2014-02571. Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Production Outlook Reports for Un-Registered Renewable Fuels Producers

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), “Production Outlook Reports for Un-Registered Renewable Fuels Producers” (EPA ICR No. 2409.02, OMB Control No. 2060-0640 to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through May 31, 2014. 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.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before April 7, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0161, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.

EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Geanetta Heard, Fuels Compliance Center, 6406J, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-343-9017; fax number: 202-565-2085; email address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Supporting documents which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/​dockets.

Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments and information to enable it 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, 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 through 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. EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB.

Abstract: With this information collection request (ICR), we are seeking permission to accept production outlook reports from domestic or foreign renewable fuel producers who are not currently regulated parties under the RFS2 program. The respondents for this ICR are not regulated parties under the RFS2 program and are therefore, not required to register or report under the RFS2 regulations. Submission of production outlook information to EPA under this ICR will be on a voluntary basis.

The information that respondents provide will allow EPA to more accurately project cellulosic biofuel volumes for the following calendar year, and these volume projections will form the basis of the percentage standards EPA sets under the RFS2 program. Without information from these respondents, EPA's volume projections are more likely to fall below actual projection volumes. Under such circumstances, actual supply for cellulosic biofuel will exceed the demand created by the standards EPA sets, and the value of cellulosic biofuel Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) will fall. RINs are marketable credits that correspond to a given volume of renewable fuel. Since RIN market price directly affects the economic viability of cellulosic biofuel production, low RIN prices could present economic difficulties to producers. Thus, it is in the interests of these respondents to provide this information to EPA, as doing so could ensure that the market price of RINs appropriately reflects the value of their cellulosic biofuel. This information also serves a more general program purpose, because it will assist EPA in setting the annual RFS2 standards more accurately for biomass-based diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel. Compiling this information may also assist respondents with their planning and compliance activities. We believe that many parties would wish to submit this information in order to receive better assistance in understanding and complying with the RFS2 regulations.

Form Numbers: 5900-283 (RFS2 0900 Production Outlook Report).

Respondents/affected entities: 35.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.

Estimated number of respondents: 35 (total).

Frequency of response: Yearly.

Total estimated burden: 140 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).

Total estimated cost: $16,100 (per year), includes no annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.

Changes in Estimates: There is no increase of hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. The respondent universe and responses also remained the same in this collection. There was in increase in cost to the industry of $6,160 per year due to better numbers used to calculate the industry burden and to account for inflation.

Dated: January 28, 2014.

Byron Bunker,

Director, Compliance Division, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, Office of Air and Radiation.