[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46969-46970]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-17982]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7246-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With 
EPA's Energy Star [reg] Product Labeling

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): Information Collection Activities 
Associated with EPA's Energy Star [reg] Product Labeling, EPA ICR No. 
2078.01. 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 September 16, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Climate Protection Partnerships Division, US EPA (MC-6202J), 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW., Washington, DC 20460. ICR may be obtained 
electronically by contacting Rachel Schmeltz via e-mail at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rachel Schmeltz, phone: 202-564-9124, 
fax: 202-565-2077, [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
product manufacturers which are Partners in EPA's Energy Star program.
    Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's 
Energy Star [reg] Product Labeling, EPA ICR No. 2078.01. This is a new 
collection.
    Abstract: Energy Star is a voluntary program developed in 
collaboration with industry to create a self-sustaining market for 
energy efficient products. The center piece of the program is the 
Energy Star label, a registered certification label that helps 
consumers identify products that save energy, save money, and help 
protect the environment without sacrificing quality or performance. In 
order to protect the integrity of the label and enhance its 
effectiveness in the marketplace, EPA must ensure that products 
carrying the label meet appropriate program requirements. Since Energy 
Star is a self-certification program, it is important that program 
participants submit signed Partnership Agreements indicating that they 
will adhere to logo-use guidelines and that participating products meet 
specified energy performance criteria based on a standard test method.
    As part of our contribution to the overall success of the program, 
EPA has agreed to facilitate the sale of qualifying products by 
providing consumers with easy-to-use information about the products. To 
be effective, EPA must receive qualifying product information from 
participating manufacturers. Partners will be requested to submit 
updates to qualifying product information on an annual basis, so as to 
ensure that EPA information is recent and accurate. The information 
will be compiled into a complete qualifying products list per product 
category, posted on the Energy Star Web site, and supplied to those 
purchasers who request it via phone, fax, or e-mail. In addition, 
because of the nature of these products, manufacturer of roof products 
and residential light fixtures will be requested to submit testing 
reports in order to verify qualification.
    In order to monitor progress and support the best allocation of 
resources, EPA will also ask manufacturers to submit annual shipment 
data for their Energy Star qualifying products. EPA is flexible as to 
the methods by which manufacturers may submit unit shipment data. For 
example, if manufacturers already submit this type of information to a 
third party, such as a trade association, manufacturers are given the 
option of arranging for shipment data to be sent to EPA via this third 
party to avoid duplication of efforts and to ensure confidentiality. In 
using any shipment data received directly from a partner, EPA will mask 
the source of the data so as to protect confidentiality.
    Finally, Partners that wish to receive recognition for their 
efforts in Energy Star may submit an application for the Partner of the 
Year Award.
    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 estimated total cost for respondents is 
$8,245,116 and the hourly burden is approximately 129,623 hours. The 
estimated total cost for the Agency is $413,361 and the hourly burden 
is approximately 9,549 hours. A grand total of $8,658,477 and an hourly 
burden of approximately 139,172 hours is expected for all information 
collection activities under Energy Star product labeling.
    EPA collects initial information in the Partnership Agreement (PA), 
which is completed and submitted by every Partner participating in 
Energy Star. One overarching PA has been developed by EPA for Energy 
Star product labeling. It is expected that 118 new Partners will join 
each year for the three years of this ICR. The reporting burden for 
information collection requirements associated with completing the PA 
for each respondent is estimated to be 12.85 hours. This estimate 
includes times for reviewing the instructions on the PA, completing and 
reviewing the information requested by the PA, and submitting the PA.
    Every manufacturing Partner is required to submit information on 
each of their qualifying products. Annual updates, notifying EPA of any 
changes in qualifying product information, are required as well. 
Thirty-two different product categories are covered by EPA under Energy 
Star. Each product category has specific qualifying product information 
that must be submitted by each Partner for at least one qualifying 
product. Qualifying product information is expected for 3,112 new 
qualifying

[[Page 46970]]

products each year for the three years of this ICR. The qualifying 
product list for each product category is updated by the Agency once 
each month, for a total of 384 times annually (32 product categories 
times 12 months in a year). Approximately twice each month the Agency 
receives a request for qualifying product information that cannot be 
fulfilled by the Energy Star Web site, for a total of 768 requests. The 
reporting burden for information collection requirements associated 
with completing the qualifying product information for each qualifying 
product submitted by a respondent is estimated to be 19.47 hours. This 
estimate includes time for reviewing instructions, completing and 
reviewing the information requested, and submitting the information.
    Energy Star Partners for residential light fixtures and roof 
products are required to submit testing reports for each product 
determined to by qualified with the Energy Star criteria. It is 
anticipated that qualifying product information for 654 new roof and 
residential light fixture products will be received by EPA each year 
for the three years of this ICR. The reporting burden for information 
collection requirements associated with testing reports by roof product 
and residential light fixture Partners for each qualifying product 
submitted by a respondent is estimated to be 69.75 hours. This estimate 
includes performing testing in house or by a Third Party, assembling 
the data into a report format, reviewing it and submitting it.
    EPA also requires that manufacturing Partners submit information on 
their unit shipments of Energy Star labeled products annually. Each 
year, Energy Star Partners are required to submit unit shipment data 
for their Energy Star labeled products. There will be an average of 
1,143 total Partners each year for the three-years of this ICR. 
Therefore, 1,143 reports of unit shipment data are expected each year 
for the three years of this ICR. Unit shipment data will be aggregated 
for each of the 32 product categories covered by EPA under Energy Star. 
The reporting burden for information collection requirements associated 
with unit shipment data for each respondent is estimated to be 26.76 
hours. This estimate includes gathering unit shipment data compiling 
and reviewing unit shipment data by product category, and submitting 
unit shipment data.
    Partners interested in receiving recognition for their efforts on 
Energy Star are required to submit a Partner of the Year Award 
application. One set of Partner of the Year award criteria are 
developed by the Agency each year and posted on the Energy Star web 
site. An average of 30 Partners of the Year Award applications are 
expected each year for the three years of this ICR. The reporting 
burden for information collection requirements associated with the 
Partner of the Year Application for each respondent is estimated to be 
44.10 hours. This estimate includes reviewing the eligibility 
requirements and instruction on the application, gathering data and 
information for submission, completing the application, reviewing the 
information and narrative description required, and submitting the 
application to EPA.
    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: June 26, 2002.
Kathleen Hogan,
Director, Climate Protection Partnerships Division.
[FR Doc. 02-17982 Filed 7-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P