[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 222 (Friday, November 17, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57714-57715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-28391]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5332-9]
Agency Information Collection Activities; EPA's Energy Star
Buildings Program
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the
following proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for
review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of
the proposed information collection as described below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 17, 1996.
ADDRESSES: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Atmospheric Pollution
Prevention Division, Mail Code: 6202J, 401 M Street SW., Washington, DC
20460.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Interested persons may obtain
additional information concerning the proposed information collection
by contacting Michael L. Hadrick of EPA either via phone at (202) 233-
9282, fax at (202) 233-9579, or by mail at the address above.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities affected by this
action will be those that agree to participate in EPA's Energy Star
Buildings Program, which is a voluntary program for increasing the
energy efficiency of existing commercial and industrial buildings.
Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's Energy
Star Buildings Program
Abstract: EPA's Energy Star Buildings Program is a voluntary, non-
regulatory
[[Page 57715]]
program for increasing the energy efficiency of existing commercial and
industrial buildings. The program encourages corporations, state and
local governments, and other organizations to participate in a
partnership with EPA to make cost-effective energy-efficiency
improvements in their buildings. In return, EPA provides technical
support to help program participants apply proven technologies to
achieve maximum efficiency at the lowest cost. EPA also publicly
recognizes participants for their efforts and publicizes participant
achievements. The overall goal of the program is to reduce utility-
generated emissions by reducing the energy consumed in commercial and
industrial buildings.
Participation in the program is initiated by completing and signing
an Energy Star Buildings Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU
outlines the responsibilities of the participant and EPA, and is used
to establish participation in the program and agreement to the terms of
participation. Other than the name of the organization, signature, and
date, no other information is requested on the MOU. The Energy Star
Buildings MOU is an addendum to the Green Lights MOU, which requests
more detailed information. The burden associated with the Green Lights
MOU was covered in ICR No. 1614 and is not covered in this ICR.
Information from the MOU is entered into a data base that serves as a
source of general information and as a mailing list.
As a condition of program participation, partners agree to complete
and submit to EPA an annual facility report on each building undergoing
energy efficiency improvements. On the annual reports, partners provide
information such as stage of project completion, project cost,
historical and current energy use and cost data, and ancillary
information such as building name, location, and size. EPA reviews the
annual facility reports to track project implementation efforts and to
obtain data on the costs and benefits of the energy efficiency
improvements being made. This information is used to calculate the
amount of utility-generated emissions prevented, evaluate program
effectiveness, and publicize partner achievements and program results.
EPA will also collect additional, project-specific technical
information from some partners concerning the energy-efficiency
improvements made. This collection will include information such as
building age and construction, utility and fuel rates, financial and
economic criteria used to evaluate and select investment opportunities,
types and sources of project financing, project and equipment costs and
rates of return, and technical details concerning the building's
lighting, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning equipment and
systems. EPA will use this information to evaluate and refine its
technical strategies and implementation support tools.
The EPA would like to solicit comments 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 burden
of the proposed collection of information;
(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
collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g.,
permitting electronic submission of responses.
Burden Statement: EPA estimates an average annual respondent burden
of 4,362 hours for the information collection activities associated
with the Energy Star Buildings program. The total burden is comprised
of the following information collections:
(i) MOU: EPA estimates that, on average, 191 new partners will
join the Energy Star Buildings program each year by completing and
submitting an MOU. The total annual respondent burden for the MOU is
1,385 hours, or 7.25 hours per MOU.
(ii) Annual Facility Report: EPA estimates that, on average, a
total of 565 annual facility reports will be submitted by 353
partners (respondents) each year, for a total annual respondent
burden of 2,697 hours. This equates to 1.6 annual facility reports
per partner, or 4.8 hours per report.
(iii) Additional Technical Information: EPA estimates that, on
average, 35 partners (respondents) each year will submit additional
technical information on their actual upgrade projects. The burden
for this information collection is 280 hours, or 8 hours per
response.
These estimates include 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; 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.
No person is required to respond to a collection of information
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number.
Send comments regarding these matters, or any other aspect of the
information collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden,
to the address listed above.
Dated: November 2, 1995.
Jean Lupinacci,
Chief, Energy Star Commercial and Industrial Buildings Customer Support
Branch.
[FR Doc. 95-28391 Filed 11-16-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
