[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 10, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27239-27240]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-4352]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0509, FRL 8168-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Acid Rain Program Under Title IV 
of the CAA Amendments of 1990 (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 1633.14, OMB 
Control Number 2060-0258

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information 
Collection Request (ICF) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an 
existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, 
describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated 
burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments must be submitted on or before June 9, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2005-0509, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred 
method), by e-mail to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), Environmental Protection Agency, Air and Radiation 
Docket and Information Center, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Mailcode: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, 
and (2) OMB by mail to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 
725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenon Smith, Clean Air Markets 
Division, Office of Air and Radiation, (6204J), Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: 202-343-9164; fax number: 202-343-2361; e-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OBM 
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 
1320.12. On January 5, 2006 (71 FR 597), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received 1 comment during the 
comment period, which is addressed in the ICR. Any additional comments 
on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this 
notice.
    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-OAR-2005-0509, which is available for online viewing at 
www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Air and Radiation 
Docket and Information Center in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA 
West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Avenue, 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 Air and 
Radiation Docket and Information Center is 202-566-1742.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at 
www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the 
index

[[Page 27240]]

listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in 
the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, 
select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified 
above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public comment, whether 
submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public 
viewing at www.regulations.gov 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. For further information about the electronic 
docket, go to www.regulations.gov.
    Title: Acid Rain Program.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1633.14, OMB Control No. 2060-0258.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on June 30, 
2006. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or 
sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending 
at OMB. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, a collection of information, unless it displays 
a current 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, are displayed 
either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate 
means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if 
applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA 
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: The Acid Rain Program was established under Title IV of 
the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. The program calls for major 
reductions of the pollutants that cause acid rain while establishing a 
new approach to environmental management. This information collection 
is necessary to implement the Acid Rain Program. It includes burden 
hours associated with developing and modifying permits, transferring 
allowances, obtaining allowances from the conservation and renewable 
energy reserve, monitoring emissions, participating in the annual 
auctions, completing annual compliance certifications, participating in 
the Opt-in program, and complying with NOX permitting 
requirements. Most of this information collection is mandatory under 40 
CFR parts 72-78. Some parts of it are voluntary or to obtain a benefit, 
such as participation in the annual auctions under 40 CFR part 73, 
subpart E.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 110 
hours 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Electric Utilities, Industrial 
Sources, and other persons.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,700.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly, and annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 1,971,276.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $262,369,989, which includes 
$71,307,000 annualized capital/startup costs, $70,951,000 annual O&M 
costs, and $120,111,989 annual labor costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 370,469 hours in 
the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of 
Approved ICR Burdens. This increase is due to adjustments (379,044 
hours), with changes in program requirements decreasing the burden 
(8,575 hours).

    Dated: April 27, 2006.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 06-4352 Filed 5-9-06; 8:45am]
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