[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61331-61332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29450]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6473-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Mobile Air Conditioning Retrofitting 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): Information Collection Activities 
Associated with EPA's Mobile Air Conditioner Retrofitting Program, EPA 
ICR No. 1774.01, and OMB No. 2060-0350, expiration date 2/28/00. 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 January 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in duplicate to the attention 
of Air Docket No. A-99-37; Environmental Protection Agency; 401 M 
Street, SW. (MC-6102); Washington, DC 20460 (submissions may be faxed 
to (202) 260-4400). The Air and Radiation Docket is located in Room M-
1500; Waterside Mall (Ground Floor); U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency; 401 M Street, S.W.; Washington, DC 20460. The docket may be 
inspected Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A reasonable 
fee may be charged for copying docket materials. For further questions, 
contact the docket at (202) 260-7549.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anhar Karimjee at phone: (202) 564-
2683, fax: (202) 565-2096, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action 
include: new and used car dealers, gas service stations, top and body 
repair shops, and automotive repair shops (including air conditioning 
and radiator specialty shops).
    Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's 
Mobile Air Conditioner Retrofitting Program (OMB Control No. 2060-0350; 
EPA ICR No. 1774.01) expiring 2/28/00.
    Abstract: Section 612 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires EPA to 
promulgate rules making it unlawful to replace any ozone-depleting 
substance with any substitute that the Administrator determines may 
present adverse effects to human health or the environment where the 
Administrator has identified an alternative that (1) reduces the 
overall risk to human health and the environment, and (2) is currently 
or potentially available. In 1994, the Significant New Alternatives 
Policy (SNAP) Program was enacted, enabling the Agency to review 
available substitutes for ozone depleting substances and determine 
their acceptability. The SNAP program includes review of potential 
alternatives to ozone-depleting refrigerants used for air conditioning 
motor vehicles. EPA is concerned that the existence of several 
substitutes in this end-use may increase the likelihood of significant 
refrigerant cross-contamination and potential failure of both air 
conditioning systems and recovery/recycling equipment. The purpose of 
this Information Collection Request (ICR) is to estimate the burden 
associated with the 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 82 requirement 
that service technicians label mobile air conditioners with information 
about new refrigerants when they retrofit a system. These labels 
acknowledge that the retrofitting has been completed, and that the 
mobile air conditioner cannot accept chloroflourocarbon (CFC) 
refrigerant. In addition, the labels provide essential information to 
technicians about the specific refrigerant used in the air conditioning 
system. This information assists the technician in avoiding service 
practices that might result in cross-contamination and system failure. 
Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (section 612 
of the Clean Air Act and 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 82). 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: EPA estimates that there are approximately 
140,000 service technicians, who will be responsible for retrofitting 
some 15,000,000 cars by the year 2002 (5,000,000 cars retrofitted per 
year). EPA estimates the time to complete and apply the label at 5 
minutes per car, making the total burden 1,250,000 hours. At $50 per 
hour, the overall cost associated with the burden hours is $62,500,000. 
The cost for designing, typesetting, printing and distributing 
15,000,000 labels is $1,500,000 ($ .10 per label). Adding the labor and 
capital costs together yields a total cost burden of $64,000,000. 
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

[[Page 61332]]

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: November 2, 1999.
Edward Callahan,
Acting Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-29450 Filed 11-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P