[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 128 (Thursday, July 5, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36700-36701]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-12997]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OECA-2006-0724, FRL-8335-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request, NSPS for New Residential Wood 
Heaters (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 1176.08, OMB Control Number 2060-0161

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 to renew an existing 
approved collection. The ICR which is abstracted below describes the 
nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 6, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OECA-2006-0770, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), or by e-mail to [email protected], or by mail to: 
EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Environmental Protection Agency, 
Enforcement and Compliance Docket and Information Center, mail code 
2201T, 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: John DuPree, Compliance Assessment and 
Media Programs Division, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-
564-5950; fax number: 202-564-0050; 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 October 5, 2006, (71 FR 58853), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments. 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 
number EPA-HQ-OECA-2006-0724, which is available for public viewing 
online at http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the 
Enforcement and Compliance Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), 
EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, 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 Enforcement and Compliance Docket and Information Center is 
(202) 566-1752.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at http://www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those 
documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in

[[Page 36701]]

the system, select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number 
identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public 
comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made 
available for public viewing at 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. For further information about the electronic 
docket, go to www.regulations.gov.
    Title: NSPS for New Residential Wood Heaters (Renewal).
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR Number 1176.08, OMB Control Number 2060-0161.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2007. 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 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 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 Standards of Performance for New Stationary Sources, 
New Residential Wood Heaters, were proposed on February 18, 1987, and 
promulgated on February 26, 1988. These standards apply to each wood 
heater manufactured on or after July 1, 1988, or sold at retail on or 
after July 1, 1990. Wood heaters manufactured on or after July 1, 1990, 
or sold at retail on or after July 1, 1992, must meet more stringent 
emission standards. Approximately 54 manufacturers, 875 retailers, and 
5 certification laboratories are currently subject to the regulations. 
No increase is expected in those estimates over the next three years. 
Particulate matter is the pollutant regulated under the standards.
    Two features of this rulemaking are unique to the New Source 
Performance Standard (NSPS) program. First, these standards were 
negotiated by representatives of groups affected by the NSPS, including 
those groups which are burdened by the information collection 
activities. None of these activities were judged to be unreasonable by 
these representatives. Some of these provisions were recommended by the 
affected groups as a means of promoting an efficient and smooth running 
certification and enforcement program. Second, these regulations 
established a certification program instead of the usual NSPS 
requirement that each affected facility demonstrates compliance through 
new source review and testing. Under this certification program, a 
single wood heater is tested to demonstrate compliance for an entire 
model line, which could consist of thousands of stoves. The 
certification approach significantly reduces the compliance burden, 
including information collection, for the manufacturers of wood 
heaters. Because of the potential risks to the environment from the 
intentional or accidental misuse of the certification approach, there 
were, however, several safeguards included, some of which entail 
reporting and recordkeeping.
    Under this regulation, wood heater manufacturers, testing 
laboratories, and retailers are required to submit reports to EPA and/
or to maintain records for demonstrating compliance with the NSPS.
    The information supplied by the manufacturer to the Agency is used: 
(1) To ensure that Best Demonstrated Technology is being applied to 
reduce emissions from wood heaters; (2) to ensure that the wood heater 
tested for certification purposes is in compliance with the applicable 
emission standards; (3) to provide assurance that untested production 
model heaters have emission performance characteristics similar to 
tested models; and (4) to provide an indicator of continued compliance.
    Information supplied to the Agency by testing laboratories is used 
to grant or to deny laboratory accreditation, and to assist in 
enforcement and compliance activities. Information requested by the 
Agency from manufacturers is used to determine compliance with 
requirements that are based upon volume of production.
    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 are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15, 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 51 
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: Manufacturers and sellers of new 
residential wood stoves.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 934.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 9,728.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $1,963,367 which is comprised of 
$1,345,500 in annualized Capital Startup costs, $2,500 annualized 
Operations and Maintenance (O&M) costs and $615,367 annualized Labor 
Costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is no change in the labor hours or 
cost in this ICR compared to the previous ICR. This is due to two 
considerations. First, the regulations have not changed over the past 
three years and are not anticipated to change over the next three 
years. Secondly, the growth rate for the industry is very low, negative 
or non-existent, so there is no significant change in the overall 
burden.
    Since there are no changes in the regulatory requirements and there 
is no significant industry growth, the labor hours and cost figures in 
the previous ICR are used in this ICR and there is no change in burden 
to industry.

    Dated: June 21, 2007.
Sara Hisel-McCoy,
Acting, Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E7-12997 Filed 7-3-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P