[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 219 (Tuesday, November 13, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56819-56820]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-28347]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7102-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Request for Applications for Critical Use 
Exemptions From the Phaseout of Methyl Bromide

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: Request for Applications for 
Critical Use Exemptions from the Phaseout of Methyl Bromide; ICR# 
2031.01. 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 December 13, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 2031.01, 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 by phone at (202) 260-4901, by e-mail at [email protected] or 
download off the internet at www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 
2031.01. For technical questions about the ICR contact Amber Moreen at 
EPA by phone at (202) 564-9295.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Request for Applications for Critical Use Exemptions from 
the Phaseout of Methyl Bromide (EPA ICR No. 2031.01). This is a new 
collection.
    Abstract: With this Information Collection Request (ICR), EPA's 
Office of Air and Radiation and Office of Prevention, Pesticides and 
Toxic Substances are preparing to request applications for critical use 
exemptions from the phaseout of methyl bromide under the Clean Air Act 
(CAA). This ICR is one piece of the ongoing development of the 
voluntary application process. Entities applying for these exemptions 
will be asked to submit to EPA applications with necessary data to 
evaluate the need for a critical use exemption. Necessary data will 
include: information on past methyl bromide use; consideration of 
alternatives, including steps taken to find and implement alternatives, 
steps planned to find and implement alternatives, data relating to the 
technical feasibility of currently available alternatives, and data 
relating to the economic feasibility of currently available 
alternatives; and, additional information. This information collection 
is conducted to meet U.S. obligations under Article 2H of the Montreal 
Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Protocol) and to 
implement section 604(d)(6) of the CAA, added by section 764 of the 
1999 Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act 
(Pub. L. No. 105-277; October 21, 1998).
    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 6/27/01 
(66FR124); no public comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and record keeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 108 
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

[[Page 56820]]

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: Respondents may include growers who 
use methyl bromide, applicators of methyl bromide, fumigators who use 
methyl bromide, companies associated with the storage of commodities 
that are fumigated with methyl bromide, and organizations/consortiums/
associations of methyl bromide users.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 495 (largely composed of growers 
groups representing 50-100 individual growers).
    Frequency of Response: Annual.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 229,050 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $604,071.
    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. 2031.01 in any correspondence.

    Dated: November 1, 2001.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 01-28347 Filed 11-9-01; 8:45 am]
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