[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 171 (Wednesday, September 3, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51466-51467]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20396]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OECA-2008-0294; FRL-8710-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; NSPS for Sulfuric Acid Plants 
(Renewal), EPA ICR Number 1057.11, OMB Control Number 2060-0041

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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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 October 3, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OECA-2008-0294, 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 May 30, 2008 (73 FR 31088), 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-2008-0294, which is available for public viewing 
online at http://www.regulations.gov, 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 is (202) 566-1927.
    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: NSPS for Sulfuric Acid Plants (Renewal).
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR Number 1057.11, OMB Control Number 2060-0041.
    ICR Status: This ICR is schedule to expire on October 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, 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 New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for Sulfuric 
Acid Plants were proposed on August 17, 1971, and promulgated on 
December 23, 1971. These standards apply to any sulfuric acid facility 
commencing construction, modification or reconstruction after the date 
of proposal. The control of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and acid 
mist requires not only the installation of properly designed equipment, 
but also the proper operation and maintenance of that equipment. Sulfur 
dioxide and acid mist emissions from sulfuric acid plants result from 
the burning of sulfur or sulfur-bearing feed-stock to form 
SO2, catalytic oxidation of SO2 to sulfur 
trioxide, and absorption of SO2 in a strong acid stream. 
These standards rely on the capture of SO2 and acid mist by 
venting to a control device.
    Owners or operators of sulfuric acid plants are required to make 
the following one-time-only reports, notification of the date of 
construction or reconstruction, notification of actual startup dates, 
notification of any physical or operational change to an existing 
facility, and notification of demonstration of the continuous emissions 
monitoring system (CEMS).

[[Page 51467]]

Owners and operators must also submit notification date of the initial 
performance test, and the results of the initial performance test. 
After the initial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, semiannual 
reports are required if there has been an exceedance of control device 
operating parameters. Respondents are also required to maintain records 
of occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction, or 
any period during which the monitoring system is inoperative.
    Notifications are to inform the Agency or delegated authority when 
a source becomes subject to the standard. The reviewing authority may 
then inspect the source to ensure that the pollution control devices 
are properly installed and operating and that the standards are being 
met. Performance test reports are required as these are the Agency's 
records of a sources' initial capability to comply with the emission 
standards and to serve as a record of the operating conditions under 
which compliance are to be achieved. The information generated by 
monitoring, recordkeeping and reporting requirements described in this 
ICR are used by the Agency to ensure that facilities that are affected 
by the standard continue to operate the control equipment and achieve 
continuous compliance with the regulation.
    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 60, subpart H, as 
authorized in sections 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 listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15 is identified 
on the form and/or instrument, if applicable.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information estimated to average 127 
hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or 
disclose and 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. All 
existing ways will have to adjust to comply with any previously 
applicable instructions and requirements that 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: Sulfuric acid plants.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 103.
    Frequency of Response: Initially, occasionally, and semiannually.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 26,177.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $2,576,771, which includes $463,500 
O&M costs and $2,113,271 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: (1) The regulations have not changed over the past 
three years and are not anticipated to change over the next three 
years; and (2) the growth rate for the industry is very low, negative 
or non-existent, so there is no significant change in the overall 
burden. It should be noted that the previous ICR rounded the burden 
cost up to the nearest one thousand. In this ICR, the exact cost figure 
is reported which results in an apparent decrease in the cost when, in 
fact, no decrease has occurred.
    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 was used in this ICR, and there is no change in burden 
to industry.

    Dated: August 27, 2008.
Sara Hisel-McCoy,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E8-20396 Filed 9-2-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P