[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 106 (Friday, June 2, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32078-32080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-8614]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0500; FRL-8178-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; ENERGY STAR Program in the 
Residential Sector, EPA ICR Number 2193.01

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 an Information Collection 
Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval. This is a request for a new collection. 
This ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its 
estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before July 3, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2004-0500, to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by e-mail to [email protected], or by mail to: 
EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 
6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB 
at: 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: Brian Ng, Office of Air and Radiation, 
Mailcode 6202J, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343-9162; 
fax number: (202) 343-2200; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB 
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 
1320.12. On August 11, 2005 (70 FR 46836), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments.
    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0500, 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 Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 
8:30 a.m. to

[[Page 32079]]

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 at http://www.regulations.gov. Use http://www.regulations.gov to 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 and OMB 
within 30 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 http://www.regulations.gov 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 http://www.regulations.gov. 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.regulations.gov.
    Title: ENERGY STAR Program in the Residential Sector.
    Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced 
ENERGY STAR in 1992 to label energy efficient computers. Since then, 
EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE) have expanded the ENERGY STAR 
Program to promote energy efficiency in over 40 product categories and 
in commercial and residential buildings. Increased energy efficiency 
through ENERGY STAR provides cost savings to businesses and homeowners, 
reduces greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, and increases U.S. 
energy security and reliability. EPA announced ENERGY STAR for New 
Homes in 1995 as part of its effort to promote energy efficient 
construction in the new homes market. EPA rolled out its existing homes 
effort in 2000 to promote cost-effective upgrades to the existing homes 
market. These two efforts promote home envelope improvements such as 
the proper installation of adequate insulation, and installation of 
energy efficient windows, lights, and appliances. Currently, partners 
to these two ENERGY STAR efforts are not required to report information 
to EPA. Information received to date has been submitted voluntarily to 
EPA and is not of a confidential nature. EPA believes that industry 
feedback is essential for EPA to ensure that ENERGY STAR meets 
partners' expectations in participating in a voluntary program 
promoting energy efficiency, and EPA's expectations for educating the 
public about energy efficiency and its impact on air pollution. EPA has 
developed this ICR to obtain authorization to collect information from 
the public, including businesses, for the following activities:
    ENERGY STAR Partnership: An organization interested in joining 
ENERGY STAR as a partner is asked to submit a partnership agreement 
establishing their commitment to ENERGY STAR. Partners agree to 
undertake efforts such as educating staff and the public about their 
partnership with ENERGY STAR, developing and implementing a plan to 
improve energy performance in homes, and highlighting achievements 
utilizing the ENERGY STAR brand. Partners are encouraged to undertake 
related activities for added benefit and/or public recognition, such as 
committing to build 100% ENERGY STAR qualified new homes. Information 
collected is used to inform the public of organizations that build and 
promote ENERGY STAR qualified homes and make energy-efficient 
improvements to existing homes. Partnership is voluntary and can be 
terminated at any time. EPA does not expect organizations to join the 
program unless they expect participation to be cost-effective and 
otherwise beneficial for them.
    Outreach Partnership: Partners have the opportunity to participate 
in an outreach partnership with EPA to develop public education 
campaigns featuring the benefits of ENERGY STAR qualified homes. 
Partners interested in participating in the outreach program are asked 
to submit a form detailing their level of participation.
    ENERGY STAR Awards: Each year partners are eligible for an ENERGY 
STAR award, which recognizes organizations demonstrating outstanding 
support in promoting ENERGY STAR. This award program provides partners 
public recognition and market differentiation. An application form is 
submitted to EPA by partners interested in being eligible for an award.
    Quarterly Reporting: Partners are asked to submit information each 
calendar quarter to assist EPA in tracking and measuring progress in 
building and promoting ENERGY STAR qualified homes. This includes 
submitting quarterly updates on partners' level of activity in 
qualifying new homes for the ENERGY STAR label and activity in 
improving the energy efficiency of existing homes. This information is 
used by EPA to determine ENERGY STAR's impact on the market for energy 
efficient new and existing homes, its impact on residential energy 
demand and air pollution, and to recognize partners for promoting 
energy efficient homes.
    Evaluation: Partners and other program participants are asked to 
periodically submit information to EPA as needed to assist in 
evaluating ENERGY STAR's effectiveness in helping organizations promote 
energy efficiency in homes, to assess partners' level of interest and 
ability in promoting ENERGY STAR in the residential sector, and to 
determine the impact that ENERGY STAR has on the supply and demand for 
energy-efficient homes and home improvement products and services. This 
information is used by EPA to make changes to ENERGY STAR's outreach 
efforts to better serve the needs of partners.
    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 and are identified on 
the form and/or instrument, if applicable.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2 
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; train personnel to be able to respond to 
a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review 
the collection of

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information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Home Builders, Home Energy 
Verification Organizations, Lenders, Regional Energy Efficiency 
Programs/Utilities, Home Improvement Contractors, Product Retailers, 
Manufactured Home Retailers, Realtors, Architects.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,441.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly, annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 175,449.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $9,133,098, which includes $8,320 
annualized capital/startup costs, $120,358 annual O&M costs, and 
$9,004,420 annual labor costs.

    Dated: May 23, 2006.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
 [FR Doc. E6-8614 Filed 6-1-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P