E7-22506. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NESHAP for Beryllium (Renewal); EPA ICR Number 0193.09, OMB Control Number 2060-0092

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency.

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost.

DATES:

Additional comments may be submitted on or before December 17, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-OECA-2007-0048, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or by e-mail to [e-mail], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Environmental Protection Agency, Enforcement and Compliance Docket and Information Center, mail code 2201T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB at: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Learia Williams, Compliance Assessment and Media Programs Division, Office of Compliance, Mail Code 2223A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: [phone]; fax number: [phone]; e-mail address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On March 9, 2007 (72 FR 10735), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments. Any additional comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.

EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under docket ID number EPA-HQ-OECA-2007-0048, which is available for public viewing online at http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Enforcement and Compliance Docket and Information Center in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is [phone], and the telephone number for the Enforcement and Compliance Docket Center is [phone].

Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at http://www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select “docket search,” then key in the docket ID number identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing at http://www.regulations.gov,, as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, confidential business information (CBI), or other information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic docket, go to www.regulations.gov.

Title: NESHAP for Beryllium (Renewal).

ICR Numbers: EPA ICR Number 0193.09, OMB Control Number 2060-0092.

ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2007. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 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. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, and displayed either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.

Abstract: The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), were proposed on December 7, 1971 (36 FR 23939) and promulgated on April 6, 1973 (38 FR 8826). This standard applies to all extraction plants, ceramic plants, foundries, incinerators, and propellant plants which process beryllium ore, beryllium, beryllium oxide, beryllium alloys, or beryllium-containing waste. The standard also applies to machine shops which process beryllium, beryllium oxides, or any alloy when such alloy contains more than five percent beryllium by weight. All sources known to have caused, or have the potential to cause, dangerous levels of beryllium in the ambient air are covered by the Beryllium NESHAP. This information is being collected to ensure compliance with 40 CFR part 61, subpart C.

There are approximately 236 existing sources subject to this rule. Of the total number of existing sources, we have assumed that approximately 10 sources (i.e., respondents) have elected to comply with an alternative ambient air quality limit by operating a continuous monitor in the vicinity of the affected facility. The monitoring requirements for these facilities provide information on ambient air quality and ensure that locally, the airborne beryllium concentration does not exceed 0.01 micrograms/m ³. These sources that are meeting the rule requirements by means of ambient monitoring are required to submit a monthly report of all measured concentrations to the Administrator. The remaining 226 sources have elected to comply with the rule by conducting a one-time-only stack test to determine beryllium emission levels. We have assumed that 10 percent of the 226 sources (or 23 respondents) complying with the emission limit standard will engage in an operational change at their facilities that could potentially increase beryllium emissions, and would be required to repeat the stack test to determine the beryllium emission limits. Consequently these sources will have recordkeeping and reporting requirements associated with the stack test. We have assumed that no additional sources are expected to become subject to the standard in the next three years. Therefore, there are 33 respondents for the purpose of determining the recordkeeping and reporting burden associated with this rule.

Any owner or operator subject to the provisions of this part shall maintain a file of these measurements, and retain the file for at least five years following the date of such measurements, maintenance reports, and records. All reports are sent to the delegated State or local authority. In the event that there is no such delegated authority, the reports are sent directly to the EPA regional office. This information is being collected to assure compliance with 40 CFR part 61, subpart C, as authorized in section 112 and 114(a) of the Clean Air Act. The required information consists of emissions data and other information that have been determined to be private.

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. The OMB Control Number for EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15, and are identified on the form and/or instrument, if applicable.

Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 16 hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements which have subsequently changed; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

Respondents/Affected Entities: Beryllium Facilities.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 33.

Frequency of Response: Monthly and on occasion.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 2,627.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $201,160, which is comprised of $0 annualized Capital Startup costs and $35,000 Operation and Maintenance (O&M) costs and $166,160 annualized Labor Costs.

Change in Estimates: There is no significant change in this ICR compared to the previous ICR. This is due to two considerations. First, the regulations have not changed over the past three years and are not anticipated to change over the next three years. Secondly, the growth rate for the industry is very low, negative or non-existent.

Since there are no changes in the regulatory requirements and there is no significant industry growth, the labor hours and cost figures in the previous ICR are used in this ICR and there is no change in burden to industry.

Dated: November 8, 2007.

Sara Hisel-McCoy,

Director, Collection Strategies Division.