[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 20 (Tuesday, January 30, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5891-5892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-01799]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0358; FRL-11709-01-OMS]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to the 
Office of Management and Budget for Review and Approval; Comment 
Request; Responsible Appliance Disposal 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),

[[Page 5892]]

Responsible Appliance Disposal Program (EPA ICR Number 2254.04, OMB 
Control Number 2060-0703) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. 
This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved 
through January 31, 2024. Public comments were previously requested via 
the Federal Register on June 6, 2023, during a 60-day comment period. 
This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments.

DATES: Comments may be submitted on or before February 29, 2024.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments to EPA, referencing Docket ID Number 
EPA-HQ-OAR-2007-0358, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred 
method), or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection 
Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. 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.
    Submit written comments and recommendations to OMB for the proposed 
information collection within 30 days of publication of this notice to 
www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sally Hamlin, Stratospheric Protection 
Division, Office of Air and Radiation, 6205A, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: 202-343-9711; 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: The Responsible Appliance Disposal program (RAD) is a 
voluntary partnership program sponsored by the Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) that encourages Partners to reduce emissions of ozone-
depleting substances (ODS) and their alternatives (e.g., 
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)) that can be attributed to improper disposal 
of appliances. Appliances may contain ODS or HFC refrigerants and foams 
as well as universal wastes such as mercury, used oil, and 
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Federal law requires refrigerant 
recovery and proper management of universal waste but does not require 
the recovery of appliance foam. The RAD Program works with utilities, 
retailers, manufacturers, federal agencies/states/municipalities, waste 
removal service providers, affiliates, and others to dispose of 
appliances using best environmental practices.
    To encourage reductions in emissions associated with appliance 
disposal in the United States, EPA launched the RAD Program. The RAD 
Program supports Section 608 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) and is an 
important component of EPA's mission to protect the ozone layer by 
reducing emissions of ODS. These efforts also support the American 
Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act. RAD Program Partners reduce 
emissions of ODS and HFCs and realize other benefits through recovery 
and destruction/reclamation of refrigerants and foam blowing agents--
the latter of which is not covered under existing Federal regulations--
and by ensuring that all other hazardous and recyclable materials are 
handled using best environmental practices. Greenhouse gas (GHG) 
emissions are avoided through recovery of both ODS, HFCs, and other 
foam blowing agents. Additionally, through the RAD Program, EPA is 
partnering with utilities, retailers, manufacturers, federal agencies/
state/municipalities, waste removal service providers, and others to 
promote the retirement of old appliances and permanently remove energy 
inefficient units from the electricity grid, providing energy savings 
to consumers.
    Participation in the Program begins with completion of a mutually 
agreed upon Partnership Agreement that outlines mutual responsibilities 
for participation in the RAD Program. By voluntarily joining the 
Program, a Partner agrees to complete an annual reporting form 
identifying the number and types of appliances handled and the fates of 
their individual components. The electronic reporting form 
automatically generates feedback for the user on the results of their 
participation in terms of emissions avoided, quantity of used oil/PCBs/
mercury destroyed or recycled, energy savings achieved, and consumer 
savings realized. An annual report provides Partners with information 
on their progress towards achieving emissions reductions and 
information about developments in the latest recycling technologies and 
practices. Through recognition of Partner efforts, and the Program's 
promotion of recycling best practices through webinars, web updates, 
fact sheets, and presentations, non-Partners become aware of recycling 
best practices and can evaluate what best practices could work for 
them. The RAD Program largely serves to disseminate information on 
recycling best practices and creates a platform for information sharing 
on recycling and waste management practices. The data collected are 
used as an indicator of whether industry is reducing emissions from 
end-of-life appliances.
    Form Numbers: Partnership agreement forms, partnership reporting 
forms.
    Respondents/affected entities: Utilities, manufacturers, retailers, 
Federal and State agencies, municipalities and waste removal companies.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: 52 (total over 3 years).
    Frequency of response: Annual and when desired.
    Total estimated burden: 292 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 
5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $43,702 (per year), includes $00 annualized 
capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is no change to the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with the 292 hours for the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. While the total number of respondents increased, the 
number of expected new Partners decreased. Therefore, the increase in 
burden associated with existing Partner activities is offset by the 
decrease in burden associated with new Partner activities.

Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Regulatory Support Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-01799 Filed 1-29-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P