[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 4, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20384-20385]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8054]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0891; FRL 9514-5]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Recordkeeping and Periodic 
Reporting of the Production, Import, Export, Recycling, Destruction, 
Transhipment, and Feedstock Use of Ozone-Depleting Substances (Renewal)

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 May 4, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2011-0891, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by email to [email protected], or by mail to: 
EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 28221T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460 and (2) OMB by mail 
to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street NW., 
Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Staci Gatica, Stratospheric Protection 
Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs (6205J), Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (202) 343-9469; fax number: (202) 343-2338; email 
address: [email protected]. You may also visit the Ozone Depletion 
Web site at www.epa.gov/ozone/strathome.html.

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 30, 2011 (76 FR 74055), EPA sought comments on 
this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received one late comment, 
which is addressed in the ICR. Any additional

[[Page 20385]]

comments 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-2011-0891, which is available for online viewing at 
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 Air and Radiation Docket is 202-566-
1742.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at 
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 public docket that are available electronically. Once in the 
system, select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified 
in this document. Please note that EPA's policy is that public 
comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made 
available for public viewing at 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 www.regulations.gov.
    Title: Recordkeeping and Periodic Reporting of the Production, 
Import, Export, Recycling, Destruction, Transhipment, and Feedstock Use 
of Ozone-Depleting Substances (Renewal).
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1432.30, OMB Control No. 2060-0170.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on April 30, 
2012. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or 
sponsor the collection of information while the 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 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: This ICR authorizes the recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements established in the regulations stated in 40 CFR part 82, 
subpart A and as required by the United States' commitments under The 
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer 
(Protocol). This information collection allows EPA to monitor the 
United States' compliance with the Protocol and Title VI of the Clean 
Air Act Amendments of 1990 (CAA).
    Under its Protocol commitments, the United States is obligated to 
cease production and import of Class I controlled substances excluding 
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) that are subject to essential use 
exemptions, methyl bromide that is subject to critical use exemptions 
or exemptions for quarantine and preshipment uses, previously used 
material, and material that will be transformed, destroyed, or exported 
to developing countries. The Protocol also establishes limits and 
reduction schedules leading to the eventual phaseout of Class II 
controlled substances with similar exemptions beyond the phaseout. The 
CAA has its own limits on production and consumption of controlled 
substances that EPA must adhere to and enforce.
    Under 40 CFR 82.13, producers, importers, exporters, and 
distributors of Class I ozone-depleting substances (ODS) must meet 
quarterly, annual, and/or transactional recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements. This information collection is conducted to meet U.S. 
obligations under the Montreal Protocol.
    The reporting and recordkeeping requirements for Class I ODS will 
enable EPA to: (1) Ensure compliance with the restrictions on 
production, import, and export of Class I controlled substances; (2) 
allow exempted production and import for certain uses and the 
consequent tracking of that production and import; (3) address industry 
and Federal concerns regarding the illegal import of mislabeled used 
controlled substances; (4) satisfy the United States' obligations to 
report data under Article 7 of the Montreal Protocol; (5) fulfill 
statutory obligations under Section 603(b) of the CAA for reporting and 
monitoring; (6) provide information to report to the U.S. Congress on 
the production, use, and consumption of Class I controlled substances 
as statutorily required in Section 603(d) of Title VI of the CAA.
    The reported data will enable EPA to maintain compliance with the 
Protocol requirements for annual data submission on the production of 
ODS and analyze technical use data to ensure that exemptions are used 
in accordance with requirements included in the annual authorization 
rulemakings.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 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: Chemical Producers, Importers, and 
Exporters (CFCs); Research and Development (Laboratories); and MeBr 
Producers, Importers, Exporters, Distributors, and Applicators.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 1143.
    Frequency of Response: quarterly, annually, occasionally.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 2583 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $277,085, which includes $271,550 in 
labor costs and $5,535 in operation and maintenance costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 227 hours in the 
total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of 
Approved ICR Burdens. This decrease is due to the continued phaseout 
and decreased use of Class I controlled substances, which subsequently 
reduces reporting obligations. EPA also offers electronic reporting to 
the regulated community via the Agency's central data exchange (CDX), 
which has contributed to the reduction in burden for both the Agency as 
well as the regulated community.

John Moses,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2012-8054 Filed 4-3-12; 8:45 am]
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