[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 84 (Friday, May 1, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24917-24918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-10123]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0891; FRL-9927-06-OEI]


Proposed Information Collection Request; 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: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Recordkeeping and Periodic 
Reporting of the Production, Import, Export, Recycling, Destruction, 
Transhipment, and Feedstock Use of Ozone-Depleting Substances 
(Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No.

[[Page 24918]]

1432.31, OMB Control No. 2060-0170 to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Before doing so, EPA is 
soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed 
information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension 
of the ICR, which is currently approved through June 30, 2015. 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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 30, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing the Docket ID No. listed 
above, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or by 
mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 
28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

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].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents, which explain in 
detail the information that the EPA will be collecting, are available 
in the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone 
number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting 
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. 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. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice 
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to 
submit additional comments to OMB.
    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.
    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.
    Respondents/affected entities: Chemical Producers, Importers, and 
Exporters (CFCs); Research and Development (Laboratories); and MeBr 
Producers, Importers, Exporters, Distributors, and Applicators.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory.
    Estimated number of respondents: 1143 (total).
    Frequency of response: Quarterly, annually, occasionally.
    Total estimated burden: 2583 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 
5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $277,085 (per year), includes $5,535 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.

Courtney Kerwin,
Acting Director, Collections Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-10123 Filed 4-30-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P