Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (Renewal), 70749-70750 [2012-28653]

Agencies

• ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70749-70750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28653]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2012-0333; FRL 9524-5]


Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and 
Approval; Comment Request; Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted an 
information collection request (ICR), Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program 
(Renewal) (EPA ICR No. 2300.10, OMB Control No. 2060-0629) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in 
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). 
This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved 
through November 30, 2012. Public comments were previously requested 
via the Federal Register (77 FR 28376) on May 14, 2012 during a 60-day 
comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public 
comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its 
estimated burden and cost to the public. 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: Additional comments may be submitted on or before December 27, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2012-0333, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by email to a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov or by mail to: 
EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via email 
to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. Address comments to OMB Desk Officer 
for EPA.
    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: Carole Cook, Climate Change Division, 
Office of Atmospheric Programs, Mail Code 6207J, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: (202) 343-9263; fax number: (202) 343-2342; email 
address: GHGReportingRule@epa.gov.

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, EPA West, 
Room

[[Page 70750]]

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 https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    Abstract: The purpose for this ICR is to renew and revise the 
Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule (GHG Reporting Rule) ICR 
to update and consolidate the burdens and costs imposed by all of the 
current ICRs under the GHG Reporting Rule. In response to the FY2008 
Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2764; Pub. L. 110-161) and under 
authority of the Clean Air Act, the EPA finalized the GHG Reporting 
Rule (74 FR 56260; October 30, 2009). The GHG Reporting Rule, which 
became effective on December 29, 2009, establishes reporting 
requirements for some direct GHG emitters as well as suppliers of 
certain products that will emit GHG when released, combusted, or 
oxidized, industrial gas suppliers, and manufacturers of heavy-duty and 
off-road vehicles and engines. It does not require control of 
greenhouse gases. Instead, it requires that sources emitting above 
certain threshold levels of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) monitor 
and report emissions.
    Subsequent rules provide corrections and clarification on existing 
requirements; include requirements for additional facilities and 
suppliers; require reporters to provide information about parent 
companies, NAICS code(s), and whether emissions are from cogeneration; 
and finalize confidentiality determinations. Collectively, the GHG 
Reporting Rule and its associated rulemakings are referred to as the 
Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP).
    Data submitted under the GHGRP that is classified as CBI is 
protected under the provisions of 40 CFR part 2, subpart B. The EPA is 
determining through a series of rulemaking actions the data elements 
that will be eligible for treatment as CBI. However, according to CAA 
section 114(c), ``emissions data'' cannot be classified as CBI. The EPA 
has proposed that inputs to emissions equations meet the definition of 
``emissions data'' and cannot be afforded the protections of CBI. The 
EPA has deferred the reporting deadline for data elements that are used 
as inputs to emissions equations to provide the EPA time needed to 
fully evaluate and resolve issues regarding the reporting and potential 
release of these data (76 FR 53057, August 25, 2011).
    Form Numbers: EPA Form 5900-211, EPA Form 5900-233.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are suppliers of certain products that will emit GHG when 
released, combusted, or oxidized, motor vehicle and engine 
manufacturers, including aircraft engine manufacturers; facilities in 
certain industrial categories that emit greenhouse gases; and 
facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide 
equivalent (CO2e) per year.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory. Authority contained 
in Sections 114 and 208 of the CAA.
    Estimated number of respondents: 11,039.
    Frequency of response: Annual.
    Total estimated burden: 981,032 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $90,847,769 (per year), includes $28,192,763 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: This renewal consolidates all of the 
existing Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program ICRs. The increase in burden 
resulting from consolidating these ICRs will be negated when those ICRs 
are discontinued following the consolidation. In comparison to the net 
total estimated respondent burden currently approved by OMB for all of 
the existing Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program ICRs, there is a decrease 
of 735,690 hours. This decrease is the result of an adjustment for one-
time activities that occurred during the first year of data collection 
and an adjustment based on the actual number of reporters.

John Moses,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2012-28653 Filed 11-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P