[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 35 (Thursday, February 21, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9563-9564]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3229]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OECA-2007-0054; FRL-8531-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; NESHAP for Vinyl Chloride 
(Renewal); EPA ICR Number 0186.11, OMB Control Number 2060-0071

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 March 24, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OECA-2007-0054, to (1) EPA online using http://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: Learia Williams, Compliance Assessment 
and Media Programs Division, Office of Compliance, Mail Code 2223A, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-4113; 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 March 9, 2007 (72 FR 10735), 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-2007-0054, which is available for public viewing 
online at http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the 
Enforcement and Compliance Docket and Information Center 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 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 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 restricted by statute. For 
further information about the electronic docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Title: NESHAP for Vinyl Chloride (Renewal).
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR Number 0186.11, OMB Control Number 2060-0071.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on April 30, 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, 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 National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air 
Pollutants (NESHAP) for Vinyl Chloride (VC) were proposed on December 
24, 1975, promulgated on October 21, 1976, and

[[Page 9564]]

amended on June 7, 1977, September 30, 1986, September 23, 1988, and 
December 23, 1992. These standards apply to exhaust gases and 
oxychlorination vents at ethylene dichloride (EDC) plants; exhaust gas 
at vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) plants; and exhaust gases, reactor 
opening losses, manual vent valves, and stripping residuals at 
polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plants. The standards also apply to relief 
valves and fugitive emission sources at all three types of plants.
    In the Administrator's judgment, vinyl chloride emissions from 
polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene dichloride (EDC), and vinyl chloride 
monomer (VCM) plants cause or contribute to air pollution that may 
reasonably be anticipated to result in an increase in mortality or an 
increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible illness. 
Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen which causes a rare cancer 
of the liver. In order to ensure compliance with the standard, adequate 
recordkeeping and reporting is necessary. This information enables the 
Agency to: (1) Ensure that facilities that are affected continue to 
operate the control equipment and use proper work practices to achieve 
compliance; (2) notification of startup indicates to enforcement 
personnel when a new facility has been constructed and is thus subject 
to the standards; and (3) provides a means for ensuring compliance.
    The standards require daily measurements from the continuous 
monitoring system and of the reactor pressure and temperature. 
Establishment of a continuous monitoring program is a high priority of 
the Agency. The continuous monitoring system monitors VC emissions from 
the stack to judge compliance with the numerical limits in the 
standards. The parameters are used to judge the operation of the 
reactor so that the source and EPA will be aware of improper operation 
and maintenance. The standards implicitly require the initial reports 
required by the General Provisions of 40 CFR 61.7 and 61.9. These 
initial reports include application for approval of construction or 
modification, and notification of startup. The standards also require 
quarterly reporting of vinyl chloride emissions from stripping, reactor 
openings, and exhausts. Reports must be submitted within 10 days of 
each valve discharge and manual vent valve discharge.
    The owner/operator must make the following one-time-only reports: 
Application for approval of construction or modification; notification 
of startup; application of a waiver of testing (if desired by source); 
and an initial report. The initial report includes a list of the 
equipment installed for compliance, a description of the physical and 
functional characteristics of each piece of equipment, a description of 
the methods which have been incorporated into the standard operation 
procedures for measuring or calculating emissions, and a statement that 
equipment and procedures are in place and are being used. Generally, 
the one-time-only reports are required of all sources subject to NESHAP 
regulation.
    Any owner or operator subject to the provisions of this part shall 
maintain a file of these measurements, and retain the file for at least 
five years following the date of such measurements, maintenance 
reports, and records. All reports are sent to the delegated state or 
local authority. In the event that there is no such delegated 
authority, the reports are sent directly to the EPA regional office. 
This information is being collected to assure compliance with 40 CFR 
part 63, subpart W, and 40 CFR part 63, subpart A, as authorized in 
section 112 and 114(a) of the Clean Air Act. The required information 
consists of emissions data and other information that have been 
determined to be private.
    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 Number 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 60 
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: Vinyl Chloride.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 28.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly and initially.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 11,825.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $2,014,515, which is comprised of $0 
annualized Capital Startup costs, $1,260,000 in annualized Operating 
and Maintenance (O&M) costs, and $754,515 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: February 12, 2008.
Sara Hisel-McCoy,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E8-3229 Filed 2-20-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P