[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 31 (Thursday, February 14, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8663-8664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-2783]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0082, FRL-8529-5]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program 
(Renewal); EPA ICR No. 1736.05, OMB Control Number 2060-0328

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 (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 information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before March 17, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2004-0082, 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, Environmental Protection Agency, Air and Radiation 
Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., 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: Suzie Waltzer, Office of Atmospheric 
Program, Climate Change Division, 6207J, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: 202-343-9544; fax number: 202-343-2202; 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 November 1, 2007, (72 FR 61875) EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments during the 
comment period. 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-HQ-OAR-2004-0082, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Air and 
Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC 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.
    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 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, confidential business information (CBI), or other 
information whose public disclosure is

[[Page 8664]]

restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic 
docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Title: EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program (Renewal).
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1736.05, OMB control number 2060-0328.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on March 31, 
2008. 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, 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: Natural Gas STAR is an EPA-sponsored, voluntary program 
that encourages natural gas companies to adopt cost effective methods 
for reducing methane emissions. Natural Gas STAR Partners agree to 
implement cost-effective technologies and practices to reduce methane 
emissions, which will save participants money and improve environmental 
quality. EPA needs to collect information to establish program 
participation and to obtain general information on new Natural Gas STAR 
Partners. EPA also uses the information collection to evaluate a 
Partner's progress and performance, assess overall program results, and 
develop technical guidance documents for the benefit of the industry. 
Information collection is accomplished through the use of an annual 
reporting process that allows companies to report their accomplishments 
in either a traditional hard-copy format or electronically. 
Participation in Natural Gas STAR is voluntary. Natural Gas STAR 
Partners may designate information submitted under this ICR as 
confidential business information. EPA will treat all such information 
as confidential business information and will not make the company or 
agency-specific information collected under this ICR available to the 
general public.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 5,610 
hours (24.2 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 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: The processing, production, 
transmission, and distribution sectors of the natural gas industry.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 155.
    Average Frequency of Response: Yearly.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 5,610.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $550,677 (includes $696 in capitalized 
O&M costs).
    Changes in the Estimates: The overall annual reporting burden for 
respondents has increased from 4,705 hours in the previous ICR to 5,610 
hours in the current ICR as a result of an increase in the number of 
Partners in the Natural Gas STAR program. Despite this increase, the 
average burden per partner has decreased from 40.6 hours per Partner to 
36.2 hours per Partner. This decrease can be attributed to a larger 
percentage of Partners using the on-line Annual Report forms, and the 
availability of new materials on the Natural Gas STAR Web site. Fifty-
eight percent of reporting partners used the on-line system in 2004 
while 65% of reporting partners used the on-line system in 2007. 
Partners reported a subsequent decreased burden of 15% for this 
activity. The hourly burden estimates for data collection remained the 
same per Partner because the information requested and the collection 
methodology did not change.

    Dated: February 7, 2008.
Sara Hisel-McCoy,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E8-2783 Filed 2-13-08; 8:45 am]
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