[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 207 (Tuesday, October 27, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65751-65752]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-27312]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0013; FRL--9936-23-OEI]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Part 70 
State Operating Permit Program (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Part 70 State Operating Permit 
Program (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 1587.13, OMB Control No. 2060-0243) to 
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et 
seq.). This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently 
approved through October 31, 2015. Public comments were previously 
requested via the Federal Register on May 8, 2015. This notice allows 
for an additional 30 days for public comments. This ICR renewal covers 
state, local and tribal (state) air quality operating permitting 
programs under 40 CFR part 70, as authorized under Title V of the Clean 
Air Act (CAA or Act) for the period of November 1, 2015, through 
October 31, 2018. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, 
including its estimated burden and cost to the public. 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 November 27, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2004-0015, to (1) EPA online using https://www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by email to [email protected], or by mail to: 
EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via 
email to [email protected]. Address comments to OMB Desk 
Officer for the EPA.
    The 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 or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dylan C. Mataway-Novak, Air Quality 
Policy Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, C504-05, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC; 
telephone number: (919) 541-5795; fax number: (919) 541-5509; 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 http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, William 
Jefferson Clinton West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue 
NW., Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 
(202) 566-1744. For additional information about the EPA's public 
docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Abstract: Title V of the CAA requires states to develop and 
implement a program for issuing operating permits to all sources that 
fall under any Act definition of ``major'' and certain other non-major 
sources that are subject to Federal air quality regulations. The Act 
further requires EPA to develop regulations that establish the minimum 
requirements for those state operating permits programs and to oversee 
implementation of the state programs. The EPA regulations setting forth 
requirements for the state operating permit program are found at 40 CFR 
part 70. The part 70 program is designed to be implemented primarily by 
state, local and tribal permitting authorities in all areas where they 
have jurisdiction.
    In order to receive an operating permit for a major or other source 
subject to the permitting program, the applicant must conduct the 
necessary research, perform the appropriate analyses, and prepare the 
permit application with documentation to demonstrate that its facility 
meets all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. Specific 
activities and requirements are listed and described in the Supporting 
Statement for the 40 CFR part 70 ICR.
    Under 40 CFR part 70, state, local and tribal permitting 
authorities review permit applications, provide for public review of 
proposed permits, issue permits based on consideration of all technical 
factors and public input and review information submittals required of 
sources during the term of the permit. Also, under 40 CFR part 70, the 
EPA reviews certain actions of the permitting authorities and provides 
oversight of the programs to ensure that they are being adequately 
implemented and enforced. Consequently, information prepared and 
submitted by sources is essential for sources to receive permits, and 
for federal, state, local and tribal permitting authorities to 
adequately review the permit applications and thereby properly 
administer and manage the program.
    Information that is collected is handled according to EPA's 
policies set forth in title 40, chapter 1, part 2, subpart B--
Confidentiality of Business Information (see 40 CFR part 2). See also 
section 114(c) of the Act.
    Respondents/affected entities: Industrial plants (sources); state, 
local and tribal permitting authorities.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (see 40 CFR part 70).

[[Page 65752]]

    Estimated number of respondents: 15,780 sources and 116 state, 
local and tribal permitting authorities.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 5,168,815 hours (per year). Burden is 
defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Total estimated cost: $326,493,677 (per year). There are no 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is a decrease of 144,871 hours per year 
for the estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This decrease is not likely a result of any new or 
changed federal program or mandate; but rather, the costs are largely 
related to the projected number of sources and permitting activity 
during the relevant three year period.

Courtney Kerwin,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-27312 Filed 10-26-15; 8:45 am]
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