[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 124 (Tuesday, June 29, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38893-38894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14705]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OAR-2004-0082, FRL-7779-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under EPA's 
Natural Gas STAR Program, EPA ICR Number 1736.04, OMB Control Number 
2060-0328

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). This is a request to renew an existing 
approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on 11/30/04. 
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 30, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number OAR-2004-
0082, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-mail to 
[email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, MC 
6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Tingley at EPA's Natural Gas 
STAR Program by phone at (202) 343-9086, by e-mail at 
[email protected] or by fax at (202) 343-2208.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR under Docket ID number OAR-2004-0082, which is available for public 
viewing at the Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center in the 
EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is 
open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays. The telephone number for the

[[Page 38894]]

Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air 
and Radiation Docket and Information Center is (202) 566-1742. An 
electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA 
Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. Use EDOCKET to obtain 
a copy of the draft collection of information, submit or view public 
comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public 
docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are 
available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,'' then 
key in the docket ID number identified above.
    Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA within 
60 days of this notice. EPA's policy is that public comments, whether 
submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public 
viewing in EDOCKET as EPA receives them and without change, unless the 
comment contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose 
public disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a 
comment containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference 
to that material in the version of the comment that is placed in 
EDOCKET. The entire printed comment, including the copyrighted 
material, will be available in the public docket. Although identified 
as an item in the official docket, information claimed as CBI, or whose 
disclosure is otherwise restricted by statute, is not included in the 
official public docket, and will not be available for public viewing in 
EDOCKET. For further information about the electronic docket, see EPA's 
Federal Register notice describing the electronic docket at 67 FR 38102 
(May 31, 2002), or go to www.epa.gov./edocket.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which produce, process, transport, and distribute natural gas.
    Title: ``Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under EPA's 
Natural Gas STAR Program'', EPA ICR Number 1736.04, OMB Control Number 
2060-0328, expiring on 11/30/2004.
    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, which will save 
participants money and improve environmental quality. 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 develop technical 
guidance documents for the benefit of the industry. Information 
collection is accomplished through the use of an annual reporting 
process that allows companies to report their accomplishments in either 
a traditional hard-copy format or electronically. Participation in 
Natural Gas STAR 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 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 annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 47 
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: 111.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 111.
    Frequency of Response: varies.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 5,217 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $382,335.

    Dated: June 16, 2004.
Kathleen Hogan,
Director, Climate Protection Partnership Division.
[FR Doc. 04-14705 Filed 6-28-04; 8:45 am]
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