[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 8 (Wednesday, January 12, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1861-1862]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-731]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6522-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Activities Associated With 
EPA's SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for the Magnesium 
Industry

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): Reporting and Recordkeeping Activities 
Associated with EPA's SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for 
the Magnesium Industry, EPA ICR No. 1942.01. 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 March 13, 2000.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a free copy of the proposed ICR, contact Scott 
Bartos, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, SW (6202J) 
Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Bartos, Program Manager Tel.: 
(202) 564-9167, Fax: (202) 565-2078, E-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which produce or cast magnesium and magnesium-based alloys.
    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Activities Associated with EPA's 
SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for the Magnesium 
Industry (EPA ICR No. 1942.01).
    Abstract: In April 1993, President Clinton issued the Climate 
Change Action Plan (CCAP), which established a national commitment to 
reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. EPA's newly launched 
SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for the Magnesium 
Industry is an important voluntary program contributing to the 
country's overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Like Energy 
Star Buildings, the Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership, the PFC 
Emission Reduction Partnership for the Semiconductor Industry, and 
other programs, the SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for 
the Magnesium Industry is a voluntary effort aimed at preventing 
pollution before it is generated. These voluntary programs all focus on 
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tracking progress by collecting 
information from partners on a periodic basis.
    The SF6 Emissions Reduction Partnership for the 
Magnesium Industry is a voluntary, non-regulatory program that promotes 
reduction of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions from 
companies that melt and cast magnesium. These companies generally 
include primary magnesium plants and magnesium casting facilities. 
EPA's Climate Protection Division (CPD) manages the voluntary program.
    SF6 is the most potent greenhouse gas known; it is 
23,900 times as effective as carbon dioxide (CO2) at 
trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere. Once released, it will remain 
in the atmosphere for more than 3,000 years. Magnesium companies use 
SF6 gas to prevent the molten metal from violent oxidation 
(i.e., burning or explosions).
    EPA's partnership with the magnesium industry seeks to inform 
partners about available cost-effective emission reduction technologies 
and keep track of successful emission reduction efforts. EPA works with 
the U.S. magnesium companies and serves as a clearinghouse for 
technical information on strategies for reducing SF6 
emissions that are economically, technically, and environmentally 
sound. EPA will also conduct preliminary assessments of possible 
substitute gases and share this information with partners. Ultimately, 
EPA provides recognition to companies for their successes in reducing 
SF6 emissions, either through certificates and awards or 
through assistance in publishing their achievements.
    Participation in the program begins by completing a Memorandum of 
Understanding (MOU) that outlines EPA and partner company 
responsibilities. This MOU defines a voluntary agreement between the 
magnesium company and EPA. All U.S. magnesium producing and casting 
companies are invited to join the partnership. The MOU agreement can be 
terminated by either party 30 days after receipt of

[[Page 1862]]

written notice by the other party with no penalties or continuing 
obligations.
    By joining the partnership, a company agrees to track and report an 
estimate of its SF6 emissions to EPA annually. The 
International Magnesium Association (IMA) acts as a third party, 
assembling the reported data and transmitting it to EPA for the purpose 
of protecting the confidentiality of data submitted by individual 
companies. A partner company's annual report will indicate:
     An estimated normalized SF6 emission rate in 
terms of the weight of SF6 emitted (kg) per unit weight of 
magnesium produced or processed (metric tons).
     Estimated total SF6 emissions.
     Information provided at the partner's discretion on 
efforts the company has undertaken to reduce SF6 use or 
emissions.

It is anticipated that SF6 emissions will be reported based 
on records of SF6 use, with any necessary adjustments made 
to account for emission reductions achieved by the Company during the 
year. IMA will prepare a report for EPA that presents a total 
SF6 emissions estimate for all reporting partners. The 
partnership will track progress as a group using the aggregate total 
SF6 emissions estimate and by individual company using the 
normalized emissions rate. The emissions data will be presented along 
with the optional descriptions of partner activities in an annual 
report in an effort to promote technical information sharing. In 
preparing this report, any information designated confidential by 
partners will be omitted or otherwise protected. 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: In estimating the expected burden, EPA assumes 10 
companies will join in the first year and 5 companies will join in each 
of the second and third years for an average of 15 partners/year over 
the 3 years covered by this ICR.
    Average annual reporting burden hours = 1,834.
    Average burden hours/response = 122.
    Frequency of response = 1/year.
    Estimated number of respondents = 15.
    Estimated total annual cost burden = $95,251.
    Total capital and start-up costs = $931.
    Total operation and maintenance costs = $26,400.
    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: December 20, 1999.
Jeanne Briskin,
Chief, State Outreach & Industrial Branch.
[FR Doc. 00-731 Filed 1-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P