[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 187 (Thursday, September 26, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Page 50828]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-20943]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0407; FRL-9994-21-OMS]


Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and 
Approval; Comment Request; EPA's ENERGY STAR Program in the Commercial 
and Industrial Sectors (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 ENERGY STAR Program in the 
Commercial and Industrial Sectors (EPA ICR Number 1772.08, OMB Control 
Number 2060-0347), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. 
This is a proposed revision of the ICR, which is currently approved 
through September 30, 2019. Public comments were previously requested 
via the Federal Register on December 13, 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 October 28, 
2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2006-0407, 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: Cynthia Veit, Climate Protection 
Partnerships Division, (6202A), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-
9494; 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. The docket can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West 
Building, 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: EPA created ENERGY STAR as a voluntary program to help 
businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior 
energy efficiency. The program focuses on reducing utility-generated 
emissions by reducing the demand for energy. In 1991, EPA launched the 
Green Lights Program to encourage corporations, state and local 
governments, colleges and universities, and other organizations to 
adopt energy-efficient lighting as a profitable means of preventing 
pollution and improving lighting quality. Since then, EPA has rolled 
Green Lights into ENERGY STAR and expanded ENERGY STAR to encompass 
organization-wide energy performance improvement, such as building 
technology upgrades, product purchasing initiatives, and employee 
training. At the same time, EPA has streamlined the reporting 
requirements of ENERGY STAR and focused on providing incentives for 
improvements (e.g., ENERGY STAR Awards Program).
    To join ENERGY STAR, organizations are asked to complete a 
Partnership Agreement that establishes their commitment to energy 
efficiency. Partners agree to undertake efforts such as measuring, 
tracking, and benchmarking their organization's energy performance by 
using tools such as those offered by ENERGY STAR; developing and 
implementing a plan to improve energy performance in their facilities 
and operations by adopting a strategy provided by ENERGY STAR; and 
educating staff and the public about their Partnership with ENERGY 
STAR, and highlighting achievements with the ENERGY STAR, where 
available. In addition, Partners and any other interested party can 
evaluate the efficiency of their buildings using EPA's online tools 
(e.g., Portfolio Manager) and apply for recognition.
    Form numbers: 5900-19, 5900-22, 5900-89, 5900-195, 5900-197, 5900-
198, 5900-262, 5900-263, 5900-264, 5900-265, 5900-382, 5900-383, 5900-
387, 5900-436 and 5900-437.
    Respondents/affected entities: EPA's ENERGY STAR Program in the 
Commercial and Industrial Sectors.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: 37,021 (total).
    Frequency of response: One-time, annually, or on occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 210,306 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $14,859,991 (per year), includes $5,034,450 
in annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the estimates: There is a decrease of 43,778 hours in 
the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This decrease is due in part to program enhancements 
and clarifications. The decrease is also due to EPA's adjustments to 
its burden estimates. For example, EPA adjusted its analysis of its 
online tool, Portfolio Manager, to reflect data indicating that, 
although use of the tool is increasing, users are spending less time 
per building benchmarked, on average, than in the past.

Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2019-20943 Filed 9-25-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P