[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

[[Page 28377]]

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.

[[Page 28378]]

    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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