[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 68 (Monday, April 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18395-18396]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-7222]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OAR-2004-0389, FRL-7897-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Servicing of Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners, EPA ICR 
Number 1617.05, OMB Control Number 2060-0247

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 a 
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 September 30, 
2005. 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 June 10, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number OAR-2004-
0389, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-mail to 
[email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, EPA Air Docket, MC 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kate Choban, Office of Atmospheric 
Programs, MC 6205J, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343-9337; fax 
number: (202) 343-2338; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR under Docket ID number OAR-2004-0389, which is available for public 
viewing at the EPA Air Docket 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 Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for 
the EPA Air Docket 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 on paper, will be made available for public 
viewing in EDOCKET as EPA receives them and without change, unless the 
comment contains copyrighted material, confidential business 
information (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 http://www.epa.gov/edocket.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
new and used motor vehicle dealers, gasoline service stations, truck 
rental and leasing without drivers, passenger car rental, top, body, 
upholstery repair and paint shops, general automotive repair shops, and 
automotive repair shops not elsewhere classified.
    Title: Servicing of Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners (MVACs).
    Abstract: In 1992, EPA developed regulations under section 609 of 
the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (Act) for the recycling of 
chlorofluorocarbons and their substitutes in motor vehicle air 
conditioners (MVACs). These regulations were published in 57 FR 31261 
on July 14, 1992, and are codified at 40 CFR part 82, subpart B (Sec.  
82.30 et seq.). The information required to be collected under the 
Section 609 regulations is described below. This information is 
currently approved for use through September 30, 2005.
    The information required to be collected includes the following: 
submission of a program plan to EPA by organizations who want to 
participate as an EPA-technician certification program, submission of 
an application by independent laboratories that proves their general 
capacity to certify refrigerant recovery and/or recycling equipment to 
meet the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards for recycled 
refrigerant, and for equipment manufacturers or owners wanting to 
grandfather their equipment, the submission of an application, 
supporting documents, flow sheets, equipment components and other 
information which would indicate that the equipment is capable of 
recycling or recovering the refrigerant to standards set forth in 
Appendices A, B, C, D, E and F to the regulations.
    Motor vehicle air conditioning service establishments are required 
by Section 609 of the Act to certify that they have purchased 
refrigerant recycling and/or recovery equipment by January 1, 1992. The 
Stratospheric Programs Division (SPD) uses the certificates to confirm 
compliance with Section 609.

[[Page 18396]]

    In order for technicians to service or maintain MVACs, they must 
pass a certification test as stipulated in Section 609 of the Act. In 
the interest of providing national harmony in promoting technician 
awareness in the proper handling of refrigerant, the Agency is charged 
through Section 609 with the establishment of minimum national 
standards for technician certification. The SPD uses the information 
submitted by technician certification programs to determine if programs 
meet the standards established by the Agency. In addition, the SPD uses 
the information to insure that the programs are at least as stringent 
as the SAE J standards of the Society of Automotive Engineers.
    The information requested for all entities that service MVACs is 
required by Section 609(d) of the Act with regard to the following:
    (1) Technician certification programs: Proposed automotive 
technician certification programs are required to be approved by EPA in 
accordance with Section 609(b)(4);
    (2) Business certification requirements: Section 609(b)(2)(A) 
requires EPA approval of independent laboratories that certify 
equipment for the extraction and reclamation of refrigerant from MVACs;
    (3) Manufacturers' certification of recovery equipment: The 
submission of data for EPA determination of substantially identical 
equipment is addressed by Section 609(b)(2)(B) (substantially identical 
equipment is equipment certified before the proposal of regulations 
under Section 609 that is substantially identical to equipment 
currently meeting EPA's standards);
    (4) Recordkeeping requirements: The recordkeeping requirements for 
the motor vehicle recycling program are derived from Section 114 of the 
Act.
    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 in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
    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 eight 
(8) minutes 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 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: New and used motor vehicle dealers, 
gasoline service stations, truck rental and leasing without drivers, 
passenger car rental, top, body, upholstery repair and paint shops, 
general automotive repair shops and automotive repair shops not 
elsewhere classified.
    Estimated number of respondents: 24,012.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 6,882.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost: $129,631.

    Dated: March 31, 2005.
Drusilla Hufford,
Director, Stratospheric Protection Division, Office of Air and 
Radiation.
[FR Doc. 05-7222 Filed 4-8-05; 8:45 am]
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