[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 98 (Friday, May 21, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27779-27780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12941]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6348-15]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; ``National Recycling and Emissions Reduction 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 that EPA is planning to submit the
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB): ``National Recycling and Emissions
Reduction Program,'' EPA ICR Number: 1626.07, OMB Control Number: 2060-
0256, expiration date--June 30, 1999. Before submitting the ICR to OMB
for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects
of the proposed information collection as described below.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 20, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in duplicate to the attention
of Air Docket No. A-92-01 VIII.J; Environmental Protection Agency; 401
M Street (6205J), S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20460. Materials relevant to
this proposed rulemaking are contained in Air and Radiation Docket No.
A-92-01 VIII.J. This docket is located in Room M-1500; Waterside Mall
(Ground Floor); U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 401 M Street,
S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20460. Dockets may be inspected Monday through
Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A reasonable fee may be charged for
copying docket materials.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julius Banks; Stratospheric Protection
Division; U.S. EPA (6205J); 401 M Street, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20460;
Phone: (202) 564-9870; Facsimile: (202) 565-2096. For questions only,
you may use the electronic address banks.julius@epa.gov. All comments
must be sent to the docket.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Affected entities: Entities potentially 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; automobile dismantlers and
recyclers. Additional entities affected include Clean Air Act section
608
[[Page 27780]]
technician certification programs, equipment certification programs,
refrigerant wholesalers and reclaimers, and other establishments that
perform refrigerant removal, service, and/or disposal.
Title: ``National Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program'' (OMB
Control No. 2060-0256; EPA ICR No. 1626.07) expiring 6/30/99.
Abstract: In 1993, EPA promulgated regulations under section 608 of
the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 for the recycling of ozone
depleting refrigerants, specifically chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and
hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs), in air-conditioning and refrigeration
equipment. These regulations were published on May 14, 1993 (58 FR
28660) and codified in 40 CFR subpart F (section 82.150 et seq.).
Section 608 also establishes self-effectuating prohibitions on the
knowing venting, release, or disposal of any substitute substance for
ozone-depleting refrigerants during the maintenance, service, repair,
and disposal of any device which contains and uses any substitute
refrigerant for household or commercial purposes. Substitutes may be
exempt from this prohibition if EPA determines that venting, releasing,
or disposing of such substances does not pose a threat to the
environment. Substitutes for CFCs and HCFCs are included in
recordkeeping requirements which will not lead to additional burden
hours on affected entities. The reasons for collection of the
information; its intended use; and whether the requirements are
mandatory, voluntary, or required to obtain a benefit are described
below. 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 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, 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.
Burden Statement: 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.
The annual burden is reported in this Notice by annual respondent
burden. 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.
Additional burden hours associated with the implementation of this
notice are avoided due to the marketplace balance that will occur as
ozone-depleting substances are phased out and replaced by substitutes;
therefore, this ICR renewal does not include any burden for third-party
or public disclosures that were not previously reviewed and approved by
OMB. The annual burden hours for this collection of information are
estimated as follows: 16 hours for two equipment testing organizations;
1,125 hours for an estimated 2,250 service establishments that will
change ownership or enter the market; 12.5 hours for an estimated 25
disposal establishments that change ownership or enter the market;
10,000 hours for the maintenance of copies of signed statements by an
estimated 500 disposal establishments; 40 hours for certification of an
estimated 20 refrigerant reclaimers that change ownership or enter the
market; 400 hours for reclaimer reporting from an estimated 80
respondents; 40,000 hours for an estimated 5,000 refrigerant
wholesalers to maintain records of refrigerant sales transactions; 300
hours for an estimated 10 technician certification programs applying
for first-time approval; 1,600 hours for 100 technician certification
programs to maintain records; 96,000 hours for an estimated 330,000
technicians acquiring certification and maintaining certification
cards; 268,500 hours for an estimated 2,003,850 owners of refrigeration
and air-conditioning equipment to maintain records on refrigerant and
equipment; and 990 hours for an estimated 210 owners of industrial
process refrigeration equipment.
Dated: May 7, 1999.
Julius Banks,
Stratospheric Protection Division, OAR.
[FR Doc. 99-12941 Filed 5-20-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
