[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 11, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12996-12997]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4797]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0228; FRL-8540-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Activities Associated With 
EPA's PFC Reduction/Climate Partnership for the Semiconductor Industry 
EPA ICR No. 1823.03, OMB Control No. 2060-0382

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 EPA is planning to 
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection 
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is 
scheduled to expire on March 31, 2008. Before submitting the ICR to OMB 
for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects 
of the proposed information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 12, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR 
2004-0228 by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected]
     Fax: 202 566-9744
     Mail: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0228. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460
     Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, 1301 Constitution Ave. 
NW., Room 3334, Washington, DC 20460 (Attention Docket EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-
0082). Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal 
hours of operation, and special arrangements should be made for 
deliveries of boxed information.
     Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2004-0228. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you 
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site 
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without 
going through http://www.regulations.gov your e-mail address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public 
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Bartos, Office of Atmospheric 
Programs, Climate Change Division, 6207J, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: 202 343-9167; fax number: 202 343-2202; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?

    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0228, 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 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 http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft 
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the 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 in this document.

In What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested?

    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically 
solicits comments and information to enable it to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used;
    (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (iv) minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who

[[Page 12997]]

are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from 
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of 
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork 
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.

What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific 
examples.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used 
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
    6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified 
under DATES.
    7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket 
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page 
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation.

To What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply?

[Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0228]

     Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action 
are manufacturers of semiconductors and related devices.
     Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Activities Associated with 
EPA's PFC Reduction/Climate Partnership for the Semiconductor Industry.
     ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1823.03, OMB Control No. 2060-0382.
     ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on 3/31/
2008. 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: The U.S. EPA's Office of Atmospheric Programs launched 
the PFC Reduction/Climate Partnership for the Semiconductor Industry in 
1996. Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) are the most potent greenhouse 
gases known with atmospheric lifetimes of up to 50,000 years. These 
unique chemical compounds are required during two critical 
manufacturing steps; plasma etching and CVD chamber cleaning. EPA's 
partnership uses a pollution prevention approach to reduce greenhouse 
gas emissions and tracks progress by collecting annual PFC emissions 
estimates from voluntary participants.
    EPA's semiconductor industry partners share information on 
technically feasible emission reduction strategies and EPA recognizes 
companies for their success in reducing PFC emissions through 
certificates, awards, and assistance in communicating their 
achievements with the public. In 2003, EPA's semiconductor industry 
partners were recognized for their commitment and ongoing efforts to 
protect the climate as participants in the White House's Climate VISION 
initiative. All semiconductor manufacturers operating in the U.S. are 
invited to join the partnership. Participation in the program begins by 
completing a Memorandum of Understanding that defines a voluntary 
agreement between the company and EPA. By joining the partnership, a 
company agrees to estimate and report its annual PFC emissions to EPA. 
A designated third party assembles the reported data and protects any 
confidential or sensitive information prior to EPA review. The partner 
companies' annual reports will provide an estimate of total PFC 
emissions and a description of the estimating method. The partnership 
will track progress as a group using the aggregate annual PFC emissions 
estimate.
     Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 544 
hours per participant. 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.
    The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, 
which is only briefly summarized here:
     Estimated total number of potential respondents: 21.
     Frequency of response: Annual emissions reporting.
     Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
1.
     Estimated total annual burden hours: 11,426 hours.
     Average annual burden hours per participant: 544 hours.
     Estimated total annual costs: $1,054,780. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $938,461 and an estimated cost of $116,319 for 
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?

    There is no change in the total estimated respondent burden hours 
compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB. The 
estimated annual burden cost has increased by $98,997 reflecting 
updated labor compensation rates from the U.S. Department of Labor.

What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as 
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will 
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the 
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any 
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: March 5, 2008.
Dina Kruger,
Director, Climate Change Division.
[FR Doc. E8-4797 Filed 3-10-08; 8:45 am]
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