[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69527-69528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32178]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6507-2]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With
EPA's SF6 Emissions Reduction Partnership for Electric Power
Systems
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 proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB): Information Collection Activities
Associated with EPA's SF6 Emissions Reduction Partnership
for Electric Power Systems, EPA ICR No. 1933.01
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 February 11, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Commenters must send an original and two copies of their
comments referencing EPA ICR No. 1933.01: Information Collection
Activities Associated with EPA's SF6 Emissions Reduction
Partnership for Electric Power Systems to: Air and Radiation Docket and
Information Center, Climate Protection Division (6102), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC
20460. Attention: Docket No. A-99-43.
Comments may also be submitted electronically through the internet
to: [email protected]. Comments in electronic format should also
be identified by EPA ICR No. 1933.01: Information Collection Activities
Associated with EPA's SF6 Emissions Reduction Partnership
for Electric Power Systems. All electronic comments must be submitted
as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of
encryption.
Public comments and supporting materials are available for viewing
in the Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, located at the
address above. The Docket is open to the public on all federal
government work days from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is recommended that
the public make an appointment to review docket materials by calling
(202) 260-7549. The Docket will accept phone and fax requests for
material. Phone requests may be made using the phone number listed
above, and fax requests may be submitted to (202) 260-4400. A
reasonable fee is charged for the duplication of materials.
The official record for this action will be kept in paper form.
Accordingly, EPA will transfer all comments received electronically
into paper form and place them in the official record, which will also
include all comments submitted directly in writing.
EPA responses to comments, whether the comments are written or
electronic, will be in a document in the Federal Register. EPA will not
immediately reply to commenters electronically other than to seek
clarification of electronic comments that may be garbled in
transmission or during conversion to paper form, as discussed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on specific
aspects of this collection of information, contact Eric Dolin, Climate
Protection Division (Mail Code 620J), U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460, (202) 564-9044, or
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
power generation and transmission utilities.
Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's
SF6 Emissions Reduction Partnership for Electric Power
Systems, EPA ICR No. 1933.01. OMB Control No. and expiration date are
not applicable as this is a new ICR.
Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a
new voluntary partnership, the SF6 Emissions Reduction
Partnership for Electric Power Systems, that aims to combine the
efforts of EPA and industry to pursue technically and economically
feasible actions to minimize SF6 emissions and reduce the
threat of global climate change. Participants in the program will have
the flexibility of choosing cost-effective pollution preventions
strategies that work for them. In turn, EPA will provide partners with
technical information and sponsor research on strategies for reducing
SF6 emissions. EPA also will publicly recognize partners for
their achievements in reducing emissions and protecting the environment
through brochures, public service announcements, and articles for
publication.
This ICR covers recordkeeping and reporting activities for
participation in the SF6 Emissions Reduction Partnership for
Electric Power Systems. Partners must provide or keep records of
information associated with six discrete information collections.
Specifically, these information collections include the Memorandum of
Understanding, Partner Representation Form, Emissions Baseline Year
Letter, SF6 Emissions Inventory Reporting Form, Policy and
Procedures Document, and Emissions Reduction Goal Letter.
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.
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
[[Page 69528]]
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 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: Over the three years covered by this ICR, EPA
estimates that a total of 175 Partners will join the SF6
Partnership (100 in the first year, 50 in the second, and 25 in the
third). Annualized over these three years, EPA estimates that an
average of approximately 58 Partners (175/3 = 58) will join the
SF6 Partnership and submit an MOU and a Partner
Representation Form each year. EPA expects 10 percent, or approximately
6, of these Partners will change representatives each year.
EPA estimates that 90 percent, or approximately 52, of the 58
Partners joining the SF6 Partnership each year will select
their own baseline year. As such, EPA expects to receive 52 Emissions
Baseline Year Letters each year.
EPA expects to receive annual SF6 Emissions Inventory
Reporting Forms for all SF6 emissions in a calendar year
during the first quarter of the following year. As such, EPA expects to
receive 0 forms in the first year, 100 forms in the second, and 150 in
the third, or a total of 250 forms over the three years covered by this
ICR. Annualized over these three years, EPA expects to receive an
average of approximately 83 SF6 Emissions Inventory
Reporting Forms (250/3 = 83) each year. Further, EPA expects that
Partners will maintain records of these 83 Inventory Reporting Forms
and any supporting documentation each year.
EPA also estimates that all 58 Partners joining the SF6
Partnership each year will develop a Policy and Procedures Document for
the Proper Handling of SF6 within that same year. However,
these Partners will submit the Policy and Procedures Document with the
first SF6 Emissions Inventory Reporting Form in the first
quarter of following year. As such, EPA expects to receive 0 documents
in the first year, 100 in the second, and 50 in the third, or a total
of 150 over the three years covered by this ICR. Annualized over these
three years, EPA expects to receive an average of 50 Policy and
Procedures Documents (150/3 = 50) each year. Further, EPA expects
approximately 10 percent, or 5, of these 50 Partners will change their
policy or procedures and subsequently update and submit a revised
Policy and Procedures Document each year. As such, EPA expects to
receive 5 revised documents each year.
In addition, EPA assumes that all Partners joining in the
SF6 Partnership in the first and second years and 50 percent
of those joining in the third year will develop and submit Emissions
Reduction Goal Letters. As such, EPA expects to receive 100 letters in
the first year, 50 in the second, and 12 in the third, or a total of
162 over the three years covered by this ICR. Annualized over these
three years, EPA expects to receive an average of 54 Emissions
Reduction Goal Letters (162/3 = 54) each year. EPA also expects that
approximately 10 percent, or approximately 5, of these Partners will
change their emissions reduction goal and subsequently submit an
updated Emissions Reduction Goal Letter each year. As such, EPA expects
to receive 5 updated letters each year.
EPA estimates the annual total respondent burden and costs for the
information collection activities associated with the SF6
Partnership are approximately 6,966 hours per year with an annual cost
of approximately $381,692.
EPA estimates that all Partners joining the SF6
Partnership over the next three years will, on average, experience
annual reporting burden of approximately 124 hours. This burden
includes all of the time spent on reporting activities associated with
the MOU, Partner Representation Form, Emissions Baseline Year Letter,
SF6 Emissions Inventory Reporting Form, and Emissions
Reduction Goal Letter. This burden includes time for gathering data;
filling out the MOU or forms; developing letters or documents; revising
them, as appropriate; and submitting both original and updated versions
to EPA.
EPA estimates that all Partners joining the SF6
Partnership over the next three years will, on average, experience
annual recordkeeping burden of approximately 0.3 hours. This burden
covers time spent on keeping records associated with SF6
Emissions Inventory Reporting Forms.
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.
Dated: November 24, 1999.
Eric Dolin,
Climate Protection Division.
[FR Doc. 99-32178 Filed 12-10-99; 8:45 am]
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