[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 164 (Thursday, August 25, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49920-49921]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-16935]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OAR-2003-0034, FRL-7958-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Reporting Requirements Under EPA's Voluntary Aluminum 
Industrial Partnership (VAIP), EPA ICR Number 1867.03, OMB Control 
Number 2060-0411

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

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 12/30/05. 
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 October 24, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number OAR-2003-
0034, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-mail to 
epa.gov">a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Air and Radiation Docket, 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sally Rand, Office of Atmospheric 
Programs, 6207J, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-343-9739; fax 
number: 202-343-2208; e-mail address: rand.sally#epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR under Docket ID number OAR-2003-0034, which is available for public 
viewing at the Air and Radiation 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 Air and Radiation 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, ``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 http://www.epa.gov./edocket.
    Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those engaged in primary aluminum production.
    Title: Reporting Requirements under the Voluntary Aluminum 
Industrial Partnership (VAIP).
    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 direct greenhouse gas emissions 
including perfluocorcarbon (PFC) and carbon dioxide (CO2) 
emissions from the production of primary aluminum. Seven of the eight 
U.S. producers of primary aluminum participate in this program. PFCs 
are very potent greenhouse gases with global warning potentials several 
thousand times that of carbon dioxide and they persist in the 
atmosphere for thousands of years. CO2 is emitted from 
consumption of the carbon anode. 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 and direct CO2 emissions; and reporting to EPA, 
on an annual basis, the PFC and CO2 emissions or production 
parameters used 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 in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR 
part 9.
    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 not changed 
significantly overtime as data collection processes have remained the 
same 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 each of the seven 
participating

[[Page 49921]]

companies and not expected to be revised or renewed. The annual public 
reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information 
is estimated to average 98.5 hours per response. The projected hour 
burden for this collection of information is as follows:
    Average Annual Reporting Burden: 82 hours.
    Average Annual RecordKeeping Burden: 0 hours.
    Average Burden Hours/Response: 82 hours for the annual tracking 
report; and 16.5 hours associated with additional activities such as 
partnership meetings. Frequency of response=one per respondent per 
year. Estimated number of respondents per year=7. Cost burden to 
respondents ($7,354 per respondent).
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $51,478.
    Total Labor Costs: $51,478.
    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 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 and collection of information; 
and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

    Dated: August 16, 2005.
Francisco de la Chesnaye,
Acting Director, Climate Protection Division.
[FR Doc. 05-16935 Filed 8-24-05; 8:45 am]
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