Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Renewal of Information Collection for EPA's National Environmental Performance Track Program (Renewal), EPA ICR No. 1949.05, OMB Control No. 2010-0032, 61770-61771 [E6-17449]

Download as PDF 61770 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 202 / Thursday, October 19, 2006 / Notices Burdens. This adjustment is due to a mathematical error. Dated: October 11, 2006. Oscar Morales, Director, Collection Strategies Division. [FR Doc. E6–17448 Filed 10–18–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OA–2006–0513; FRL–8232–7] Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Renewal of Information Collection for EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track Program (Renewal), EPA ICR No. 1949.05, OMB Control No. 2010–0032 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost. DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before November 20, 2006. Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OA–2006–0513 to: (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by e-mail to oei.docket@epa.gov or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Information Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert D. Sachs, Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation, Mail Code 1807T, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 566–2884; fax number: (202) 566–0966; e-mail address: Sachs.Robert@epa.gov. cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES ADDRESSES: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB for SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:50 Oct 18, 2006 Jkt 211001 review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On June 22nd, 2006 (71 FR 35904), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received 1 comment during the comment period, which is addressed in the ICR. Any additional comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice. EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA– HQ–OA–2006–0513, which is available for online viewing at www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Office of Environmental Information Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is (202) 566–1744, and the telephone number for the Office of Environmental Information Docket is (202) 566–1752. Use EPA’s electronic docket and comment system at www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select ‘‘docket search,’’ then key in the docket ID number identified above. Please note that EPA’s policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing at www.regulations.gov as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic docket, go to www.regulations.gov. Title: Information Collection Request for EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track Program (Renewal). ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1949.05, OMB Control No. 2010–0032. ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2006. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 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 in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by publication in PO 00000 Frm 00065 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9. Abstract: EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track is a voluntary program that recognizes and rewards private and public facilities that demonstrate top environmental performance beyond current requirements. The program is based on the premise that government should complement existing programs with new tools and strategies that not only protect people and the environment, but also capture opportunities for reducing cost and spurring technological innovation. Performance Track is a facility based program (not company-wide) that solicits and receives applications and makes acceptance decisions twice per year from February through April, and August through October. Applying facilities must meet four basic criteria: (1) A history of sustained compliance with environmental regulations; (2) an Environmental Management System (EMS) in place that has undergone an assessment by an independent third party; (3) past and future environmental achievements, and a commitment to quantified continuous environmental improvement; and (4) public involvement and annual reporting. Once accepted, members remain in the program for three years, as long as they continue to meet the program criteria. After three years, they may apply to renew their membership through a streamlined application process. No confidential information is requested in this notice. 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. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 16.4 hours per facility per year. This includes all applications, compliance screens, annual reporting, incentives participation, and site visits. EPA estimates that all facilities who voluntarily respond to this information collection by electing to participate in the Performance Track program have determined that the expected benefits of participation outweigh any burdens associated with preparing the response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM 19OCN1 Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 202 / Thursday, October 19, 2006 / Notices 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 which have subsequently changed; 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. Respondents/Affected Entities: Performance track member facilities and States. Estimated Number of Respondents: 476. Frequency of Response: Annually, triennially, and biennially. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 7,750. Estimated Total Annual Cost: $514,521, which includes $0 capital and O&M costs. Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 105,689 annual hours in the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burdens. This decrease is due to an adjustment to the estimated program participation burden. Dated: October 11, 2006. Oscar Morales, Director, Collection Strategies Division. [FR Doc. E6–17449 Filed 10–18–06; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–8232–4] Proposed Settlement Agreement, Clean Air Act Citizen Suit Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of Proposed Settlement Agreement; Request for Public Comment. cprice-sewell on PROD1PC66 with NOTICES AGENCY: SUMMARY: In accordance with section 113(g) of the Clean Air Act, as amended (‘‘Act’’), 42 U.S.C. 7413(g), notice is hereby given of a proposed settlement agreement, to address a lawsuit filed by Natural Resources Defense Council, Environmental Defense, Montana Environmental Information Center, American Lung Association of Metropolitan Chicago, Ohio VerDate Aug<31>2005 14:50 Oct 18, 2006 Jkt 211001 Environmental Council, Valley Watch, Inc., and Sierra Club (collectively ‘‘Petitioners’’) in the United States Court of Appeal for the District of Columbia Circuit: Natural Resources Defense Council v. EPA, No. 06–1059 (consolidated with Nos. 06–1062 and 06–1063) (DC Cir.). Petitioners requested judicial review of a December 13, 2005 letter sent by the Director of EPA’s Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards in response to an inquiry from an environmental consulting firm concerning how to address Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) technology in preconstruction permit reviews for coal-fired electric generating facilities under the New Source Review program. DATES: Written comments on the proposed settlement agreement must be received by November 20, 2006. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID number EPA– HQ–OGC–2006–0813, online at https:// www.regulations.gov (EPA’s preferred method); by e-mail to oei.docket@epa.gov; mailed to EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460–0001; or by hand delivery or courier to EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 6146F, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Comments on a disk or CD– ROM should be formatted in Word or ASCII file, avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption, and may be mailed to the mailing address above. As of September 22, 2006, the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC) Public Reading Room will be temporarily inaccessible to the public until November 6, 2006. Public access to docket materials will still be provided by appointment. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Doster, Air and Radiation Law Office (2344A), Office of General Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202) 564–1932; fax number (202) 564–5603; e-mail address: doster.brian@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Additional Information About the Proposed Settlement On December 13, 2005, the Director of the EPA Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards responded by letter to an inquiry from an environmental consulting firm concerning the treatment of Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) technology in PO 00000 Frm 00066 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 61771 preconstruction permit reviews for coalfired electric generating facilities under the New Source Review program. Under this program, construction and modification of major sources of air pollution are required to meet emissions limitations based on either Best Available Control Technology (BACT) or the Lowest Achievable Emissions Rate (LAER), depending on whether the area in which the source is located is meeting the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). 42 U.S.C. 7475(a)(4); 42 U.S.C. 7503(a)(1). In the letter, EPA expressed the view that the IGCC technology need not be evaluated in the BACT or LAER review for a supercritical pulverized coal power facility based on fundamental differences between the IGCC and supercritical pulverized coal technologies. Petitioners requested judicial review of the letter. The proposed settlement agreement and related correspondence are available for review in the docket described above. For a period of thirty (30) days following the date of publication of this notice, the Agency will receive written comments relating to the proposed settlement agreement from persons who were not named as parties or intervenors to the litigation in question. EPA or the Department of Justice may withdraw or withhold consent to the proposed settlement agreement if the comments disclose facts or considerations that indicate that such consent is inappropriate, improper, inadequate, or inconsistent with the requirements of the Act. Unless EPA or the Department of Justice determines, based on any comment which may be submitted, that consent to the settlement agreement should be withdrawn, the terms of the agreement will be affirmed. II. Additional Information About Commenting on the Proposed Settlement A. How Can I Get a Copy of the Settlement? The official public docket for this action (identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–OGC–2006–0813) contains a copy of the settlement. An electronic version of the public docket is available through https://www.regulations.gov. You may use the https:// www.regulations.gov to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select ‘‘search,’’ then key in the E:\FR\FM\19OCN1.SGM 19OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 202 (Thursday, October 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61770-61771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17449]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OA-2006-0513; FRL-8232-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Renewal of 
Information Collection for EPA's National Environmental Performance 
Track Program (Renewal), EPA ICR No. 1949.05, OMB Control No. 2010-0032

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection 
Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing 
approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the 
nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before November 20, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-
2006-0513 to: (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred 
method), by e-mail to oei.docket@epa.gov or by mail to: EPA Docket 
Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental 
Information Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail to: Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert D. Sachs, Office of Policy, 
Economics and Innovation, Mail Code 1807T, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: (202) 566-2884; fax number: (202) 566-0966; e-mail address: 
Sachs.Robert@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB 
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 
1320.12. On June 22nd, 2006 (71 FR 35904), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received 1 comment during the 
comment period, which is addressed in the ICR. Any additional comments 
on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this 
notice.
    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OA-2006-0513, which is available for online viewing at 
www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Office of 
Environmental Information Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA 
West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA 
Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number 
for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for 
the Office of Environmental Information Docket is (202) 566-1752.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at 
www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those 
documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the 
system, select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number 
identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public 
comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made 
available for public viewing at www.regulations.gov as EPA receives 
them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted 
material, CBI, or other information whose public disclosure is 
restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic 
docket, go to www.regulations.gov.
    Title: Information Collection Request for EPA's National 
Environmental Performance Track Program (Renewal).
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1949.05, OMB Control No. 2010-0032.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2006. 
Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor 
the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 
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 
in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when 
approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by 
publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such 
as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The 
display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is 
consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: EPA's National Environmental Performance Track is a 
voluntary program that recognizes and rewards private and public 
facilities that demonstrate top environmental performance beyond 
current requirements. The program is based on the premise that 
government should complement existing programs with new tools and 
strategies that not only protect people and the environment, but also 
capture opportunities for reducing cost and spurring technological 
innovation.
    Performance Track is a facility based program (not company-wide) 
that solicits and receives applications and makes acceptance decisions 
twice per year from February through April, and August through October. 
Applying facilities must meet four basic criteria: (1) A history of 
sustained compliance with environmental regulations; (2) an 
Environmental Management System (EMS) in place that has undergone an 
assessment by an independent third party; (3) past and future 
environmental achievements, and a commitment to quantified continuous 
environmental improvement; and (4) public involvement and annual 
reporting. Once accepted, members remain in the program for three 
years, as long as they continue to meet the program criteria. After 
three years, they may apply to renew their membership through a 
streamlined application process.
    No confidential information is requested in this notice. 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.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 16.4 
hours per facility per year. This includes all applications, compliance 
screens, annual reporting, incentives participation, and site visits. 
EPA estimates that all facilities who voluntarily respond to this 
information collection by electing to participate in the Performance 
Track program have determined that the expected benefits of 
participation outweigh any burdens associated with preparing the 
response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons

[[Page 61771]]

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 which have 
subsequently changed; 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Performance track member facilities 
and States.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 476.
    Frequency of Response: Annually, triennially, and biennially.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 7,750.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $514,521, which includes $0 capital 
and O&M costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 105,689 annual 
hours in the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB 
Inventory of Approved ICR Burdens. This decrease is due to an 
adjustment to the estimated program participation burden.

    Dated: October 11, 2006.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E6-17449 Filed 10-18-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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