[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 93 (Monday, May 14, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28376-28378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11630]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2012-0333 FRL-9671-6]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Information Collection Request for the Greenhouse Gas
Reporting Program; EPA ICR No. 2300.10
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
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 November 30, 2012. Before submitting the ICR to
OMB for review and approval, the EPA is soliciting comments on specific
aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 13, 2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2012-0333, by one of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
Email: [email protected].
Fax: (202) 566-9744.
Mail: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center,
Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, Public Reading Room, EPA
Headquarters West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20240. 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-
2012-0333. The 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 email. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means the EPA will not know
your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body
of your comment. If you send an email comment directly to the EPA
without going through http://www.regulations.gov your email 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, the EPA recommends that you include
your name and other contact information in the body of your comment and
with any
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disk or CD-ROM you submit. If the EPA cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, the
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: Carole Cook, Climate Change Division,
Office of Atmospheric Programs (MC-6207J), Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: (202) 343-9263; fax number: (202) 343-2342; email address:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How can I access the docket and/or submit comments?
The EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket
ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2012-0333, which is available for online viewing at
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the EPA 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 the EPA 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.
What information is EPA particularly interested in?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, the 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 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, the EPA is requesting comments
from very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples
of specific additional efforts that the 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 the 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 the 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?
[Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2012-0333.]
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
suppliers of certain products that will emit GHG when released,
combusted, or oxidized, motor vehicle and engine manufacturers,
including aircraft engine manufacturers; facilities in certain
industrial categories that emit greenhouse gases; and facilities that
emit 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide equivalent
(CO2e) per year.
Title: Information Collection Request for the Greenhouse Gas
Reporting Program.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2300.10, OMB Control No. 2060-0629.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on November
30, 2012. 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 the
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: In response to the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act
(H.R. 2764; Pub. L. 110-161) and under authority of the Clean Air Act,
the EPA finalized the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule (GHG
Reporting Rule) (74 FR 56260; October 30, 2009). The GHG Reporting
Rule, which became effective on December 29, 2009, establishes
reporting requirements for some direct GHG emitters as well as
suppliers of certain products that will emit GHG when released,
combusted, or oxidized, industrial gas suppliers, and manufacturers of
heavy-duty and off-road vehicles and engines. It does not require
control of greenhouse gases. Instead, it requires that sources emitting
above certain threshold levels of (CO2e) monitor and report
emissions.
Subsequent rules provide corrections and clarification on existing
requirements; include requirements for additional facilities and
suppliers; require reporters to provide information about parent
companies, NAICS code(s), and whether emissions are from cogeneration;
and finalize confidentiality determinations. Specifically, in 2010 and
2011, the EPA promulgated requirements for subparts T, FF, II, and TT
(75 FR 39736; July 12, 2010); information about parent companies, NAICS
code(s), and cogeneration (75 FR 57669; September 22, 2010); subpart W
(75 FR 74458; November 30, 2010); subparts I, L, DD, QQ, and SS (75 FR
74774; December 1, 2010); subparts RR and UU (75 FR 75060; December 1,
2010); and confidentiality determinations (76 FR 30782; May 26, 2011).
Collectively, the GHG Reporting Rule and its associated rulemakings are
referred to as the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP).
The purpose for this ICR is to renew and revise the GHG Reporting
Rule ICR to update and consolidate the burdens and costs imposed by all
of the current ICRs under the GHGRP.
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Data submitted under the GHGRP that is classified as CBI is
protected under the provisions of 40 CFR part 2, subpart B. The EPA is
determining through a series of rulemaking actions the data elements
that will be eligible for treatment as CBI. However, according to CAA
section 114(c), ``emissions data'' cannot be classified as CBI. The EPA
has proposed that inputs to emissions equations meet the definition of
``emissions data'' and cannot be afforded the protections of CBI. The
EPA has deferred the reporting deadline for data elements that are used
as inputs to emissions equations to provide the EPA time needed to
fully evaluate and resolve issues regarding the reporting and potential
release of these data (76 FR 53057, August 25, 2011).
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.96
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.
The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the EPA's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
1. Estimated total number of potential respondents: 11,290.
2. Frequency of response: Annual, quarterly.
3. Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent:
43.
4. Estimated total annual burden hours: 1,000,914 hours. This
includes estimated total respondent hours of 942,344 hours and
estimated total EPA hours of 58,570 hours.
5. Estimated total annual costs: $98,082,191. This includes an
estimated cost of $28,086,090 for capital investment as well as
maintenance and operational costs, an estimated respondent burden cost
of $56,141,455, and an estimated EPA cost of $13,854,646.
Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?
There is a decrease of 764,890 hours in the total estimated
respondent burden compared with the combined burden in the currently
approved ICRs for the GHGRP identified in the ICRs currently approved
by OMB (2060-0629, -0646, -0647, -0649, -0650, -0651, and -0680). This
decrease reflects the completion of one-time activities that occurred
in the first year of data collection as well as adjustments in the
number of respondents based on facilities that reported information to
the EPA. This change is the result of an adjustment.
What is the next step in the process for this ICR?
The 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, the 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: April 27, 2012.
Sarah Dunham,
Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-11630 Filed 5-11-12; 8:45 am]
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