[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 114 (Thursday, June 13, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40729-40730]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-14995]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7230-5]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Voluntary Aluminum Industry Partnership (VAIP)

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 continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Reporting Requirements under EPA's 
Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership--EPA ICR No. 1967.02 for OMB 
Control number 2060-0411 which is due to expire on 07/31/2002. 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 12, 2002.

ADDRESSES: US Environmental Protection Agency, Climate Protection 
Partnerships Division, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (6202J), 
Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerome Blackman, Tel. 202-564-8995/Fax 
202-565-2155, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Producers of primary aluminum.
    Title: Reporting requirements under EPA's Voluntary Aluminum 
Industrial Partnership (VAIP)--OMB Control No. 2060-0411; EPA renewal 
ICR No. 1867.02) expiring 7/31/02.
    Abstract: EPA's Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership (VAIP) 
was initiated in 1995 and is an important voluntary program 
contributing to the overall reduction in emissions of greenhouse gases. 
This program focuses on reducing per fluorocarbon (PFC) emission from 
the production of primary aluminum. Eight of the nine U.S. producers of 
primary aluminum participate in this program. PFCs are very potent 
greenhouse gases with global warming potentials several thousand times 
that of carbon dioxide and they persist in the atmosphere for thousands 
of years. EPA has developed this ICR to renew authorization to collect 
information from companies in the VAIP. Participants voluntarily agree 
to the following: designating a VAIP liaison; undertaking technically 
feasible and cost-effective actions to reduce PFC emissions; and 
reporting to EPA, on an annual basis, the PFC emissions or production 
parameters use to estimate emissions. The information contained in the 
annual reports of VAIP members is used by EPA to assess the success of 
the program in achieving its goals. The information contained in the 
annual reports may be considered confidential business information and 
is maintained as such.
    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 VAIP is a continuing program and, as such, 
the burden for collecting relevant information has decreased overtime 
as data collection processes have been improved and no new one-time 
cost activities are expected that would impact all respondents. VAIP 
participants sign a voluntary Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which 
assigns responsibilities to EPA and participating companies. The MOU 
has been signed by 6 of the 8 participating companies under the initial 
ICR for this program. The remaining companies are expected to sign of 
the course of the re-newed MOU and, therefore, will be subject to the 
one-time burden associated with completing and submitting the MOU to 
EPA.
    The projected hour burden for this collection of information is as 
follows:
    Average annual reporting burden: 73 hours plus 94.5 hours (one time 
for the 2 of 8 respondents that have not signed voluntary program MOU).
    Average annual record keeping burden: 0 hours.
    Average burden hours/response: 56.5 hours for the annual tracking 
report; and 16.5 hours associated with additional activities. 94.5 if 
MOU has not been signed.
    Frequency of response: one per respondent per year.
    Estimated number of respondents per year: 8.
    Cost burden to respondents:
    Estimated total annualized cost burden: $64,767.
    Total labor cost: $64,767.
    Total capital and start-up costs: $0.
    Estimated total operation and maintenance costs: $0.
    Purchase of services costs: $0.
    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose

[[Page 40730]]

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: June 7, 2002.
Karl Schultz,
Acting for Chief, Methane and Sequestration Branch.
[FR Doc. 02-14995 Filed 6-12-02; 8:45 am]
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