[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 13, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5546-5549]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3193]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5421-3]
Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal: National
Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program, OMB Number: 2060-0256
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 notice announces that the Information Collection Request
(ICR): National Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program, OMB Number:
2060-0256, EPA Control Number: 1626.03, is coming up for renewal.
Before submitting the renewal package to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB), EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the
collection as described below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 15, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in duplicate to the attention
of Air Docket No. A-92-01 VIII.J at: Environmental Protection Agency,
401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460. The Air and Radiation Docket
and Information Center is located in Room M-1500, Waterside Mall
(Ground Floor), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street,
SW., Washington, DC 20460. Dockets may be inspected from 8:30 a.m. to
5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. A reasonable fee may be charged for
copying docket materials.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Ottinger, (202) 233-9149.
Facsimile number: (202) 233-9577. For questions only, you may use the
electronic address: ottinger.deborah@epamail.epa.gov. All comments must
be sent to the docket.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities affected by this
action are refrigeration and air conditioning service and repair shops,
plumbing, heating, and air conditioning contractors, refrigerated
transport service dealers, scrap metal recyclers, and automobile
dismantlers and recyclers. Additional entities affected include Clean
Air Act Section 608 technician certification programs, equipment
certification programs, refrigerant wholesalers and reclaimers, and
other establishments that perform refrigerant removal at service and
disposal.
Title: ``National Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program'' OMB
Control Number: 2060-0256. EPA Control Number: 1626.03. Expiration
Date: May 31, 1996.
Abstract: In 1993, EPA promulgated regulations under Section 608 of
the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (Act) for the recycling of CFCs
and HCFCs in air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. These
regulations were published in 58 FR 28660, and are codified at 40 CFR
Subpart F (Sec. 82.150 et seq.). The reasons the information is being
collected, the way the information is to be used, and whether the
requirements are mandatory, voluntary, or required to obtain a benefit,
are described below. The ICR renewal does not include any burden for
third-party or public disclosures not previously reviewed and approved
by 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 are listed in 40 CFR Part 9.
Equipment Testing Organizations. Equipment testing organizations
must apply to EPA to become approved. Approved equipment testing
organizations must maintain records of the tests performed and their
results, and must submit a list of all certified equipment to EPA
annually. Testing organizations must notify EPA whenever a new model of
equipment is certified or whenever an existing certified models fails a
recertification test. Information collected from equipment certifiers
is required to ensure that recycling and recovery equipment meets the
performance standards of the regulation and that all approved testing
laboratories have the equipment and expertise to test equipment to
these standards.
Servicing and Disposal Establishments. Persons maintaining,
servicing, repairing, or disposing of appliances must certify to EPA
that they have acquired certified recycling or recovery equipment and
are complying with the requirements of the rule. This certification
must be renewed in the event of a change of ownership of the service or
disposal establishment. In addition, service establishments are
required to maintain adequate documentation of technician
certification. These requirements help the Agency to target its
enforcement efforts.
Reclaimers. Refrigerant reclaimers must maintain records of the
names and addresses of persons sending them material for reclamation as
well as the quantity of the material (the combined mass of refrigerant
and contaminants) sent. In addition, reclaimers must maintain records
of the mass of refrigerant reclaimed and the mass of waste products.
Reclaimers must report this information (total quantities) to the
Agency annually. This information helps the Agency track refrigerant
use to insure that no refrigerant is vented at service or disposal.
Refrigerant Wholesalers. Wholesalers must maintain records
indicating the names of purchasers, dates of sales, and quantities of
refrigerant purchased. This information helps the Agency to track
refrigerant use and identify points of noncompliance. The Agency
believes that wholesalers already maintain such records. In addition to
normal business records, wholesalers have to maintain records verifying
that purchasers of refrigerant are properly certified. These records
will be used by EPA inspectors to ensure that refrigerants are only
sold to certified technicians. This is to guarantee that individuals
who purchase refrigerant are aware of the legal restrictions on its
use.
Disposers. Persons disposing of small appliances, room air
conditioners, and MVACs must maintain copies of signed statements
attesting that the refrigerant has been removed prior to final disposal
of each appliance. This information helps EPA to verify that
refrigerant is recovered at some point during the disposal process even
if the final
[[Page 5547]]
disposer does not have recovery equipment.
Technicians. In order for technicians to use recycling and recovery
equipment, they have to pass a certification test. Technicians have to
maintain a wallet-sized certification card. The test is necessary to
ensure that technicians understand refrigerant recovery procedures and
regulations. The card is necessary to ensure that only certified
technicians perform work on air conditioning and refrigeration
equipment or purchase refrigerants.
Technician Certification Programs. Organizations operating
technician certification programs have to apply to EPA to have their
program approved. Approved technician certification programs have to
maintain records including the names of certified technicians and the
unique numbers assigned to each technician certified through their
programs. Approved technician certification programs also have to
submit a report to EPA every six months including the pass/fail rate
and testing schedules.
The application process ensures that the technician certification
programs meet minimum standards for generating, tracking, and grading
tests, and keeping records. Record maintenance allows both the Agency
and the certification program to verify certification claims and
monitor the certification process. The semiannual reports give the
Agency the ability to evaluate certification programs and modify the
certification test if necessary.
Refrigeration and air conditioning equipment owners. Owners of
refrigeration or air conditioning equipment that contain more than 50
pounds of refrigerant must maintain records of the quantity of
refrigerant used during each service procedure performed for the
equipment. This ensures that owners can determine when they are subject
to leak repair requirements. In addition, equipment owners who decided
not to repair leaks must develop and maintain a record of a plan that
states that the equipment will be either retired, replaced or
retrofitted. The development of such a plan ensures that equipment
owners intend to take action to reduce emissions.
Owners of Industrial Process Refrigeration. Under an amendment to
the section 608 rule that was promulgated on August 8, 1995 (60 FR
40420), owners of industrial process refrigeration equipment who wish
to receive an extension or exclusion under the leak repair amendment
are subject to the following reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
(The Office of Management and Budget approved the amendment to the ICR
reflecting this amendment on September 28, 1995.)
(1) Those persons wishing to extend leak repair compliance beyond
the required 30 days must maintain and submit to EPA information
identifying the facility, the leak rate, the method used to determine
the leak rate and full charge, the date a leak rate greater than
allowable was discovered, the location of the leaks, any repair work
completed thus far and date completed, a plan to fix other outstanding
leaks to achieve allowable leak rate, reasons why greater than 30 days
is needed, and an estimate of when repair work will be completed. Any
dates and results of static and dynamic tests must also be maintained
and submitted to EPA.
(2) Those persons wishing to extend retrofit compliance beyond the
required one year must maintain and submit to EPA information
identifying the facility, the leak rate, the method used to determine
the leak rate and full charge, the date a leak rate of greater than the
allowable rate was discovered, the location of leaks, any repair work
that has been completed thus far and date completed, a plan to complete
the retrofit or replacement of the system, the reasons why more than
one year is necessary, the date of notification to EPA, an estimate of
when retrofit or replacement work will be completed, if time changes
for original estimates occur, documentation of the reason why, and the
date of notification to EPA regarding a change in the estimate of when
the work will be completed.
(3) Those persons wishing to exclude purged refrigerants that are
destroyed from the annual leak rate calculations must maintain records
on-site to support the amount of refrigerant claimed sent for
destruction. These records must include flow rate, quantity or
concentration of the refrigerant in the vent stream, and periods of
purge flow.
(4) Those persons wishing to calculate the full charge of an
affected appliance by establishing a range based on the best available
data, regarding the normal operating characteristics and conditions for
the appliance, must maintain records on-site to support the methodology
used in selecting or modifying the particular range.
The sum of these changes represents an increase in reporting
requirements only for those persons wishing to receive an extension or
exclusion under the leak repair amendment.
These reporting and recordkeeping requirements allow determinations
to be made regarding requested extensions and exclusions under the
amendments to the leak repair provisions, which were written in
response to industry concerns and with the concurrence of industry.
Specifically, the amendments allow for persons to extend their
compliance deadlines, to exclude destroyed purged refrigerants from
leak rate calculations, or to use a range rather than calculate the
full charge, when certain circumstances exist. EPA would be unable to
make determinations as to the viability of a claim regarding the need
for an extension without the information under the recordkeeping and
reporting requirements. In negotiating the settlement agreement with
members of CMA, those members agreed with the proposed recordkeeping
and reporting requirements.
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: The annual burden is reported in this Notice by
annual respondent burden. The burden hours shown have been
significantly reduced from the original ICR because most of the burden
hours in the original ICR (technician certification, certification by
service establishments, applications by equipment and technician
certifiers) were associated with the start-up of the program. This
estimate 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.
[[Page 5548]]
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Burden
Collection activities hours
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i. Equipment Testing Organizations:
Annual Respondent Burden:
Submit to EPA annual list of all equipment
previously certified.............................. 1
Notify EPA of certification of new models.......... 5
Maintain records of equipment tested and its
performance....................................... 0
Notify EPA of equipment failing retests or
inspections....................................... 2
Total Annual Burden: Hour total (8) x Number of Respondents
(2)=16 hours.
ii. Certification by Service Establishments that Change
Ownership or Enter the Market:
Annual Respondent Burden:
Compile information, complete certification
requirements...................................... .25
Maintain proof of employee certification........... .25
Total Annual Burden: Hour total (.5) x Number of
Respondents (2,250)=1125 hours.
iii. Certification by Disposal Establishments that Change
Ownership or Enter the Market:
Annual Respondent Burden:
Compile information, complete certification
requirements...................................... .25
Maintain proof of employee certification........... .25
Total Annual Burden: Hour total (.5) x Number of
Respondents (25)=12.5 hours.
iv. Maintenance of copies of signed statements by disposal
establishments:
Annual Respondent Burden:
Maintain copies of signed statements verifying
evacuation of refrigerant......................... 20
Total Annual Burden: Hour total (20) x Number of
Respondents (500)=10,000 hours.
v. Certification by Refrigerant Reclaimers that Change
Ownership or Enter the Market:
Annual Respondent Burden:
Completing certification and submitting it to EPA
Headquarters...................................... 2
Total Annual Burden: Hour Total (2) x Number of respondents
(20)=40.
vi. Reclaimer Reporting:
Annual Respondent Burden:
Compiling information and submitting it to EPA
Headquarters...................................... 5
Total Annual Burden: Hour Total (5) x Number of respondents
(80)=400.
vii. Refrigerant Wholesalers:
Annual Respondent Burden:
Maintain usual business records of refrigerant
sales transactions................................ 0
Maintain normal invoices........................... 0
Maintain records of technician certification....... 8
Total Annual Burden: Hour total (8) x Number of respondents
(5,000)=40,000.
viii. Technician Certification Programs Applying for
Approval:
Annual Respondent Burden:
Compiling information to become approved and
submitting it to EPA Headquarters................. 30
Total Annual Burden: Hour Total (30) x Number of
respondents (10)=300.
ix. Recordkeeping by Existing Technician Certification
Programs:
Annual Respondent Burden:
Maintain records of certified technicians,
individuals taking the tests, test scores,
locations, and dates of tests..................... 0
Submit report to EPA every 6 months................ 16
Total Annual Burden: Hour Total (16) x Number of
respondents (100)=1600 hours.
x. Technicians Acquiring Certification and Maintaining
Certification Cards:
Annual Respondent Burden:
Register and take certification test............... 3
Maintain certification card........................ .02
Total Annual Burden: Hour Total (3) x Number of respondents
(30,000)=90,000 hours.
Hour Total (.02) x Number of respondents (300,000)=6,000
hours.
Total: 96,000 hours.
xi. Owners of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Equipment:
Annual Respondent Burden:
Keep records of the quantity of refrigerant used
during service procedures......................... .1
Develop and maintain plan to retire, replace, or
retrofit equipment................................ 2
Total Annual Burden: Hour Total (.1) x Number of
respondents (1,968,000)= 196,800.
Hour Total (2) x Number of respondents (35,850)=71,700.
Total: 268,500 hours.
xii. Owners of Industrial Process Refrigeration Equipment:
Annual Respondent Burden:
Prepare requests for 30-day extensions............. 5
Prepare requests for retrofit extensions........... 8
Maintain information on purged and destroyed
refrigerant....................................... 4
Maintain information on the calculation of the full
charge using a range.............................. 4
Perform and document results of static and dynamic
tests............................................. 4
Total Annual Burden (same order as above):
Hour total (5) x Number of respondents (30)=150.
Hour total (8) x Number of respondents (30)=240.
Hour total (4) x Number of respondents (60)=240.
Hour total (4) x Number of respondents (30)=120.
Hour total (4) x Number of respondents (60)=240.
Total: 990 hours.
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[[Page 5549]]
Send comments regarding these matters, or any other aspects of the
information collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden,
to the address listed above under ADDRESSES near the top of this
Notice.
Dated: February 6, 1996.
Paul M. Stolpman,
Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs.
[FR Doc. 96-3193 Filed 2-12-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
