[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31681-31683]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-12371]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0078; FRL-8574-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Reporting Under EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach 
Program--EPA ICR No. 1849.03

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 reinstate a previously approved Information 
Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 
The previously approved ICR expired on 07/31/2007.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 4, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2003-0078 by one of the following methods: http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments. E-mail: [email protected]. Fax Number: 202-566-9744. 
Phone Number: 202-566-1742. Mail: Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0078, 
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 ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0078). 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-
2003-0078. 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: Victoria Ludwig, Climate Change 
Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs, 6207J, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (202) 343-9291; 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-2003-0078, 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 
previously approved Information Collection Request EPA ICR No. 1849.03, 
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.

What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested in?

    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically 
solicits

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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 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.

What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those private companies and municipalities that own or operate 
landfills; State agencies; manufacturers and suppliers of equipment/
knowledge to capture and utilize landfill gas; utility companies; end 
users of energy from the landfill; and other landfill gas energy 
stakeholders.
    Title: Reporting Under EPA's Landfill Methane Outreach Program.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1849.03, OMB Control No. 2060-0446.
    ICR status: This ICR expired on 07/31/2007. The EPA is reinstating 
a previously approved ICR. 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 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 Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP), created by 
EPA as part of the Climate Change Action Plan, is a voluntary program 
designed to encourage and facilitate the development of environmentally 
and economically sound landfill gas (LFG) energy projects across the 
United States in order to reduce methane emissions from landfills. LMOP 
does this by educating local governments and communities about the 
benefits of LFG recovery and use; building partnerships between state 
agencies, industry, energy service providers, local communities, and 
other stakeholders interested in developing this valuable resource in 
their community; and providing tools to evaluate LFG energy (LFGE) 
potential. LMOP signs voluntary Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with 
these organizations to enlist their support in promoting cost-effective 
LFG utilization. The information collection includes completion and 
submission of the MOU, and annual completion and submission of 
information forms that include basic information on landfill methane 
projects with which the organizations are involved. The information 
collection also includes a one-time effort to update the LMOP Landfill 
and Landfill Gas Energy Project Database. The information collection is 
to be utilized to maintain up-to-date data and information about LMOP 
Partners and landfill methane projects with which they are involved. 
The data will also be used by the public to assess LFGE project 
development opportunities in the United States. In addition, the 
information collection will assist LMOP in evaluating the reduction of 
methane emissions from landfills. Responses to the information 
collection are voluntary.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 4.7 
hours for each respondent. 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 in this notice. The LMOP information 
collection is expected to involve an average of 832 existing Partners 
and an additional 114 new Partners per year. In order to meet the needs 
of public requests for data and to assess the potential of future LFGE 
opportunities, there is a planned one-time information collection for 
1,000 additional landfill owners and operators. The average annual 
burden (rounded to one decimal place) and cost per respondent is 
estimated to be 4.7 hours and $273. The total annual reporting and 
recordkeeping burden averaged over three years is 5,885 hours and 
$344,827. This includes an estimated burden cost of $343,485 and an 
estimated cost of $1,342 for maintenance and operational costs.

Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?

    There is an increase of 1,257 hours in the total estimated annual 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR previously 
approved by OMB. This increase reflects a large growth in the number of 
LMOP Partners since the last renewal. Since the last ICR renewal, LMOP 
no longer collects information annually from Energy, State, and non-
developer Industry Partners, the information forms have been simplified 
into pre-populated spreadsheets, and other collection efficiencies have 
been implemented such as the option to submit MOUs electronically. As a 
result of these changes, the average number of

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hours per Partner has decreased, but the total hourly burden for LMOP 
Partners still increased because of an increase in the number of 
Partners. For perspective on the magnitude of Partner growth, there 
were 365 Partners at the end of 2003 when the ICR was last renewed, 
whereas there were 675 Partners as of July 2007. This indicates an 85% 
increase in Partners since the last renewal. The remainder of the 
increase in total hourly burden comes from a planned initiative to 
collect critical landfill data from 1,000 additional landfill owners 
and operators. These data are necessary in order to better respond to 
public data requests and evaluate the potential of future LFGE 
opportunities. This type of data collection has not occurred before 
during LMOP's history. This change is the result of a program change.

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: May 6, 2008.
Dina Kruger,
Director, Climate Change Division.
[FR Doc. E8-12371 Filed 6-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P