[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 193 (Thursday, October 4, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50642-50643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24899]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7071-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; 
Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under EPA's Natural Gas STAR 
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 notice announces that the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: ``Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Requirements under EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program,'' OMB Control Number 
1736.03, and expiration date September 30, 2004. 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 November 5, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1736.03 and OMB 
Control No. 2060-0328, to the following addresses: Susan Auby, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Collection Strategies Division (Mail 
Code 2822),1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20460; and to 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the ICR contact Susan 
Auby at EPA by phone at (202) 260-4901, by e-Mail at 
[email protected], or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 1736.03. For technical 
questions about the ICR contact Paul M. Gunning at 202-564-9736 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: ``Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements under EPA's 
Natural Gas STAR Program.'' (OMB Control No. 2060-0328; EPA ICR No. 
1736.03) expiring September 30, 2001. This is a request for extension 
of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Natural Gas STAR is an EPA-sponsored, voluntary program 
that encourages natural gas companies to adopt cost effective methods 
for reducing methane emissions. Natural Gas STAR Partners agree to 
implement cost effective Best Management Practices (BMPs), which will 
both save participants money and improve the protection of the 
environment. EPA needs to collect information to establish program 
participation and to obtain general information on new Natural Gas STAR 
Partners. EPA also uses the information collection to evaluate a 
Partner's progress and performance, assess overall program results, and 
to develop technical materials to facilitate implementation. 
Participation in the Natural Gas STAR program is voluntary.
    Natural Gas STAR Partners may designate information submitted under 
this ICR as confidential business information. EPA will treat all such 
information as confidential business information and will not make the 
company or agency-specific information collected under this ICR 
available to the general public. 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 notice required under 5 CFR

[[Page 50643]]

1320.8(d), soliciting comments on this collection of information was 
published on May 29, 2001, (66 FR 29126). No comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 41 
hours per facility. 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 natural gas 
plants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 98.
    Frequency of Response: 120.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 4,059 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital and Operating and Maintenance 
Cost Burden: $480.
    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 addresses listed above. Please 
refer to EPA ICR No. 1736.03 and OMB Control No.2060-0328 in any 
correspondence.

    Dated: September 24, 2001.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 01-24899 Filed 10-3-01; 8:45 am]
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