E8-3229. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NESHAP for Vinyl Chloride (Renewal); EPA ICR Number 0186.11, OMB Control Number 2060-0071

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 March 24, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-OECA-2007-0054, 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 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-2007-0054, 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 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 Vinyl Chloride (Renewal).

ICR Numbers: EPA ICR Number 0186.11, OMB Control Number 2060-0071.

ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on April 30, 2008. 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 Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Vinyl Chloride (VC) were proposed on December 24, 1975, promulgated on October 21, 1976, and amended on June 7, 1977, September 30, 1986, September 23, 1988, and December 23, 1992. These standards apply to exhaust gases and oxychlorination vents at ethylene dichloride (EDC) plants; exhaust gas at vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) plants; and exhaust gases, reactor opening losses, manual vent valves, and stripping residuals at polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plants. The standards also apply to relief valves and fugitive emission sources at all three types of plants.

In the Administrator's judgment, vinyl chloride emissions from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethylene dichloride (EDC), and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) plants cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to result in an increase in mortality or an increase in serious irreversible, or incapacitating reversible illness. Vinyl chloride is a known human carcinogen which causes a rare cancer of the liver. In order to ensure compliance with the standard, adequate recordkeeping and reporting is necessary. This information enables the Agency to: (1) Ensure that facilities that are affected continue to operate the control equipment and use proper work practices to achieve compliance; (2) notification of startup indicates to enforcement personnel when a new facility has been constructed and is thus subject to the standards; and (3) provides a means for ensuring compliance.

The standards require daily measurements from the continuous monitoring system and of the reactor pressure and temperature. Establishment of a continuous monitoring program is a high priority of the Agency. The continuous monitoring system monitors VC emissions from the stack to judge compliance with the numerical limits in the standards. The parameters are used to judge the operation of the reactor so that the source and EPA will be aware of improper operation and maintenance. The standards implicitly require the initial reports required by the General Provisions of 40 CFR 61.7 and 61.9. These initial reports include application for approval of construction or modification, and notification of startup. The standards also require quarterly reporting of vinyl chloride emissions from stripping, reactor openings, and exhausts. Reports must be submitted within 10 days of each valve discharge and manual vent valve discharge.

The owner/operator must make the following one-time-only reports: Application for approval of construction or modification; notification of startup; application of a waiver of testing (if desired by source); and an initial report. The initial report includes a list of the equipment installed for compliance, a description of the physical and functional characteristics of each piece of equipment, a description of the methods which have been incorporated into the standard operation procedures for measuring or calculating emissions, and a statement that equipment and procedures are in place and are being used. Generally, the one-time-only reports are required of all sources subject to NESHAP regulation.

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 63, subpart W, and 40 CFR part 63, subpart A, 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 60 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: Vinyl Chloride.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 28.

Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly and initially.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 11,825.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $2,014,515, which is comprised of $0 annualized Capital Startup costs, $1,260,000 in annualized Operating and Maintenance (O&M) costs, and $754,515 annualized Labor costs.

Changes in the Estimates: There is no change in the labor hours or cost 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, so there is no significant change in the overall burden.

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: February 12, 2008.

Sara Hisel-McCoy,

Director, Collection Strategies Division.