99-32178. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With EPA's SFINF6/INF Emissions Reduction Partnership for Electric Power Systems

[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 238 (Monday, December 13, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69527-69528]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32178]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6507-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With 
EPA's SF6 Emissions Reduction Partnership for Electric Power 
Systems

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Information Collection Activities 
Associated with EPA's SF6 Emissions Reduction Partnership 
for Electric Power Systems, EPA ICR No. 1933.01
    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 February 11, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Commenters must send an original and two copies of their 
comments referencing EPA ICR No. 1933.01: Information Collection 
Activities Associated with EPA's SF6 Emissions Reduction 
Partnership for Electric Power Systems to: Air and Radiation Docket and 
Information Center, Climate Protection Division (6102), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 
20460. Attention: Docket No. A-99-43.
    Comments may also be submitted electronically through the internet 
to: [e-mail]. Comments in electronic format should also 
be identified by EPA ICR No. 1933.01: Information Collection Activities 
Associated with EPA's SF6 Emissions Reduction Partnership 
for Electric Power Systems. All electronic comments must be submitted 
as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption.
    Public comments and supporting materials are available for viewing 
in the Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, located at the 
address above. The Docket is open to the public on all federal 
government work days from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. It is recommended that 
the public make an appointment to review docket materials by calling 
[phone]. The Docket will accept phone and fax requests for 
material. Phone requests may be made using the phone number listed 
above, and fax requests may be submitted to [phone]. A 
reasonable fee is charged for the duplication of materials.
    The official record for this action will be kept in paper form. 
Accordingly, EPA will transfer all comments received electronically 
into paper form and place them in the official record, which will also 
include all comments submitted directly in writing.
    EPA responses to comments, whether the comments are written or 
electronic, will be in a document in the Federal Register. EPA will not 
immediately reply to commenters electronically other than to seek 
clarification of electronic comments that may be garbled in 
transmission or during conversion to paper form, as discussed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For more information on specific 
aspects of this collection of information, contact Eric Dolin, Climate 
Protection Division (Mail Code 620J), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460, [phone], or 
[e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
power generation and transmission utilities.
    Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's 
SF6 Emissions Reduction Partnership for Electric Power 
Systems, EPA ICR No. 1933.01. OMB Control No. and expiration date are 
not applicable as this is a new ICR.
    Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is launching a 
new voluntary partnership, the SF6 Emissions Reduction 
Partnership for Electric Power Systems, that aims to combine the 
efforts of EPA and industry to pursue technically and economically 
feasible actions to minimize SF6 emissions and reduce the 
threat of global climate change. Participants in the program will have 
the flexibility of choosing cost-effective pollution preventions 
strategies that work for them. In turn, EPA will provide partners with 
technical information and sponsor research on strategies for reducing 
SF6 emissions. EPA also will publicly recognize partners for 
their achievements in reducing emissions and protecting the environment 
through brochures, public service announcements, and articles for 
publication.
    This ICR covers recordkeeping and reporting activities for 
participation in the SF6 Emissions Reduction Partnership for 
Electric Power Systems. Partners must provide or keep records of 
information associated with six discrete information collections. 
Specifically, these information collections include the Memorandum of 
Understanding, Partner Representation Form, Emissions Baseline Year 
Letter, SF6 Emissions Inventory Reporting Form, Policy and 
Procedures Document, and Emissions Reduction Goal Letter.
    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 are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.
    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

[[Page 69528]]

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 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).
    Burden Statement: Over the three years covered by this ICR, EPA 
estimates that a total of 175 Partners will join the SF6 
Partnership (100 in the first year, 50 in the second, and 25 in the 
third). Annualized over these three years, EPA estimates that an 
average of approximately 58 Partners (175/3 = 58) will join the 
SF6 Partnership and submit an MOU and a Partner 
Representation Form each year. EPA expects 10 percent, or approximately 
6, of these Partners will change representatives each year.
    EPA estimates that 90 percent, or approximately 52, of the 58 
Partners joining the SF6 Partnership each year will select 
their own baseline year. As such, EPA expects to receive 52 Emissions 
Baseline Year Letters each year.
    EPA expects to receive annual SF6 Emissions Inventory 
Reporting Forms for all SF6 emissions in a calendar year 
during the first quarter of the following year. As such, EPA expects to 
receive 0 forms in the first year, 100 forms in the second, and 150 in 
the third, or a total of 250 forms over the three years covered by this 
ICR. Annualized over these three years, EPA expects to receive an 
average of approximately 83 SF6 Emissions Inventory 
Reporting Forms (250/3 = 83) each year. Further, EPA expects that 
Partners will maintain records of these 83 Inventory Reporting Forms 
and any supporting documentation each year.
    EPA also estimates that all 58 Partners joining the SF6 
Partnership each year will develop a Policy and Procedures Document for 
the Proper Handling of SF6 within that same year. However, 
these Partners will submit the Policy and Procedures Document with the 
first SF6 Emissions Inventory Reporting Form in the first 
quarter of following year. As such, EPA expects to receive 0 documents 
in the first year, 100 in the second, and 50 in the third, or a total 
of 150 over the three years covered by this ICR. Annualized over these 
three years, EPA expects to receive an average of 50 Policy and 
Procedures Documents (150/3 = 50) each year. Further, EPA expects 
approximately 10 percent, or 5, of these 50 Partners will change their 
policy or procedures and subsequently update and submit a revised 
Policy and Procedures Document each year. As such, EPA expects to 
receive 5 revised documents each year.
    In addition, EPA assumes that all Partners joining in the 
SF6 Partnership in the first and second years and 50 percent 
of those joining in the third year will develop and submit Emissions 
Reduction Goal Letters. As such, EPA expects to receive 100 letters in 
the first year, 50 in the second, and 12 in the third, or a total of 
162 over the three years covered by this ICR. Annualized over these 
three years, EPA expects to receive an average of 54 Emissions 
Reduction Goal Letters (162/3 = 54) each year. EPA also expects that 
approximately 10 percent, or approximately 5, of these Partners will 
change their emissions reduction goal and subsequently submit an 
updated Emissions Reduction Goal Letter each year. As such, EPA expects 
to receive 5 updated letters each year.
    EPA estimates the annual total respondent burden and costs for the 
information collection activities associated with the SF6 
Partnership are approximately 6,966 hours per year with an annual cost 
of approximately $381,692.
    EPA estimates that all Partners joining the SF6 
Partnership over the next three years will, on average, experience 
annual reporting burden of approximately 124 hours. This burden 
includes all of the time spent on reporting activities associated with 
the MOU, Partner Representation Form, Emissions Baseline Year Letter, 
SF6 Emissions Inventory Reporting Form, and Emissions 
Reduction Goal Letter. This burden includes time for gathering data; 
filling out the MOU or forms; developing letters or documents; revising 
them, as appropriate; and submitting both original and updated versions 
to EPA.
    EPA estimates that all Partners joining the SF6 
Partnership over the next three years will, on average, experience 
annual recordkeeping burden of approximately 0.3 hours. This burden 
covers time spent on keeping records associated with SF6 
Emissions Inventory Reporting Forms.
    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; 
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.

    Dated: November 24, 1999.
Eric Dolin,
Climate Protection Division.
[FR Doc. 99-32178 Filed 12-10-99; 8:45 am]
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