[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 75 (Monday, April 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19487-19488]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-10396]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5999-4]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under
EPA's AgSTAR Program
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
[[Page 19488]]
that the following Information Collection Request (ICR) has been
forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval: ``Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements under EPA's AgSTAR
Program,'' OMB Control Number 2060-0329 and expiration date 6/30/98.
The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its
expected burden and cost; where appropriate, it includes the actual
data collection instrument.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 20, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Contact Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone
at (202) 260-2740, by email at farmer.sandy@epamail.epa.gov, or
download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA
ICR No. 1735.02.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: ``Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements under EPA's
AgSTAR Program.'' (OMB Control No. 2090-0329; EPA ICR No. 1735.02)
expiring 6/30/98. This is a request for extension of a currently
approved collection.
Abstract: AgSTAR is an EPA-sponsored, voluntary program that
encourages livestock producers to implement methane recovery
technologies to increase livestock production profit margins and reduce
emissions from manure methane, a greenhouse gas. AgSTAR further
encourages utilities, regulatory agencies and universities to support
and promote the use of methane recovery technologies. The program
organization consists of two types of AgSTAR participants: ``Partners''
and ``Allies.'' AgSTAR Partners, who are primarily livestock producers,
agree to survey and install methane recovery technologies, if
profitable. AgSTAR Allies, which are primarily utilities and marketers
of methane recovery systems or members of related associations, work
with EPA to increase awareness of methane reduction technologies and
provide information on products and services.
For AgSTAR Partners, participation in the AgSTAR program begins
with completion and submittal to EPA of a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU), which provides information on the AgSTAR Partner and its
operations and outlines the responsibilities of the AgSTAR Partner and
EPA. The MOU commits an AgSTAR Partner to survey all of its facilities
and consider the full set of technical, operational, and procedural
options that maximize on-farm profits and minimize methane emissions.
The Partner further agrees to consider installing methane recovery
technologies within three years of signing the MOU, if such
technologies are expected to be profitable. As a program participant,
the Partner submits an Annual Report describing improvements made to
demonstrate the benefits of methane recovery systems. In addition, the
AgSTAR Partner agrees to make appropriate use of EPA-developed
materials and inform EPA of any changes or problems with the program.
As mentioned above, agricultural and energy industries, energy
regulatory offices, universities, and electric utilities may choose to
become Allies of the AgSTAR program. Ally participation also begins
with completion and submittal of an MOU. The MOU commits the Ally to
providing information for the development of AgSTAR methane recovery
systems. In addition, Allies work with EPA to increase awareness of
methane emissions recovery systems and to promote and provide technical
support to Partners. Specifically, Allies agree to provide case studies
of successful methane emissions reduction systems. Allies also agree to
consider developing promotional and educational documents for Partners.
Allies must also obtain EPA approval for the use of EPA-developed
materials or reproduction of materials bearing the AgSTAR logo.
EPA needs to collect information to establish program participation
and to obtain general information on AgSTAR participants. EPA also uses
the information collection to evaluate a Partner's progress and
performance, and assess overall program results. Participation in the
AgSTAR program is voluntary. AgSTAR Partners may designate information
submitted under this ICR as confidential business information. EPA will
treat all such information as confidential business information and
will not make the company or agency-specific information collected
under this ICR available to the general public. 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. The Federal Register
Notice required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on this
collection of information was published on 12/20/97; No comments were
received.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 2.3
hours per AgSTAR Partner and 2.2 hours per AgSTAR Ally. 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.
Respondents/Affected Entities: Livestock Producers ( Partners) and
Utilities/Marketers of Methane Recovery Systems or related association
members (Allies).
Estimated Number of Respondents: 75 Partners and 86 Allies.
Frequency of Response: varies.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 181 for Partners and 194 for
Allies.
Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $500 for Partners and
Allies combined.
Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods
for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of
automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please
refer to EPA ICR No. 1735.02 and OMB Control No. 2060-0329 in any
correspondence.
Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OPPE Regulatory
Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460;
and
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20503.
Dated: April 14, 1998.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 98-10396 Filed 4-17-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
