[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 209 (Tuesday, October 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65979-65980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-27497]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7401-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Continuing Collection; 
Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With 
EPA's Energy Star Buildings 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 EPA is planning to submit the 
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Information 
Collection Activities Associated with EPA's Energy Star Buildings 
Program, EPA ICR Number 1772, OMB Number 2060-0347. OMB approval 
expires on April 30, 2003. Before submitting the ICR to OMB, EPA is 
soliciting comments on specific aspects of the information collection 
activities as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 30, 2002.

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

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Susan Bailey, phone: 202-564-
0189, fax: 202-565-2083, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Information Collection Activities 
Associated with EPA's Energy Star Buildings Program (OMB Number 2060-
0347, EPA ICR Number 1772), expiring on April 30, 2003.
    Abstract: Energy Star is a voluntary program aimed at preventing 
pollution rather than controlling it after its creation. The program 
focuses on reducing utility-generated emissions by reducing the demand 
for energy. EPA introduced Energy Star in 1991 by launching the Green 
Lights program to encourage corporations, state and local governments, 
colleges and universities, and other organizations to adopt energy 
efficient lighting as a profitable means of preventing pollution and 
improving lighting quality. Since then, EPA has expanded Energy Star to 
encompass organization-wide energy efficiency, such as building 
technology upgrades (e.g., HVAC systems), product purchasing 
initiatives, and employee training. At the same time, EPA has 
streamlined the reporting requirements of Energy Star and focused on 
providing incentives for improvements (e.g., Energy Star Awards 
Program). EPA also makes tools and other resources available over the 
web to help the public overcome the barriers to evaluating their energy 
efficiency and investing in improvements.
    To join Energy Star, organizations are asked to complete a 
Partnership Letter or Agreement that establishes their commitment to 
energy efficiency. Partners agree to undertake efforts such as 
measuring, tracking, and benchmarking their organization's energy 
performance by using tools such as those offered by Energy Star; 
developing and implementing a plan to improve energy performance in 
their facilities and operations by adopting a strategy provided by 
Energy Star; and educating staff and the public about their partnership 
with Energy Star, and highlighting achievements with the Energy Star 
Label, where available.
    Partners also may be asked to periodically submit information to 
EPA as needed to assist in program implementation. For example, EPA 
compiles the Energy Service and Product Provider Directory to provide 
the public with easy access to energy efficiency products and services. 
Businesses wishing to appear in this directory are asked to submit a 
completed form that details their products and services.
    Partnership in Energy Star is voluntary and can be terminated by 
partners or EPA at any time. EPA does not expect organizations to join 
the program unless they expect participation to be cost-effective and 
otherwise beneficial for them.
    In addition, partners and any other interested party can help EPA 
promote energy-efficient technologies by evaluating the efficiency of 
their buildings by benchmarking individual buildings by using EPA's on-
line benchmarking tool, Portfolio Manager, and apply for Energy Star 
Labels if their performance ranks in top 25 percent. If they can 
demonstrate that an individual building meets the Energy Star criteria, 
they will receive an Energy Star plaque that they can display on the 
building. EPA does not expect that organizations will deem any 
information collected under Energy Star to be confidential.
    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 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 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 annual public burden for this collection of 
information will vary depending on the type of participant, the 
specific collection activity, and other factors. The annual burden for 
joining Energy Star and conducting related activities is estimated to 
range from about 2 to 8 hours per respondent. This includes time for 
preparing and submitting the Partnership Letter or Agreement and other 
information as requested. The burden for applying for an Energy Star 
Label is estimated to range from about 5.5 to 10.5 hours per 
respondent. This includes time for reading the instructions of the 
benchmarking tool if needed, gathering and entering information on 
building characteristics and energy use into the tool, printing a score 
report, and preparing/submitting the Energy Star Label application 
materials to EPA. The burden for applying for an Energy Star Award is 
estimated to range from 4 to 26.5 hours per respondent. This includes 
time for

[[Page 65980]]

preparing and submitting the awards application materials to EPA.
    The total annual operation and maintenance costs to respondents 
collectively is estimated to be $1.54 million. This includes the cost 
to organizations applying for an Energy Star Label to contract a 
Professional Engineer to conduct a facility inspection and notarize the 
score report. It also includes postage costs for various submittals 
from the public to EPA. There is no capital cost to respondents.
    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: Participants in Energy Star.
    Estimated Annual Number of Respondents: 5,000.
    Frequency of Response: One-time, annually, and/or periodically, 
depending on type of respondent and collection.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 83,343 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, Operation/Maintenance Cost 
Burden: $1,540,483.

    Dated: October 21, 2002.
Kathleen Hogan,
Director, Climate Protection Partnerships Division.
[FR Doc. 02-27497 Filed 10-28-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P