[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75458-75460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E5-7559]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0039, FRL-8110-4]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements of the HCFC 
Allowance System, EPA ICR Number 2014.03, OMB Control Number 2060-0948

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 
request to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request 
for to renew an existing approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to 
expire on June 30, 2006. 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 February 21, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2003-0039, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]
     Fax: 202-566-1741
     Mail: Docket , Air and Radiation Docket and 
Information Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 
6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0039, Air and 
Radiation Docket at EPA West, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Room B108, 
Mail Code 6102T, Washington, DC 20460. Such deliveries are only 
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special 
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2003-0039. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be

[[Page 75459]]

made available online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any 
personal information provided, unless the comment includes information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit 
information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through 
http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov 
website is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not 
know your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the 
body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA 
without going through www.regulations.gov your e-mail address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public 
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Cindy Axinn Newberg, Stratospheric 
Protection Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs, Office of Air and 
Radiation, Mail Code 6205J, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-
343-9729 and email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?

    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0039, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at 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/
DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 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 Office of Air 
and Radiation, Docket is 202-566-1742.
    Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft 
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the 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 in this document.

What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested In?

    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of PRA, EPA specifically solicits 
comments and information to enable it 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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from 
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of 
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork 
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific 
examples.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used 
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
    6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified 
under DATES.
    7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket 
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page 
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation.

What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?

[Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0039]

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action 
are:

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             Category                NAICS code       SIC code             Examples of regulated entities
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Chlorofluorocarbon gas                     325120            2869  Chlorodifluoromethane manufacturers;
 manufacturing.                                                     Dichlorofluoroethane manufacturers;
                                                                    Chlorodifluoroethane manufacturers.
Chlorofluorocarbon gas importers.  ..............  ..............  Chlorodifluoromethane importers;
                                                                    Dichlorofluoroethane importers;
                                                                    Chlorodifluoroethane importers;
                                                                    Chlorodifluoromethane exporters;
                                                                    Dichlorofluoroethane exporters;
                                                                    Chlorodifluoroethane exporters.
Chlorofluorocarbon gas exporters.  ..............  ..............  Insulation and cushioning, foam plastics
                                                                    (except polystyrene) manufacturing.
Urethane and Other Foam Product            326150            3086
 (Except Polystyrene)
 Manufacturing.
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[[Page 75460]]

    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements of the HCFC 
Allowance System.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2014.03, OMB Control No. 2060-0498.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on June 30, 
2006. 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 title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal 
Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, and included on 
the related collection instrument or form, if applicable.
    Abstract: In order to continue to meet its obligations under the 
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Protocol) 
and the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAAA), EPA maintains an 
allowance system for class II controlled substances or 
hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs). Under the Protocol, the U.S. is 
obligated to limit HCFC consumption (defined by the Protocol as 
production plus imports, minus exports) under a specific cap. The U.S. 
is also a signatory to amendments that froze HCFC production on January 
1, 2004. EPA is controlling U.S. production and import of HCFCs by 
granting baseline allowances based on the historical activity levels of 
producers and importers. Since each allowance will be equal to 1 
kilogram of HCFC, EPA will be able to monitor the quantity of HCFCs 
being produced, imported, exported, transformed, or destroyed. There 
are two types of allowances: Consumption allowances and production 
allowances. Transfers of production and consumption allowances among 
producers and importers are allowed. Producers, importers, and 
exporters are required to submit to EPA quarterly reports of the 
quantity of HCFCs in each of their transactions; they are also required 
to report the quantity of HCFCs transformed or destroyed. EPA requires 
all producers, importers, and exporters maintain records such as 
Customs entry forms, bills of lading, sales records, and canceled 
checks to support their quarterly reports. The quarterly reports may be 
faxed or mailed to EPA and soon may be submitted electronically, where 
they are handled as confidential business information. EPA stores the 
submitted information in a computerized database designed to track 
allowance balances and transfer activities. When electronic reporting 
is available, EPA will change its guidance document and revise the ICR 
if there is any change in burden hours. EPA uses collected information 
to ensure that the U.S. maintains compliance with the Protocol caps, to 
report annually to the United Nations Environment Programme the U.S. 
activity in HCFCs, and to ensure that allowance holders are in 
compliance. The respondents are producers, importers, and exporters of 
HCFCs; and entities granted HCFC-141b exemption allowances.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is currently estimated to 
average less than one hour 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 which have subsequently 
changed; 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.
    The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, 
which is only briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 52.
    Frequency of response: quarterly, annual, or one-time only.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
114.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 3,292 hours for respondents.
    Estimated total annual costs: $472,197 for respondents. This 
includes the current OMB-approved estimated burden cost of $253,089 and 
an estimated cost of $219,108 for capital investment or maintenance and 
operational costs. There is no change of hours in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB.

What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?

    EPA will consider the comments received, historical information 
with complying with the requirements of this ICR, and amend the ICR as 
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will 
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the 
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any 
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: December 12, 2005.
Drusilla Hufford,
Division Director, Stratospheric Protection Division.
 [FR Doc. E5-7559 Filed 12-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P