[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 155 (Thursday, August 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44007-44008]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-20867]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6419-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated 
With EPA's Energy Star Buildings Program

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 the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Information Collection 
Activities Associated with EPA's Energy Star Buildings Program, OMB# 
2060-0347, expires September 30, 1999. 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 Sepember 13, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 
260-2740, by email at [email protected], or download a copy 
of the ICR off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA 
ICR No. 1772.02.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's 
Energy Star Buildings Program, OMB# 2060-0347, ICR# 1772.02, expires 
September 30, 1999. This is a request for an

[[Page 44008]]

extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Energy Star Buildings and Green Lights programs are 
voluntary programs aimed at preventing pollution. These programs focus 
on reducing utility-generated emissions by reducing the demand for 
energy. EPA first created the Green Lights program to encourage 
corporations, state and local governments, colleges and universities, 
and other organizations to adopt energy efficient lighting as a 
profitable means of preventing pollution and improving lighting 
quality. With the success of the Green Lights program, EPA developed 
the Energy Star Buildings program to encourage business of all sizes, 
state and local governments, Federal Agencies, academic and other non-
profit organizations to make more comprehensive energy efficiency 
improvements in their buildings. In designing the Energy Star Buildings 
program, EPA made the energy efficient lighting upgrades of the Green 
Lights program the first stage of the Energy Star Buildings' five-stage 
upgrade program. Both of these programs need to collect initial 
information to establish participation in them, monitor progress in 
completing energy efficiency upgrades, and measuring reductions in 
energy usage. EPA will use information requested from participants to 
further evaluate the overall results of the program and make 
adjustments, if necessary. Participation in the Energy Star Buildings 
and Green Lights programs is voluntary and may be terminated by 
Partners, Allies, Endorsers or EPA at any time. EPA does not expect 
that organizations will deem any information collected under the 
program to be confidential. 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 4/19/99 (FR Vol 64., No. 74); no comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information will vary depending on the 
type of participant, and the specific collection activity. For example: 
the total estimated respondent burden for completing a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) is 5.1 hour per respondent. The burden for 
collection requirements associated with applying for the Energy Star 
label is estimated to be 3.8 hours per respondent. 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: Participants in EPA' Energy Star 
Buildings (Green Lights, Energy Small Business) voluntary program.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 4,318.
    Frequency of Response: One-time, annually, and/or periodically, 
dependent upon type of respondent.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 217,714 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, Operating/Maintenance Cost 
Burden: $14,716.
    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. 1772.02 and OMB Control No. 2060-0347 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: August 6, 1999.
Richard T. Westlund,
Acting Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 99-20867 Filed 8-11-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P