2018-19771. Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Part 70 State Operating Permit Program (Renewal)

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), “Part 70 State Operating Permit Program (Renewal)” (EPA ICR No. 1587.14, OMB Control No. 2060.0243) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, the 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, 2019. 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 November 13, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0015, at http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. Once submitted, comments cannot be edited or removed from Regulations.gov. The EPA may publish any comment received to its public docket. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Multimedia submissions (audio, video, etc.) must be accompanied by a written comment. The written comment is considered the official comment and should include discussion of all points you wish to make. The EPA will generally not consider comments or comment contents located outside of the primary submission (i.e., on the web, cloud, or other file sharing system). For additional submission methods, the full EPA public comment policy, information about CBI or multimedia submissions, and general guidance on making effective comments, please visit https://www.epa.gov/​dockets/​commenting-epa-dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dylan C. Mataway-Novak, Air Quality Policy Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, C504-05, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC; 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, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is [phone]. For additional information about the EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/​dockets.

Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, the 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. The 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, the 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: Title V of the Clean Air Act (Act) requires states to develop and implement a program for issuing operating permits to all sources that fall under any Act definition of “major” and certain other non-major sources that are subject to federal air quality regulations. The Act further requires the EPA to develop regulations that establish the minimum requirements for those state operating permits programs and to oversee implementation of the state programs. The EPA regulations setting forth requirements for the state operating permit program are found at 40 CFR part 70. The part 70 program is designed to be implemented primarily by state, local and tribal permitting authorities in all areas where they have jurisdiction.

In order to receive an operating permit for a major or other source subject to the permitting program, the applicant must conduct the necessary research, perform the appropriate analyses and prepare the permit application with documentation to demonstrate that its facility meets all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. Specific activities and requirements are listed and described in the Supporting Statement for the 40 CFR part 70 ICR.

Under 40 CFR part 70, state, local and tribal permitting authorities review permit applications, provide for public review of proposed permits, issue permits based on consideration of all technical factors and public input and review information submittals required of sources during the term of the permit. Also, under 40 CFR part 70, the EPA reviews certain actions of the permitting authorities and provides oversight of the programs to ensure that they are being adequately implemented and enforced. Consequently, information prepared and submitted by sources is essential for sources to receive permits, and for federal, state, local and tribal permitting authorities to adequately review the permit applications and thereby properly administer and manage the program.

Information that is collected is handled according to the EPA's policies set forth in title 40, chapter 1, part 2, subpart B—Confidentiality of Business Information (see 40 CFR part 2). See also section 114(c) of the Act.

Form Numbers: None.

Respondents/affected entities: Industrial plants (sources); state, local and tribal permitting authorities.

Respondent's obligation to respond: mandatory (see 40 CFR part 70).

Estimated number of respondents: 13,712 sources and 117 state, local and tribal permitting authorities.

Frequency of response: On occasion.

Total estimated burden: 4,738,925 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).

Total estimated cost: $321,878,589 (per year). There are no annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.

Changes in Estimates: There is a decrease of 429,890 hours per year for the estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease is due to updated estimates of the number of sources and permits subject to the part 70 program, rather than any change in federal mandates.

Dated: August 29, 2018.

Anna Marie Wood,

Director, Air Quality Policy Division.