[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 36 (Friday, February 22, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5676-5677]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-03060]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0082; FRL-9988-73-OEI]


Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and 
Approval; Comment Request; EPA's Natural Gas STAR 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), EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program 
(EPA ICR No. 1736.08, OMB Control No. 2060-0328) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with 
the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a renewal with modification of the 
existing ICR which expires on March 31, 2019. Public comments were 
previously requested via the Federal Register on September 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 March 25, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2004-0082 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: Jerome Blackman, Office of Atmospheric 
Programs, Climate Change Division, (6207A), Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460;

[[Page 5677]]

telephone number: 202-343-9630; 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.
    Abstract: Natural Gas STAR is a voluntary program sponsored by the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that encourages oil and 
natural gas companies to adopt cost effective technologies and 
practices that improve operational efficiency and reduce methane 
emissions. Methane is the primary component of natural gas and a potent 
greenhouse gas. The Program works with oil and natural gas companies in 
the production, gathering & processing, transmission, and distribution 
sectors to remove barriers that inhibit the implementation of 
technologies and practices that reduce methane emissions. The Program 
effectively promotes the adoption of emission reduction technologies 
and practices by helping Natural Gas Star partners evaluate Best 
Management Practices (BMPs) in the context of their current operations 
and implement them where cost effective. Implementation of the 
Program's BMPs saves participants money, improves operational 
efficiency, and enhances the protection of the environment.
    The current Memorandum of Understanding used to join the 
partnership has not been updated in 25 years. EPA proposes to replace 
it with a streamlined and more flexible Partnership Agreement which 
will more realistically reflect options companies have to engage with 
the Program. This change, in addition to updates to the annual report 
forms and increased flexibility regarding partner Implementation Plans, 
will reduce the total burden estimate for companies participating in 
Natural Gas STAR.
    Form Numbers:
     Partnership Agreement: EPA Form No. 5900-105.
     Production Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-103.
     Transmission Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-109.
     Distribution Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-97.
     Gathering and Processing Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-100.
     Production Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-104.
     Transmission Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-95.
     Distribution Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-99.
     Gathering and Processing Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-102.
    Respondents/affected entities: The gathering and processing, 
production, transmission, and distribution sectors of the oil and 
natural gas industry.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: 147 total (97 partners; 50 
vendors).
    Frequency of response: Annual for partners and semi-annual for 
vendor service directory.
    Total estimated burden: 2,846 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $268,577 (per year), includes $0 annualized 
capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is decrease of burden for Partner 
respondents from 6,995 hours in the ICR currently approved by OMB to 
2,834 under this renewal request. This decrease is attributed to the 
Program's maturity and the fact that partner burden decreases over time 
as internal processes are established, a decrease in the number of 
companies joining Gas STAR, a decrease in the estimated number of 
partners submitting reports annually, and the streamlining of the 
Partnership Agreement and annual report forms. EPA estimates that 
approximately 50 companies will complete the Service Provider Directory 
form with a total burden of 13 hours annually.

Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Regulatory Support Division.
[FR Doc. 2019-03060 Filed 2-21-19; 8:45 am]
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