
or public disclosures that were not previously reviewed and approved by 
OMB. The annual burden hours for this collection of information are 
estimated as follows: 16 hours for two equipment testing organizations; 
1,125 hours for an estimated 2,250 service establishments that will 
change ownership or enter the market; 12.5 hours for an estimated 25 
disposal establishments that change ownership or enter the market; 
10,000 hours for the maintenance of copies of signed statements by an 
estimated 500 disposal establishments; 40 hours for certification of an 
estimated 20 refrigerant reclaimers that change ownership or enter the 
market; 400 hours for reclaimer reporting from an estimated 80 
respondents; 40,000 hours for an estimated 5,000 refrigerant 
wholesalers to maintain records of refrigerant sales transactions; 300 
hours for an estimated 10 technician certification programs applying 
for first-time approval; 1,600 hours for 100 technician certification 
programs to maintain records; 96,000 hours for an estimated 330,000 
technicians acquiring certification and maintaining certification 
cards; 268,500 hours for an estimated 2,003,850 owners of refrigeration 
and air-conditioning equipment to maintain records on refrigerant and 
equipment; and 990 hours for an estimated 210 owners of industrial 
process refrigeration equipment.

    Dated: May 7, 1999.
Julius Banks,
Stratospheric Protection Division, OAR.
[FR Doc. 99-12941 Filed 5-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P