Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Servicing of Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 1617.06, OMB Control Number 2060-0247, 78784-78786 [E8-30547]
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 247 / Tuesday, December 23, 2008 / Notices
catalytic converters help ensure that
proper AMCCs are manufactured/
tested and distributed to installers and
help ensure proper retail level
installation of AMCCs. The installer
requirements enable EPA to monitor
whether correct AMCCs are installed at
the retail level and whether AMCCs are
used only in appropriate circumstances
(i.e., where the OE catalytic converter is
damaged or missing, or the vehicle is no
longer covered under its emissions
warranty).
The information required to be
maintained or reported is not otherwise
available and is not covered under any
other information request since it is
unique to the AMCC Policy. The
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the Agency, particularly its
enforcement function. The information
collected has practical utility. For
example, neither EPA nor a
reconditioner can determine whether a
used converter is effective by
conducting a visual inspection of the
converter. As another example, the
efficacy of new aftermarket converters
for particular vehicle applications
cannot be determined without prototype
testing and information on
specifications.
Burden Statement: The annual public
reporting and recordkeeping burden for
this collection of information is
estimated to average 7 hours per
response. 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 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:
Manufacturers, Reconditioners, and
Installers of Aftermarket Catalytic
Converters.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
30,014.
Frequency of Response: On Occasion.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden:
220,928.
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16:29 Dec 22, 2008
Jkt 217001
Estimated Total Annual Cost:
$7,457,469, includes $740,786
annualized capital or O&M costs.
Changes in the Estimates: There is an
increase of 8,827 hours in the total
estimated burden currently identified in
the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR
Burdens. This increase is due to
increased volume of cars and the
corresponding increase in the number of
installations of aftermarket catalysts.
Thus, the increase reflects an
adjustment in ICR estimates and not a
change to program requirements.
Dated: December 17, 2008.
John Moses,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies
Division.
[FR Doc. E8–30543 Filed 12–22–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2008–0312; FRL–8756–3]
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; Comment
Request; Servicing of Motor Vehicle
Air Conditioners (Renewal), EPA ICR
Number 1617.06, OMB Control Number
2060–0247
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
SUMMARY: In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)(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: Comments must be submitted on
or before January 22, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2008–0312, to (1) EPA online
using https://www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method), by e-mail to a-andr-Docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA
Docket Center, Environmental
Protection Agency, Air Docket,
Mailcode 2822T, 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.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen Thundiyil, Stratospheric
Protection Division, Office of
Atmospheric Programs, (MC 6205J),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington,
DC 20460; telephone number: (202)
343–9464; fax number: (202) 343–2163;
e-mail address:
thundiyil.karen@epa.gov.
EPA has
submitted the following ICR to OMB for
review and approval according to the
procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12.
On June 9, 2008 (73 FR 32570), EPA
sought comments on this ICR pursuant
to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no
comments. 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–OAR–2008–0312, which is
available for online viewing at https://
www.regulations.gov, or in person
viewing at the Air Docket in the EPA
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West,
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC
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 Air Docket is 202–566–
1742.
Use EPA’s electronic docket and
comment system at https://
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 https://www.regulations.gov
as EPA receives them and without
change, unless the comment contains
copyrighted material, confidential
business information (CBI), or other
information whose public disclosure is
restricted by statute. For further
information about the electronic docket,
go to https://www.regulations.gov.
Title: Servicing of Motor Vehicle Air
Conditioners (Renewal).
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1617.06,
OMB Control No. 2060–0247.
ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to
expire on December 31, 2008. Under
OMB regulations, the Agency may
continue to conduct or sponsor the
collection of information while this
submission is pending at OMB. An
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 247 / Tuesday, December 23, 2008 / Notices
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: Section 609 of the Clean Air
Act Amendments of 1990 (Act) provides
general guidelines for motor vehicle air
conditioning (MVAC) refrigerant
handling and MVAC servicing. It states
that ‘‘no person repairing or servicing
motor vehicles for consideration may
perform any service on a motor vehicle
air conditioner involving the refrigerant
for such air conditioner without
properly using approved refrigerant
recovery and/or recovery and recycling
equipment (hereafter referred to as
‘‘refrigerant handling equipment’’) and
no such person may perform such
service unless such person has been
properly trained and certified.’’
In 1992, EPA developed regulations
under section 609 that were published
in 57 FR 31242, and codified at 40 CFR
part 82, Subpart B (§ 82.30 et seq.). The
information required to be collected
under the Section 609 regulations is
currently approved for use through
December 31, 2008. This supporting
statement is submitted to justify an
extension of the approval of use of this
information. Descriptions of the
recordkeeping and reporting
requirements mandated by section 609
and delineated in 40 CFR part 82,
subpart B are summarized below in this
section. Approved Refrigerant Handling
Equipment: In accordance with Section
609(b)(2)(A), 40 CFR 82.36 requires that
refrigerant handling equipment be
certified by EPA or independent
standards testing organization.
Certification standards are particular to
the type of equipment and the
refrigerant to be recovered, and must be
consistent with the Society of
Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards
for MVAC equipment.
Approved independent standards
testing organizations: Section
609(b)(2)(A) of the Act requires
independent laboratory testing of
refrigerant handling equipment to be
certified by EPA. The Stratospheric
Protection Division (SPD) requires
independent laboratories to submit an
application that documents: the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:29 Dec 22, 2008
Jkt 217001
organization’s capacity to accurately test
equipment compliance with applicable
standards consistent with the SAE
standards for handling refrigerant, an
absence of conflict of interest or
financial benefit based on test outcomes,
and an agreement to allow EPA access
to verify application information. Once
an independent laboratory has been
approved by EPA, the application is
kept on file in the SPD. Two
laboratories—Underwriters Laboratories
Inc. and ETL Testing Laboratories—are
currently approved to test refrigerant
handling equipment. EPA does not
anticipate that any organizations will
apply to EPA in the future to become
approved independent standards testing
organizations. Therefore, annual hours
and costs related to information
submitted by these organizations have
been eliminated.
Technician training and certification:
According to Section 609(b)(4) of the
Act, automotive technicians are
required to be trained and certified in
the proper use of approved refrigerant
handling equipment. Programs that
perform technician training and
certification activities must apply to the
SPD for approval by submitting
verification that its program meets EPA
standards. The information requested is
used by the SPD to guarantee a degree
of uniformity in the testing programs for
motor vehicle service technicians.
Due to rapid developments in
technology, the Agency requires that
each approved technician certification
program conducts periodic reviews and
updates of test material, submitting a
written summary of the review and
program changes to EPA every two
years. After the test has been approved
by EPA, a hard copy remains on file
with SPD. Currently, 24 testing
programs are approved by EPA to train
technicians in the proper use of
refrigerant handling equipment. Six of
these programs are designed specifically
for individual company’s own
employees.
Certification, reporting and
recordkeeping: To facilitate enforcement
under Section 609, EPA has developed
several recordkeeping requirements. All
required records must be retained onsite for a minimum of three years,
unless otherwise indicated.
Section 609(c) of the Act states that by
January 1, 1992, no person may service
any motor vehicle air conditioner
without being properly trained and
certified, nor without using properly
approved refrigerant handling
equipment. To this end, 40 CFR 82.42(a)
states that by January 1, 1993, each
service provider must have submitted to
EPA on a one-time basis a statement
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78785
signed by the owner of the equipment
or another responsible officer that
provides the name of the equipment
purchaser, the address of the service
establishment where the equipment will
be located, the manufacturer name,
equipment model number, date of
manufacture, and equipment serial
number. The statement must also
indicate that the equipment will be
properly used in servicing motor vehicle
air conditioners and that each
individual authorized by the purchaser
to perform service is properly trained
and certified. The information is used
by the SPD to verify compliance with
Section 609 of the Act.
Any person who owns approved
refrigerant handling equipment must
maintain records of the name and
address of any facility to which
refrigerant is sent. Additionally, any
person who owns approved refrigerant
handling equipment must retain records
demonstrating that all persons
authorized to operate the equipment are
currently certified technicians.
Finally, any person who sells or
distributes a class I or class II refrigerant
that is in a container of less than 20
pounds must verify that the purchaser is
a properly trained and certified
technician, unless the purchase of small
containers is for resale only. In that
case, the seller must obtain a written
statement from the purchaser that the
containers are for resale only, and must
indicate the purchaser’s name and
business address. When a certified
technician purchases small containers
of refrigerant for servicing motor
vehicles, the seller must have a
reasonable basis for believing the
accuracy of the information presented
by the purchaser. In all cases, the seller
must display a sign where sales occur
that states the certification requirements
for purchasers.
Burden Statement: The annual public
reporting and recordkeeping burden for
this collection of information is
estimated to average less than one hour
per response. 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 which have
subsequently changed; train personnel
to be able to respond to a collection of
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
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78786
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 247 / Tuesday, December 23, 2008 / Notices
information; search data sources;
complete and review the collection of
information; and transmit or otherwise
disclose the information.
The ICR provides a detailed
explanation of the Agency’s estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Affected Entities: Entities potentially
affected by this action are new and used
motor vehicle dealers, gasoline service
stations, general automotive repair
shops, and automotive repair shops not
elsewhere classified.
Estimated Number of Potential
Respondents: 64,382.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden:
6,700 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Costs:
$262,980.47. This includes an estimated
labor cost of $262,980.47 and an
estimated cost of $0 for capital or O&M
costs.
Changes in the Estimates: There is an
increase of 3,835 hours in the total
estimated burden currently identified in
the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR
Burdens. The primary reason for this
increase is the increase in the number
of technicians certified annually. EPA
has revised its estimate based on data
collected in June 2007 from 11 out of 24
technician certification centers. It is
estimated that 55,000 new MVAC
technicians are certified each year,
rather than 14,000 as assumed in the
last ICR. A major part of this ICR burden
is based on how many technicians are
certified annually.
Dated: December 17, 2008.
John Moses,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies
Division.
[FR Doc. E8–30547 Filed 12–22–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–8756–6]
Notice of Availability of Draft National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination
System (NPDES) General Permit for
Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer
Systems (MS4)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of Availability of Draft
NPDES General Permits.
SUMMARY: The Director of the Office of
Ecosystem Protection, Environmental
Protection Agency—Region 1 (EPA), is
issuing this Notice of Availability of
Draft NPDES general permits for
discharges from small MS4s to certain
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:29 Dec 22, 2008
Jkt 217001
waters of the states of New Hampshire
and Vermont, and to certain waters on
Indian Country lands in the states of
Connecticut and Rhode Island. These
draft NPDES general permits establish
Notice of Intent (NOI) requirements,
prohibitions, and management practices
for stormwater discharges from small
MS4s. EPA is proposing to issue six
general permits. Throughout this
document the terms ‘‘this permit’’ or
‘‘the permit’’ will refer to all six general
permits.
Owners and/or operators of small
MS4s that discharge stormwater will be
required to submit a NOI to EPA—
Region 1 to be covered by the general
permit and will receive a written
notification from EPA of permit
coverage and authorization to discharge
under the general permit. The eligibility
requirements are discussed in the draft
permit. The small MS4 must meet the
eligibility requirements of the permit
prior to submission of the NOI.
The draft general permits, appendices,
and fact sheet are available at https://
www.epa.gov/region1/npdes/
stormwater/MS4_2008_NH.html.
DATES: The public comment period is
from the December 23, 2008 to January
30, 2009. Interested persons may submit
comments on the draft general permit as
part of the administrative record to the
EPA—Region 1, at the address given
below, no later than midnight January
30, 2009. The general permit shall be
effective on the date specified in the
Federal Register publication of the
Notice of Availability of the final
general permit. The final general permit
will expire five years from the effective
date.
ADDRESS: Submit comments by one of
the following methods:
• E-mail: Murphy.thelma @epa.gov.
• Mail: Thelma Murphy, USEPA—
Office of Ecosystem Protection, One
Congress Street—Suite 1100 (CIP),
Boston, MA 02114.
No facsimiles (faxes) will be accepted.
The draft permit is based on an
administrative record available for
public review at EPA—Region 1, Office
of Ecosystem Protection (CIP), One
Congress Street, Suite 1100, Boston,
Massachusetts 02114–2023. The
following SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
section sets forth principal facts and the
significant factual, legal and policy
questions considered in the
development of the draft permit. A
reasonable fee may be charged for
copying requests.
Public Meeting Information: EPA—
Region 1 will hold a public meeting to
provide information about the draft
general permit and its requirements.
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The public meeting will include a brief
presentation on the draft general permit
and a brief question and answer session.
Written, but not oral, comments for the
official draft permit record will be
accepted at the public meeting. The
public meeting will be at the following
location: Wednesday—January 28, 2009,
Portsmouth City Council Chambers,
Portsmouth City Hall, One Junkins
Avenue, Portsmouth, NH 03801, 9 a.m.–
10 a.m.
Public Hearing Information:
Following the public meeting, a public
hearing will be conducted in accordance
with 40 CFR 124.12 and will provide
interested parties with the opportunity
to provide written and/or oral
comments for the official draft permit
record. The public hearing will be at the
following location: Wednesday—
January 28, 2009, Portsmouth City
Council Chambers, Portsmouth City
Hall, One Junkins Avenue, Portsmouth,
NH 03801, 10:10 a.m.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Additional information concerning the
draft permit may be obtained between
the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday
through Friday excluding holidays from:
Thelma Murphy, Office of Ecosystem
Protection, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1 Congress Street, Suite 1100
(CIP), Boston, MA 02114–2023;
telephone: 617–918–1615; e-mail:
murphy.thelma@epa.gov
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background of Proposed Permit
As stated previously, the Director of
the Office of Ecosystem Protection,
EPA—Region 1, is proposing to reissue
six NPDES general permits for the
discharge of stormwater from small
MS4s to waters within the states of New
Hampshire and Vermont (federal
facilities only) and Indian lands within
the states of Connecticut and Rhode
Island. The six permits are:
NHR041000—State of New
Hampshire—Traditional.
NHR042000—State of New
Hampshire—Non-Traditional.
NHR043000—State of New
Hampshire—Transportation.
CTR04000I—State of Connecticut—
Indian Lands.
RIR04000I—State of Rhode Island—
Indian Lands.
VTR04000F—State of Vermont—
Federal Facilities.
The conditions in the draft permit are
established pursuant to Clean Water Act
(CWA) Section 402(p)(3)(iii) to ensure
that pollutant discharges from small
MS4s are reduced to the maximum
extent practicable (MEP), protect water
quality, and satisfy the appropriate
E:\FR\FM\23DEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 23, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78784-78786]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-30547]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2008-0312; FRL-8756-3]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Servicing of Motor Vehicle Air
Conditioners (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 1617.06, OMB Control Number
2060-0247
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)(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: Comments must be submitted on or before January 22, 2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2008-0312, to (1) EPA online using https://www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method), by e-mail to a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov, or by mail to:
EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Air Docket,
Mailcode 2822T, 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: Karen Thundiyil, Stratospheric
Protection Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs, (MC 6205J),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343-9464; fax number:
(202) 343-2163; e-mail address: thundiyil.karen@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 9, 2008 (73 FR 32570), EPA sought comments on this ICR
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments. 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-OAR-2008-0312, which is available for online viewing at
https://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Air Docket in
the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC 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 Air Docket is 202-566-1742.
Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at https://
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 https://www.regulations.gov as EPA
receives them and without change, unless the comment contains
copyrighted material, confidential business information (CBI), or other
information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For
further information about the electronic docket, go to https://
www.regulations.gov.
Title: Servicing of Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners (Renewal).
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1617.06, OMB Control No. 2060-0247.
ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2008.
Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor
the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB.
An
[[Page 78785]]
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: Section 609 of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (Act)
provides general guidelines for motor vehicle air conditioning (MVAC)
refrigerant handling and MVAC servicing. It states that ``no person
repairing or servicing motor vehicles for consideration may perform any
service on a motor vehicle air conditioner involving the refrigerant
for such air conditioner without properly using approved refrigerant
recovery and/or recovery and recycling equipment (hereafter referred to
as ``refrigerant handling equipment'') and no such person may perform
such service unless such person has been properly trained and
certified.''
In 1992, EPA developed regulations under section 609 that were
published in 57 FR 31242, and codified at 40 CFR part 82, Subpart B
(Sec. 82.30 et seq.). The information required to be collected under
the Section 609 regulations is currently approved for use through
December 31, 2008. This supporting statement is submitted to justify an
extension of the approval of use of this information. Descriptions of
the recordkeeping and reporting requirements mandated by section 609
and delineated in 40 CFR part 82, subpart B are summarized below in
this section. Approved Refrigerant Handling Equipment: In accordance
with Section 609(b)(2)(A), 40 CFR 82.36 requires that refrigerant
handling equipment be certified by EPA or independent standards testing
organization. Certification standards are particular to the type of
equipment and the refrigerant to be recovered, and must be consistent
with the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards for MVAC
equipment.
Approved independent standards testing organizations: Section
609(b)(2)(A) of the Act requires independent laboratory testing of
refrigerant handling equipment to be certified by EPA. The
Stratospheric Protection Division (SPD) requires independent
laboratories to submit an application that documents: the
organization's capacity to accurately test equipment compliance with
applicable standards consistent with the SAE standards for handling
refrigerant, an absence of conflict of interest or financial benefit
based on test outcomes, and an agreement to allow EPA access to verify
application information. Once an independent laboratory has been
approved by EPA, the application is kept on file in the SPD. Two
laboratories--Underwriters Laboratories Inc. and ETL Testing
Laboratories--are currently approved to test refrigerant handling
equipment. EPA does not anticipate that any organizations will apply to
EPA in the future to become approved independent standards testing
organizations. Therefore, annual hours and costs related to information
submitted by these organizations have been eliminated.
Technician training and certification: According to Section
609(b)(4) of the Act, automotive technicians are required to be trained
and certified in the proper use of approved refrigerant handling
equipment. Programs that perform technician training and certification
activities must apply to the SPD for approval by submitting
verification that its program meets EPA standards. The information
requested is used by the SPD to guarantee a degree of uniformity in the
testing programs for motor vehicle service technicians.
Due to rapid developments in technology, the Agency requires that
each approved technician certification program conducts periodic
reviews and updates of test material, submitting a written summary of
the review and program changes to EPA every two years. After the test
has been approved by EPA, a hard copy remains on file with SPD.
Currently, 24 testing programs are approved by EPA to train technicians
in the proper use of refrigerant handling equipment. Six of these
programs are designed specifically for individual company's own
employees.
Certification, reporting and recordkeeping: To facilitate
enforcement under Section 609, EPA has developed several recordkeeping
requirements. All required records must be retained on-site for a
minimum of three years, unless otherwise indicated.
Section 609(c) of the Act states that by January 1, 1992, no person
may service any motor vehicle air conditioner without being properly
trained and certified, nor without using properly approved refrigerant
handling equipment. To this end, 40 CFR 82.42(a) states that by January
1, 1993, each service provider must have submitted to EPA on a one-time
basis a statement signed by the owner of the equipment or another
responsible officer that provides the name of the equipment purchaser,
the address of the service establishment where the equipment will be
located, the manufacturer name, equipment model number, date of
manufacture, and equipment serial number. The statement must also
indicate that the equipment will be properly used in servicing motor
vehicle air conditioners and that each individual authorized by the
purchaser to perform service is properly trained and certified. The
information is used by the SPD to verify compliance with Section 609 of
the Act.
Any person who owns approved refrigerant handling equipment must
maintain records of the name and address of any facility to which
refrigerant is sent. Additionally, any person who owns approved
refrigerant handling equipment must retain records demonstrating that
all persons authorized to operate the equipment are currently certified
technicians.
Finally, any person who sells or distributes a class I or class II
refrigerant that is in a container of less than 20 pounds must verify
that the purchaser is a properly trained and certified technician,
unless the purchase of small containers is for resale only. In that
case, the seller must obtain a written statement from the purchaser
that the containers are for resale only, and must indicate the
purchaser's name and business address. When a certified technician
purchases small containers of refrigerant for servicing motor vehicles,
the seller must have a reasonable basis for believing the accuracy of
the information presented by the purchaser. In all cases, the seller
must display a sign where sales occur that states the certification
requirements for purchasers.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average less
than one hour per response. 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 which have subsequently changed; train
personnel to be able to respond to a collection of
[[Page 78786]]
information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of
information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
new and used motor vehicle dealers, gasoline service stations, general
automotive repair shops, and automotive repair shops not elsewhere
classified.
Estimated Number of Potential Respondents: 64,382.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 6,700 hours.
Estimated Total Annual Costs: $262,980.47. This includes an
estimated labor cost of $262,980.47 and an estimated cost of $0 for
capital or O&M costs.
Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 3,835 hours in
the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of
Approved ICR Burdens. The primary reason for this increase is the
increase in the number of technicians certified annually. EPA has
revised its estimate based on data collected in June 2007 from 11 out
of 24 technician certification centers. It is estimated that 55,000 new
MVAC technicians are certified each year, rather than 14,000 as assumed
in the last ICR. A major part of this ICR burden is based on how many
technicians are certified annually.
Dated: December 17, 2008.
John Moses,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E8-30547 Filed 12-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
