[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 163 (Wednesday, August 24, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 51976-51977]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-18284]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0706; FRL-10098-01-OAR]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; 
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), ``Production, Import, Export, 
Recycling, Destruction, Transhipment, and Feedstock Use of Ozone-
Depleting Substances'' (EPA ICR No. 1432.38, OMB Control No. 2060-0170) 
to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. 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 April 30, 2023. 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 October 24, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2022-0706, 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 
Avenue 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: Robert Burchard, Stratospheric 
Protection Division, (6205A), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 
343-9126; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that 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 Paperwork Reduction Act, 
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

[[Page 51977]]

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 document to announce the submission of the ICR 
to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: This ICR covers provisions under the Montreal Protocol on 
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Montreal Protocol) and Title 
VI of the CAA that establish limits on total U.S. production, import, 
and export of class I and class II ozone-depleting substances (or 
controlled substances). Production and import of class I controlled 
substances (chlorofluorocarbons and others) was phased out in the 
United States. The phaseout includes exceptions for essential uses, 
critical uses of methyl bromide, quarantine and pre-shipment uses of 
methyl bromide, previously used material, and material that will be 
transformed or destroyed. There are also regulations that restrict the 
use of class II controlled substances and require a gradual reduction 
in the production and consumption of these chemicals leading to their 
eventual phaseout. The class II controlled substance phaseout 
regulations include exceptions for previously used material and 
material that will be transformed or destroyed.
    Form numbers: 5900-137, 5900-136, 5900-149, 5900-150, 5900-153, 
5900-151, 5900-199, 5900-202, 5900-200, 5900-201, 5900-205, 5900-155, 
5900-140, 5900-144, 5900-142, 5900-141, 5900-148, 5900-147, 5900-473, 
5900-138, 5900-139, 5900-152, 5900-472, 5900-154, 5900-146.
    Respondents/affected entities: Producers, importers, exporters, and 
certain users of ozone-depleting substances; methyl bromide 
applicators, distributors, and end users including commodity storage 
and quarantine users.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (CAA sections 114, 
603(b), and 604(d)(6)).
    Estimated number of respondents: 1,174 (total).
    Frequency of response: Quarterly, annually, and as needed.
    Total estimated burden: 3,022 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $375,086 (per year), includes $8,250 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in estimates: There is an increase of 82 hours in the total 
estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by 
OMB. This increase is a result of updated assumptions associated with 
recordkeeping requirements that are more consistent with other ICRs 
that cover similar recordkeeping activities (e.g., the HFC Allowance 
Allocation Program ICR, OMB Control No. 2060-0734).

Cynthia A. Newberg,
Director, Stratospheric Protection Division.
[FR Doc. 2022-18284 Filed 8-23-22; 8:45 am]
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