[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 130 (Wednesday, July 8, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 36894-36895]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-18084]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6122-6]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Outer Continental Shelf Air Regulations
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 notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the
following proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Request
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Air Pollution
Regulations for the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Activities:
Reporting, Recordkeeping and Testing Requirements, OMB Control Number
2060-0249, ICR number 1601.03, expiration date: August 31, 1998. 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 September 8, 1998.
ADDRESSES: A copy of the supporting statement may be obtained from the
Ozone Policy and Strategies Group, Air Quality Strategies and Standards
Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, MD-15, Research
Triangle Park, NC 27711 or is available at http://www.epa.gov/ttn/
oarpg/t1/fr__notice/ocs-icr.wpd. Comments must be mailed to David H.
Stonefield, Ozone Policy and Strategies Group, Air Quality Strategies
and Standards Division, MD-15, Environmental Protection Agency,
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Stonefield, telephone: 919-541-
5350, Facsimile: 919-541-0824, E-MAIL: stonefield.dave@epamail.epa.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
air pollution sources which are located on the outer continental shelf
along the Arctic, Atlantic, and Pacific Oceans and in the Gulf of
Mexico east of longitude 87 deg.30'.
Title: Air Pollution Regulations for the Outer Continental Shelf
(OCS) Activities: Reporting, Recordkeeping and Testing Requirements,
OMB Control Number 2060-0249, ICR number 1601.03, expiration date:
August 31, 1998.
Abstract: Section 328 (Air Pollution From Outer Continental Shelf
Activities) of the Clean Air Act (CAA) as amended in 1990, gives EPA
responsibility for regulating air pollution from OCS sources located
offshore of the States along the Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific coasts,
and along the eastern Gulf of Mexico coast (off the coast of Florida).
The U.S. Department of Interior's Minerals Management Service (MMS)
retained the responsibility for regulating air pollution from sources
located in the western Gulf of Mexico. To comply with the requirements
of section 328 of the CAA, EPA, on September 4, 1992 at 57 FR 40792,
promulgated regulations to control air pollution from OCS sources in
order to attain and maintain Federal and State ambient air quality
standards and to meet other air quality goals. Sources located within
25 miles of a State's seaward boundary must comply with the same State/
local air pollution control requirements as would be applicable if the
source were located in the corresponding onshore area (COA). Sources
located more than 25 miles from a State's seaward boundary (25-mile
limit) must comply with EPA air
[[Page 36895]]
pollution control regulations. The regulations are codified as part 55
of chapter I of title 40 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).
The proposed ICR addresses the information collection burden to
industry respondents who are subject to the reporting, recordkeeping,
and testing requirements of the OCS air regulations. Industry
respondents include owners or operators of existing and new or modified
stationary sources. The proposed ICR also addresses the burden to the
agencies who are responsible for implementing and enforcing the OCS
regulations. The EPA has delegated the authority to implement and
enforce the OCS regulations for sources located off the coast of
California to four local air pollution control agencies. The EPA
implements and enforces the regulations for all other sources under its
jurisdiction. All burden estimates are calculated for the 3-year period
beginning September 1, 1998 and ending August 31, 2001.
The type, quantity and submission requirements of information will
depend on the type and location of the source. Exploration facilities
are generally smaller sources which operate for a short period of time
(2 to 6 months), are required to submit an application to operate and
are required to submit a copy of their log book to document their
operation. Development and production facilities are generally larger
sources which operate for periods up to 30 years, are required to
obtain new source review and operating permits, conduct initial and
periodic emission tests, and submit compliance information on a routine
basis.
The requirements for sources located or locating within 25 miles of
the States' seaward boundaries are essentially the same as the
requirements for the sources located in the COA. These requirements
will depend upon whether the area is attaining the air quality
standards and the local regulatory requirements. For example, a new
source locating off the coast of a nonattainment area would have to
meet the stringent requirements of the nonattainment area, such as
smaller size cut-offs for new source review requirements and control
requirements for the lowest achievable emission rate. While sources
locating off an area which is attaining the standards would have higher
cut-off requirements and control requirements for the best available
control technology.
In addition, since EPA has delegated authority to implement and
enforce the regulations to four southern California air pollution
control districts, sources locating off the coast of those districts
would be submitting their applications and data to the local districts.
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: There are two types of respondents affected by
this proposed ICR: new and existing sources. New sources must submit
adequate information to determine if the sources will meet the
appropriate new source review requirements. The annual average of these
one-time-only burdens for the respondents is estimated to be 16,742
hours. Existing sources must submit information to obtain an operating
permit and information on the sources' emissions. The annual burden for
the existing sources is 16,308 hours. The total estimate annual burden
for the respondents is 33,050 hours and an annualized cost of
$1,775,646. The burden for the State and local agencies to implement
and enforce the regulations is estimated to be 4,109 hours and an
annualized cost of $158,476. The burden for the EPA to implement and
enforce the regulations is estimated to be 4,114 hours and an
annualized cost of $177,099. 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.
Dated: June 18, 1998.
John S. Seitz,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. 98-18084 Filed 7-7-98; 8:45 am]
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