E8-29230. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NESHAP for Steel Pickling, HCl Process Facilities and Hydrochloric Acid Regeneration Plants (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 1821.06, OMB ...

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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 January 9, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-OECA-2008-0301, to (1) EPA online using http://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 May 30, 2008 (73 FR 31088), 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-2008-0301, which is available for public viewing online at http://www.regulations.gov,, in person viewing at the Enforcement and Compliance Docket 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 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 http://www.regulations.gov.

Title: NESHAP for Steel Pickling, HCl Process Facilities and Hydrochloric Acid Regeneration Plants (Renewal)

ICR Numbers: EPA ICR Number 1821.06, OMB Control Number 2060-0419.

ICR Status: This ICR is schedule to expire on February 28, 2009. 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) for Steel Pickling, HCl Process Facilities and Hydrochloric Acid Regeneration Plants published at 40 CFR part 63, subpart CCC, were proposed on September 18, 1997 (62 FR 49051) and promulgated on June 22, 1999 (64 FR 33202). This rule applies to all facilities that pickle steel using hydrochloric acid or regenerate hydrochloric acid, and are major sources or are part of a facility that is a major source. This regulation does not apply to any pickling line that uses an acid other than hydrochloric acid or an acid solution containing less than 6 percent HCl or at a temperature less than 100 degrees (Fahrenheit). This rulemaking establishes limits for hydrochloric acid emissions from continuous and batch pickling lines and acid regeneration units and limits for chlorine emissions from acid regeneration units. Also, operational and equipment standards are established for stationary acid storage vessels.

The monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements outlined in the rule are similar to those required for other NESHAP regulations. Consistent with the NESHAP General Provisions (40 CFR part 63, subpart A), respondents would submit one-time notifications of applicability and a one-time report on performance test results for the primary emission control device. Plants also must develop and implement a startup, shutdown, and malfunction plan (SSMP) and submit semiannual reports of any event where the procedures in the plan were not followed. Sources are required to submit semiannual reports at all times including for periods of monitoring exceedances and periods of compliance certifying that no exceedances have occurred. NESHAP 40 CFR part 60, subpart CCC, also requires the owner or operator to submit a written maintenance plan for each emission control device. These notifications, reports, and records are essential in determining compliance, and are required of all sources subject to NESHAP.

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 60, subpart CCC, as authorized in sections 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 Numbers for EPA's regulations listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR chapter 15, 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 168 hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose and 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. All existing ways will have to adjust to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements that 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: Steel pickling, HCl process facilities and hydrochloric acid regeneration plants.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 72.

Frequency of Response: Initially, occasionally and semiannually.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 25,316.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $2,283,406, which includes: $2,275,774 in Labor costs, $7,632 in O&M costs, and no capital costs.

Changes in the Estimates: The decrease in labor hours from the most recently approved ICR from 25,448 to 25,316 hours is due to a decrease in the number of new or modified sources. Based on our discussions with the steel industry representatives, the steel industry and the steel pickling, in particular, will be experiencing essentially a flat production in the coming years with no new facilities anticipated. There is an increase in the labor cost burden, which is due to an updating of the labor rates.

There is a decrease in the capital/startup and operations and maintenance (O&M) costs from the previous ICR, which is due to the decrease in the number of new or modified sources and an adjustment for rounding-up in the previous ICR.

Dated: December 3, 2008.

John Moses,

Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.