[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69758-69759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32383]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6508-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request, National Emission Standard for Mercury

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 the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: National Emission Standard 
for Mercury, OMB 2060-0097, expiration date January 31, 2000. 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 January 13, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the ICR contact Sandy 
Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 260-2740, by E-Mail at 
Farmer.S[email protected] or download off the Internet at http://
www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 0113.07. For technical 
questions about the ICR contact Melissa Raack at (202) 564-7039.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: National Emission Standard for 
Mercury, (OMB Control No. 2060-0097; EPA ICR No. 0113.07) expiring 
January 31, 2000. This is a request for extension of a currently 
approved collection.
    Abstract: Abstract: The National Emission Standards for Hazardous 
Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Mercury emissions (40 CFR part 61, subpart 
E) were proposed on December 7, 1971, promulgated on April 6, 1973, and 
amended on October 14, 1975 and March 19, 1987. These standards apply 
to all stationary sources which process mercury ore to recover mercury, 
use mercury chlor-alkali cells to produce chlorine gas and alkali metal 
hydroxide, and incinerate or dry wastewater treatment plant sludge. 
Approximately 142 sources (133 sludge incineration and drying plants 
and 12 mercury-cell chlor-alkali plants) are currently subject to the 
standard; and no additional sources are expected to become subject to 
the standard in the next three years. Mercury is the pollutant 
regulated under this standard. Owners or operators of the affected 
facilities described must make the following one-time-only reports: 
notification of the date of construction or reconstruction; 
notification of the anticipated and actual dates of startup; 
notification of any physical or operational change to an existing 
facility which may increase the regulated pollutant emission rate; 
notification of the date of the initial performance test; and the 
results of the initial performance test. Owners or operators are also 
required to maintain records of the occurrence and duration of any 
startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the operation of an affected 
facility, or any period during which the monitoring system is 
inoperative. A written report of each period for which hourly monitored 
parameters fall outside their established limits is required semi-
annually for mercury-cell chlor-alkali plants. These notifications, 
reports and records are required, in general, of all sources subject to 
NESHAP.
    In the Administrator's judgment, mercury emissions from mercury ore 
processing facilities, mercury chlor-alkali plants, including the cell 
room ventilation system, and sludge incineration and drying plants 
cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated 
to endanger public health or welfare.
    In order to ensure compliance with the standards promulgated to 
protect public health, adequate recordkeeping and reporting is 
necessary. In the absence of such information enforcement personnel 
would be unable to determine whether the standards are being met on a 
continuous basis, as required by the Clean Air Act. Recordkeeping and 
reporting are mandatory under this regulation. Records of emission test 
results and other data needed to determine total emissions shall be 
maintained at the source and made available for inspection for a 
minimum of two years.
    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 June 22, 
1999 ( 64 FR 33284); one comment was received; however, there was no 
comment received on adjusting the burden figures.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1,104 
hours per response. 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: Owners/operators of sources which 
process mercury.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 142.

[[Page 69759]]

    Frequency of Response: semiannual for existing sources (chlor-
alkali facilities).
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 26,504 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $0.

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. 0113.07 and OMB Control No. 2060-0097 in any correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of 
Environmental Information, Collection Strategies Division (2822), 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.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 99-32383 Filed 12-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P