2021-11023. Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Cross-State Air Pollution Rule and Texas SO2

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), “Cross-State Air Pollution Rule and Texas SO₂ Trading Programs (Renewal)” (EPA ICR No. 2391.06, OMB Control No. 2060-0667) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). 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 March 31, 2022. 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 July 26, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2018-0209, 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.

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:

Kevin Tran, Clean Air Markets Division, Office of Air and Radiation, (6204M), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-343-9074; fax number: 202-343-2361; email address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Supporting documents which explain in detail the information that 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: EPA is renewing an ICR for the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) trading programs to allow for continued implementation of the programs. The information collection requirements under five CSAPR trading programs and the Texas SO₂ Trading Program are reflected in the existing ICR as most recently revised in 2018. In 2021, EPA promulgated an additional CSAPR NO_X Ozone trading program which only includes sources previously subject to another CSAPR trading program reflected in the current ICR. This ICR renewal reflects all six CSAPR trading programs and the Texas SO₂ Trading Program. Most affected sources under the CSAPR and Texas trading programs are also subject to the Acid Rain Program (ARP). The information collection requirements under the CSAPR and Texas trading programs, which consist primarily of requirements to monitor and report emissions data in accordance with 40 CFR part 75, substantially overlap and are fully integrated with ARP information collection requirements. The burden and costs of overlapping requirements are accounted for in the ARP ICR (OMB Control Number 2060-0258). This ICR accounts for information collection burden and costs under the CSAPR and Texas trading programs that are incremental to the burden and costs already accounted for in the ARP ICR. All data received by EPA will be treated as public information.

Form Numbers: Agent Notice of Delegation #5900-172, Certificate of Representation #7610-1, General Account Form #7610-5, Allowance Transfer Form #7610-6, Retired Unit Exemption #7610-20, Allowance Deduction #7620-4.

Respondents/affected entities: Industry respondents are stationary, fossil fuel-fired boilers and combustion turbines serving electricity generators subject to the CSAPR and Texas trading programs, as well as non-source entities voluntarily participating in allowance trading activities. Potential state respondents are states that can elect to submit state-determined allowance allocations for sources located in their states.

Respondents' obligation to respond: Industry respondents: Voluntary and mandatory (Sections 110(a) and 301(a) of the Clean Air Act). State respondents: voluntary.

Estimated number of respondents: EPA estimates that there are 953 industry respondents, including 903 affected sources and 50 non-source entities participating in allowance trading activities, and 27 potential state respondents.

Frequency of response: On occasion, quarterly, and annually.

Total estimated burden: 113,512 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).

Total estimated cost: $16,482,349 (per year); includes $7,095,827 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.

Changes in estimates: There is decrease of 21,111 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease is due almost entirely to adjustments in the estimated numbers of respondents and transactions.

Reid P. Harvey,

Director, Clean Air Markets Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs, Office of Air and Radiation.