[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34181-34182]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16120]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7002-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Protection of Stratospheric Ozone--Request for 
Applications for Critical Use Exemptions From the Phaseout of Methyl 
Bromide

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 EPA is planning to submit the 
following proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Request for Applications for Critical 
Use Exemptions from the Phaseout of Methyl Bromide, ICR #2031.01. 
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 August 27, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Copies of the material supporting this ICR renewal notice 
are available free of charge from The Stratospheric Ozone Protection 
Hotline at 1-800-269-1996 between the hours of 10 am and 4 pm Eastern 
Standard Time.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amber Moreen, Telephone: (202) 564-
9295, Fax: (202) 564-2155, Email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which may want to request critical use exemptions from the 
phaseout of methyl bromide, such as State agencies responsible for the 
regulation of pesticides.
    Title: Request for Applications for Critical Use Exemptions from 
the Phaseout of Methyl Bromide (ICR #2031.01)
    Abstract: The international treaty, The Montreal Protocol on 
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Protocol) and Title VI of the 
Clean Air Act (CAA) establish the phaseout of methyl bromide. The 
Protocol and Section 604(d)(6) of the CAA, added by Section 764 of the 
1999 Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act 
(Public Law No. 105-277; October 21, 1998), provide an exemption from 
the phaseout of methyl bromide that allows for the continued import 
and/or production of methyl bromide for critical uses. The critical use 
exemption applies to critical methyl bromide uses agreed to by the 
Parties to the Protocol as of the complete phaseout of methyl bromide, 
January 1, 2005.
    Under the Montreal Protocol, exemptions are granted for uses that 
are determined by the Parties to be ``critical'' as defined by Decision 
IX/6. The critical-use allowances will be allocated to the United 
States entities based on the nominations made to the Protocol which 
will be decided upon by the Parties at the 2003 meeting and at meetings 
thereafter.
    This data collection is designed to: (1) Maintain consistency with 
the international treaty, the Montreal Protocol on Substances that 
Deplete the Ozone Layer; (2) ensure that any critical use exemption 
complies with Section 604(d) of the CAA; and (3) provide EPA with 
necessary data to evaluate an application for a critical use exemption 
and to evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of methyl 
bromide alternatives in the circumstances of the specific use. Requests 
for critical use exemptions, thus submission of the application, are at 
the discretion of a State. Should one of these entities apply for the 
exemption, then the information and data herein are requested by EPA.
    Pursuant to regulations 40 CFR part 2, subpart B, you are entitled 
to assert a business confidentiality claim covering any part of the 
submitted business information as defined in 40 CFR 2.201(c). 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: The burden hours shown below represent the hours 
for the information collection request (ICR). The ICR provides a 
detailed explanation of this estimate, which is only briefly summarized 
in this notice. The annual public burden for collection of information 
associated with the exemption is estimated to average 125 hours per 
application, including time for reading the request for applications, 
processing, compiling and reviewing the requested data, generating 
application correspondence or summary reports, and storing, filing, and 
maintaining the data. The following is a summary of the estimates taken 
from the ICR:
    Respondents/affected entities: 200.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 200.
    Frequency of response: Annual.
    Estimated total/average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 25,000.
    Estimated total annual burden costs: $1,500,000.
    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 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.


[[Page 34182]]


    Dated: June 8, 2001.
Paul Stolpman,
Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs.
[FR Doc. 01-16120 Filed 6-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P