[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 132 (Monday, July 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37530-37532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-17631]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6375-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities; National Emission 
Standards for Benzene Emissions From Coke By-Product Recovery Plants 
(Subpart L), EPA ICR No. 1080-10, OMB Control No. 2060-0185

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for 
review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of 
the information collection as described at the beginning of 
Supplementary Information.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 10, 1999.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mail code 2223A, OECA/
OC/METD, 401 M. St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. A hard copy of the 
ICR may be obtained without charge by calling Sandy Farmer at EPA, 
(202) 260-2740, and refer to EPA ICR No. 1080.10. This information may 
also be acquired electronically through the Internet Web site at 
www.epa.gov/fedrgstr.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For specific information on the ICR 
contact Maria Malave at (202) 564-7027 or via E-mail to 
(MALAVE.MARIA@EPAMAIL. EPA.GOV.), EPA ICR No. 1080-10, OMB No. 2060-
0185.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 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

[[Page 37531]]

to respond to a collection of information requirement; search data 
sources; complete and review the collection of information; and 
transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

ICR

    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 continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB):
    Title: The National Emission Standards for Benzene Emissions from 
Coke By-Product Recovery Plants (Subpart L), EPA ICR No 1080-10, OMB 
Control No. 2060-0185; expiration date is July 31, 1999.
    Affected Entities: These standards apply to sources at furnace and 
foundry coke by-product recovery plants that store benzene having a 
specific gravity within the range of specific gravities specified in 
ASTM D 836-84 for Industrial Grade Benzene, and ASTM D 835-85 for 
Refined Benzene-535 and ASTM D 4734-87 for Refined Benzene-545, which 
are codified as separate subparts under 40 CFR part 61.
    Abstract: The National Emissions Standards for Benzene Emissions 
form Coke By-product Recovery Plants were proposed by EPA on June 6, 
1984. Subsequently, the coke by-product recovery plants rule was 
promulgated September 14, 1989 and amended September 19, 1991. This 
rule relies on the capture of benzene emissions by installing closed 
systems, barrier fluid degassing systems, closed-vent systems to a 
control device, closed purge systems to a control device, seal systems, 
and by monitoring equipment to repair leaks as soon as practical. It 
requires that owners or operators of furnace and foundry coke by-
product recovery plants to comply with the following monitoring, 
recordkeeping and reporting requirements:
    Monitoring requirements include:
    (1) Semiannual inspections and annual maintenance inspections.
    (2) Checks for equipment leaks according to test methods and 
procedures specified in section 61.245.
    (3) Monitor organic compound concentration levels that are 
reasonable indicators of benzene concentration; and
    (4) Control equipment operation and maintenance.
    Recordkeeping requirements include:
    (1) A startup, shutdown, and malfunction plan.
    (2) A coke oven emission control work practice plan.
    (3) Maintain records of design control device and plan operation 
and corrective action; compliance test, reference values for monitored 
parameters, monitoring results and exceedances (alternative control 
options).
    (4) Maintain records according to section 60.246 for equipment 
leaks.
    (5) Records of monitoring and recordings should be maintained for 
two years.
    (6) Records of equipment and process design are kept permanently.
    Reporting requirements include:
    (1) Submit one-time notifications of:

--Initial compliance certification and election to meet a specific 
emission limitation;
--Construct a new, brownfield, or padup rebuild by-product coke oven, 
battery using a new recovery technology;
--Restart a cold-idle battery shutdown prior to November 15, 1990;
--Obtain an exemption from control requirements for bypass/bleeder 
stacks by committing to permanent closure of a battery or using an 
equivalent alternative control system for the stacks; and
--Obtain an alternative standard for coke oven doors on a battery 
equipped with a shed.

    (2) Semiannual compliance certifications.
    (3) Report for the venting of coke oven gas other than through a 
flare system.
    (4) Semiannual reports of exceedances of an applicable visible 
emission limitation for a regulated emission point.
    (5) Quarterly reports of excess emissions (for alternative control 
options)
    (6) Performance tests.
    (7) Reporting requirements of an owner or operator of any piece of 
equipment subject to subpart V.
    Records and reports are necessary to enable the Administrator to 
identify new, modified, or reconstructed sources to ensure that the 
emission limitations, work practice requirements, and other provisions 
of the national emission standards are being implemented and achieved.
    Based on recorded and reported information, EPA and states can 
identify compliance problems and what records or processes should be 
inspected at the plant. The records the plants maintain help indicate 
whether plants are in compliance with the standard, reveal 
misunderstanding about how the standard is to be implemented, and 
indicate to EPA whether plant personnel are operating and maintaining 
their process equipment properly. Specifically, the information and 
data will be used by EPA and states to monitor fugitive benzene 
emissions, and to ensure effective operation of a vapor-collection 
system and control device, thus ensuring continuous compliance.
    Reporting and recordkeeping requirements on the part of the 
respondent are mandatory, under sections 112 and 114 of the Clean Air 
Act as amended. All information submitted to the Agency for which a 
claim of confidentiality is made will be safeguarded according to the 
Agency policies set forth in Title 40, Chapter 1, part 2, subpart B--
Confidentiality of Business Information (see 40 CFR part 2; 41 FR 
36902, September 1, 1976; amended by 43 FR 39999, September 8, 1978; 43 
FR 42251, September 28, 1978; 44 FR 17674, March 23, 1979).

Industry Burden Statement

    In the previously approved ICR, the total annual hours were 
estimated to be 7,083 and the recordkeeping and reporting burden was 
estimated to average 196.8 hours per respondent per year. The total 
annual cost was estimated to average $339,984 based on 36 respondents. 
Costs were based on an hourly rate of $22.86 plus 110% overhead costs 
which equals $48.00. There were no capital and start-up cost, or 
operation and maintenance cost documented since no new sources were 
estimated to become subject to these standards.
    The following activities were considered in calculating the 
respondent burden: annual maintenance inspection; Method 21 performance 
evaluations; notifications and written reports required; and 
information gathering and recording. This analysis presents a highest 
cost scenario by assuming that all plants are complying with the leak 
detection and repair program for fugitive emissions, which require more 
stringent recordkeeping and reporting than the alternative options. 
This burden estimate considered 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.


[[Page 37532]]


    Dated: June 30, 1999.
Mamie R. Miller,
Acting Director, Manufacturing, Energy and Transportation Division, 
Office of Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-17631 Filed 7-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U