2019-08717. Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (Renewal)

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has submitted an information collection request (ICR), NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (EPA ICR Number 2046.09, OMB Control Number 2060-0542) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through June 30, 2019. Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register on May 30, 2018 during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the 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.

DATES:

Additional comments may be submitted on or before May 30, 2019.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OECA-2012-0691, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by email to [e-mail], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via email to [e-mail]. Address comments to OMB Desk Officer for EPA.

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:

Patrick Yellin, Monitoring, Assistance, and Media Programs Division, Office of Compliance, Mail Code 2227A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: [phone]; fax number: [phone]; 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, EPA 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.

Abstract: The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for the regulations published at 40 CFR part 63, subpart IIIII were proposed on July 3, 2002, and promulgated on December 19, 2003. These regulations apply to existing facilities and new facilities that are mercury cell chlor-alkali plants part of a major source of hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions or part of an area source of HAP emissions. A major source of HAP is one that has the potential to emit 10 tons or more of any HAP or 25 tons or more of total HAP per year; an area source is one with a potential to emit less than this. New facilities include those that commenced construction, modification or reconstruction after the date of proposal. This information is being collected to assure compliance with 40 CFR part 63, subpart IIIII.

In general, all NESHAP standards require initial notifications, performance tests, and periodic reports by the owners/operators of the affected facilities. They are also required to maintain records of the occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the operation of an affected facility, or any period during which the monitoring system is inoperative. These notifications, reports, and records are essential in determining compliance, and are required of all affected facilities subject to NESHAP.

Form Numbers: None.

Respondents/affected entities: Mercury cell chlor-alkali plants.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (40 CFR part 63, subpart IIIII).

Estimated number of respondents: 2 (total).

Frequency of response: Initially and semiannually.

Total estimated burden: 3,760 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).

Total estimated cost: $444,000 (per year), includes $16,400 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.

Changes in the Estimates: There is no change in the burden 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. There is an adjustment increase in the total costs as due to the use of updated labor rates. There was no change in the capital or operation and maintenance costs.

Courtney Kerwin,

Director, Regulatory Support Division.