[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 86 (Thursday, May 3, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19556-19557]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09332]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0500; FRL-9977-47-OEI]


Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and 
Approval; Comment Request; EPA's ENERGY STAR Program in the Residential 
Sector

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an 
information collection request (ICR)--EPA's ENERGY STAR Program in the 
Residential Sector, EPA ICR Number 2193.04, OMB Control Number 2060-
0586--to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Public 
comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on January 
5, 2018 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an 
additional 30 days for public comments. 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: Additional comments may be submitted on or before June 4, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2004-0500, 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, Mail Code 28221T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via email 
to [email protected]. Address comments to OMB Desk Officer 
for EPA.
    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: Brian Ng, Energy Star Residential 
Branch, Mailcode 6202A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 
343-9162; fax number: (202) 343-2204; 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, which can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, EPA West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The Docket Center 
telephone number is 202-566-1744. For additional information, visit 
http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Abstract: ENERGY STAR[supreg] is a voluntary energy efficiency 
labeling and public outreach program aimed at forming public-private 
partnerships that prevent air pollution rather than control it after 
its creation. ENERGY STAR's new construction programs promote cost-
effective, whole house energy efficiency that is independently verified 
by third party professionals. ENERGY STAR also promotes cost-effective 
energy efficiency improvements in existing homes through its ENERGY 
STAR Verified HVAC Installation program. Participation in the ENERGY 
STAR program is voluntary and included the following activities:
    Joining the ENERGY STAR Program and Related Activities: An 
organization interested in joining ENERGY STAR as a partner is asked to 
complete and submit a partnership agreement. Partners agree to 
undertake efforts such as educating their staff and the public about 
the partnership, developing and implementing a plan to improve energy 
performance in homes, and highlighting achievements utilizing the 
ENERGY STAR label.
    Verification of ENERGY STAR Guidelines: The verification process 
for site-built homes involves the home builder, the third-party 
verification organization (Home Energy Rating Providers and Home Energy 
Raters) and the HVAC contractor, which complete four checklists as part 
of the verification process. The verification process for multifamily 
high-rise units involves the developer submitting information both pre-
construction and post-construction to a third-party Multifamily High 
Rise Review Organization to ensure that program prerequisites and 
energy conservation measures are properly installed and meet ENERGY 
STAR requirements. In addition, plants producing manufactured homes 
undergo a certification process to ensure that they can consistently 
produce and install homes that meet ENERGY STAR guidelines. Also, under 
ENERGY STAR's Verified HVAC Installation program, local program 
sponsors promote the installation of HVAC systems in homes to meet 
ENERGY

[[Page 19557]]

STAR guidelines. Sponsors oversee contractors who perform the 
installations, perform tests, and report the results to the sponsors. 
Sponsors submit periodic reports to EPA on these activities.
    Evaluation: Partners and other participants are asked to 
periodically submit information as needed to assist in evaluating the 
effectiveness of ENERGY STAR's energy efficiency guidelines, to provide 
information about energy efficiency incentives available to the public, 
and to determine the impact that ENERGY STAR has on the market for 
energy-efficient homes.
    Periodic Reporting: Some partners are asked to periodically submit 
information to EPA to assist EPA in tracking and measuring progress in 
building and promoting ENERGY STAR certified homes and installing and 
promoting energy-efficient improvements.
    ENERGY STAR Awards: Each year, partners who meet specific criteria 
are eligible to apply for an ENERGY STAR award, which recognizes 
organizations demonstrating outstanding support in promoting ENERGY 
STAR.
    Form Numbers: 5900-188, 5900-266, 5900-268, 5900-269, 5900-270, 
5900-420, 5900-421, 5900-422, 5900-423, 5900-424, 5900-425, 5900-426, 
5900-427, 5900-428, 5900-429.
    Respondents/affected entities: ENERGY STAR partners, including home 
builders, multifamily high rise developers, manufactured home plants, 
verification organizations, and energy efficiency program sponsors. 
Also included are oversight organizations and HVAC contractors.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary
    Estimated number of respondents: 3,235 (total).
    Frequency of response: Once, quarterly, annually, and on occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 177,847 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $14,747,008 (per year), includes $0 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 6,120 hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This includes a 68,457-hour decrease due primarily to 
program changes and a 62,337-hour increase due to adjustments resulting 
primarily from improved data and analysis. EPA's program changes 
include the sun-setting of several programs and collections, including 
the Lender Partnership program, the Designed to Earn program, and the 
Outreach Partnership. In addition, the Home Performance with ENERGY 
STAR program was transferred from EPA to the U.S. Department of Energy. 
EPA also will no longer collect homeowner information related to ENERGY 
STAR certified homes or other programmatic information under this ICR. 
EPA's adjustments include updating the number of respondents and 
burdens based on improved data and analysis.

Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2018-09332 Filed 5-2-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P