Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements of the HCFC Allowance System, 76474-76475 [2015-31051]
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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 2015 / Notices
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–9931–88–OEI]
Cross-Media Electronic Reporting:
Authorized Program Revision
Approval, State of Iowa
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice announces EPA’s
approval of the State of Iowa’s request
to revise certain of its EPA-authorized
programs to allow electronic reporting.
DATES: EPA’s approval is effective
December 9, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Karen Seeh, U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, Office of
Environmental Information, Mail Stop
2823T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20460, (202) 566–1175,
seeh.karen@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
October 13, 2005, the final Cross-Media
Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR)
was published in the Federal Register
(70 FR 59848) and codified as part 3 of
title 40 of the CFR. CROMERR
establishes electronic reporting as an
acceptable regulatory alternative to
paper reporting and establishes
requirements to assure that electronic
documents are as legally dependable as
their paper counterparts. Subpart D of
CROMERR requires that state, tribal or
local government agencies that receive,
or wish to begin receiving, electronic
reports under their EPA-authorized
programs must apply to EPA for a
revision or modification of those
programs and obtain EPA approval.
Subpart D provides standards for such
approvals based on consideration of the
electronic document receiving systems
that the state, tribe, or local government
will use to implement the electronic
reporting. Additionally, § 3.1000(b)
through (e) of 40 CFR part 3, subpart D
provides special procedures for program
revisions and modifications to allow
electronic reporting, to be used at the
option of the state, tribe or local
government in place of procedures
available under existing programspecific authorization regulations. An
application submitted under the subpart
D procedures must show that the state,
tribe or local government has sufficient
legal authority to implement the
electronic reporting components of the
programs covered by the application
and will use electronic document
receiving systems that meet the
applicable subpart D requirements.
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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Jkt 238001
On September 22, 2015, the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
submitted an amended application
titled ‘‘State and Local Emissions
Inventory System (SLEIS)’’ for revisions
to its EPA-approved programs under
title 40 CFR to allow for electronic
reporting. EPA reviewed IDNR’s request
to revise its EPA-authorized programs
and, based on this review, EPA
determined that the application met the
standards for approval of authorized
program revisions set out in 40 CFR part
3, subpart D. In accordance with 40 CFR
3.1000(d), this notice of EPA’s decision
to approve Iowa’s request to revise its
following EPA-authorized programs to
allow electronic reporting under 40 CFR
parts 51 and 70, is being published in
the Federal Register: Part 52—Approval
and Promulgation of Implementation
Plans; and Part 70—State Operating
Permit Programs.
IDNR was notified of EPA’s
determination to approve its application
with respect to the authorized programs
listed above.
Matt Leopard,
Director, Office of Information Collection.
[FR Doc. 2015–30913 Filed 12–8–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2003–0039; FRL–9939–90–
OAR]
Proposed Information Collection
Request; Comment Request;
Reporting and Recordkeeping
Requirements of the HCFC Allowance
System
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency is planning to submit an
information collection request (ICR),
Reporting and Recordkeeping
Requirements of the HCFC Allowance
System (EPA ICR No. 2014.06, OMB
Control No. 2060–0498) 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.). Before doing so, 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 April 30,
2016. An Agency may not conduct or
sponsor and a person is not required to
respond to a collection of information
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00032
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
unless it displays a currently valid OMB
control number.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on
or before February 8, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2003–0039 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.
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:
Robert Burchard, Stratospheric
Protection Division, Office of
Atmospheric Programs (6205T),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,
DC 20460; telephone number: (202)
343–9126; fax number: (202) 343–2338;
email address: burchard.robert@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,
WJC West, Room 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.
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of
the PRA, 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:\FR\FM\09DEN1.SGM
09DEN1
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 2015 / Notices
e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses. 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, 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: The international treaty The
Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Deplete the Ozone Layer (Protocol) and
Title VI of the Clean Air Act
Amendments (CAAA) established limits
on total U.S. production, import, and
export of class I and class II controlled
ozone depleting substances (referred to
hereinafter as ‘‘controlled substances’’).
Under its Protocol commitments, the
United States was obligated to cease
production and import of class I
controlled substances (e.g.,
chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs) with
exemptions for essential uses, critical
uses, previously-used material, and
material that is transformed, destroyed,
or exported to developing countries.
The Protocol also establishes limits and
reduction schedules leading to the
eventual phaseout of class II controlled
substances (i.e.,
hydrochlorofluorocarbons or HCFCs).
The U.S. is obligated to limit HCFC
consumption (defined by the Protocol as
production plus imports, minus
exports). The schedule called for a 35
percent reduction on January 1, 2004,
followed by a 75 percent reduction on
January 1, 2010, a 90 percent reduction
on January 1, 2015, a 99.5 percent
reduction on January 1, 2020, and a total
phaseout on January 1, 2030. EPA is
responsible for administering the
phaseout.
To ensure U.S. compliance with these
limits and restrictions, EPA established
an allowance system to control U.S.
production and import of HCFCs by
granting control measures referred to as
baseline and calendar-year allowances.
Baseline allowances are based on the
historical activity of individual
companies. Calendar-year allowances
allow holders to produce and/or import
controlled substances in a given year
and are allocated as a percentage of
baseline.
There are two types of baseline and
calendar-year allowances: Consumption
and production allowances. Since each
allowance is equal to 1 kilogram of
HCFC, EPA is able to monitor the
quantity of HCFCs being produced,
imported and exported. Transfers of
production and consumption
allowances among producers and
importers are allowed and are tracked
by EPA.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
18:21 Dec 08, 2015
Jkt 238001
The above-described limits and
restrictions are monitored by EPA
through the recordkeeping and reporting
requirements established in the
regulations in 40 CFR part 82, subpart
A. To submit required information,
regulated entities can download
reporting forms from EPA’s Web site
(https://www.epa.gov/ozone/record),
complete them, and send them to EPA
electronically, via mail, courier, or fax.
Upon receipt of the reports, the data
is entered into the ODS Tracking
System. The ODS Tracking System is a
secure database that maintains the data
submitted to EPA and helps the agency:
(1) Maintain oversight over total
production and consumption of
controlled substances; (2) monitor
compliance with limits and restrictions
on production, imports, and trades and
specific exemptions from the phaseout
for individual U.S. companies; and (3)
assess, and report on, compliance with
U.S. obligations under the Montreal
Protocol.
EPA has implemented an electronic
reporting system that allows regulated
entities to prepare and submit data
electronically. Coupled with the
widespread use of the standardized
forms, electronic reporting has
improved data quality and made the
reporting process efficient for both
reporting companies and EPA. Most
reporting is done electronically.
Pursuant to regulations in 40 CFR part
2, subpart B, reporting businesses are
entitled to assert a business
confidentiality claim covering any part
of the submitted business information as
defined in 40 CFR 2.201(c). EPA’s
practice is to manage the reported
information as confidential business
information.
Form numbers: Forms associated with
this ICR are: Quarterly Reports, Second
Party Transformation Report, Second
Party Destruction Report, Transmission
Verification Report, Destruction
Efficiency Report, Destruction
Verification Report, Semi-annual
Report, International Transfer of
Allowances Report, and the Domestic
Transfer of Allowances Report. All are
under OMB Control Number 2060–0498.
Respondents/affected entities: 40.
Respondent’s obligation to respond:
Mandatory (Title VI of the Clean Air Act
Amendments).
Estimated number of respondents: 40.
Frequency of response: Annually,
quarterly, or as needed.
Total estimated burden: 1,434 hours
(per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR
1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $153,264 (per
year), includes $1,155 annualized
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
76475
capital or operation & maintenance
costs.
Changes in estimates: The respondent
numbers changed because the reporting
community continues to change as ODS
are phased out in the US. Specifically,
we estimate fewer companies reporting
on imports and exports of Class II ODS.
We also assume fewer companies
reporting on the destruction and
transformation of this material. These
updates are based on 2014 reporting
activity whereas our previous estimates
were based on 2010–2011 reporting
activity.
Dated: November 23, 2015.
Drusilla Hufford,
Director, Stratospheric Protection Division.
[FR Doc. 2015–31051 Filed 12–8–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–9939–84–OW]
Notice of Open Meeting of the
Environmental Financial Advisory
Board
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The EPA’s Environmental
Financial Advisory Board (EFAB) will
hold a public meeting on January 12–13,
2016. EFAB is an EPA advisory
committee chartered under the Federal
Advisory Committee Act to provide
advice and recommendations to EPA on
creative approaches to funding
environmental programs, projects, and
activities.
The purpose of this meeting is to hear
from informed speakers on
environmental finance issues, proposed
legislation, and EPA priorities; to
discuss activities, progress, and
preliminary recommendations with
regard current EFAB work projects; and
to consider requests for assistance from
EPA offices. Environmental finance
discussions and presentations are
expected on, but not limited to, the
following topics: Financing operations
and maintenance costs at green
infrastructure sites; financing
stormwater and green infrastructure
programs; public-private partnerships
for water infrastructure projects;
financing pre-development activities in
communities; affordability challenges in
the water sector; and financial capacity
development for small drinking/
wastewater systems. The meeting is
open to the public; however, seating is
limited. All members of the public who
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\09DEN1.SGM
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 236 (Wednesday, December 9, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76474-76475]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-31051]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0039; FRL-9939-90-OAR]
Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request;
Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements of the HCFC Allowance System
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an
information collection request (ICR), Reporting and Recordkeeping
Requirements of the HCFC Allowance System (EPA ICR No. 2014.06, OMB
Control No. 2060-0498) 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.). Before doing so, 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 April 30, 2016. 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 February 8, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2003-0039 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.
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: Robert Burchard, Stratospheric
Protection Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs (6205T),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343-9126; fax number:
(202) 343-2338; email address: burchard.robert@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, WJC West,
Room 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.
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, 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,
[[Page 76475]]
e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses. 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, 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: The international treaty The Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Protocol) and Title VI of the
Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) established limits on total U.S.
production, import, and export of class I and class II controlled ozone
depleting substances (referred to hereinafter as ``controlled
substances'').
Under its Protocol commitments, the United States was obligated to
cease production and import of class I controlled substances (e.g.,
chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs) with exemptions for essential uses,
critical uses, previously-used material, and material that is
transformed, destroyed, or exported to developing countries. The
Protocol also establishes limits and reduction schedules leading to the
eventual phaseout of class II controlled substances (i.e.,
hydrochlorofluorocarbons or HCFCs).
The U.S. is obligated to limit HCFC consumption (defined by the
Protocol as production plus imports, minus exports). The schedule
called for a 35 percent reduction on January 1, 2004, followed by a 75
percent reduction on January 1, 2010, a 90 percent reduction on January
1, 2015, a 99.5 percent reduction on January 1, 2020, and a total
phaseout on January 1, 2030. EPA is responsible for administering the
phaseout.
To ensure U.S. compliance with these limits and restrictions, EPA
established an allowance system to control U.S. production and import
of HCFCs by granting control measures referred to as baseline and
calendar-year allowances. Baseline allowances are based on the
historical activity of individual companies. Calendar-year allowances
allow holders to produce and/or import controlled substances in a given
year and are allocated as a percentage of baseline.
There are two types of baseline and calendar-year allowances:
Consumption and production allowances. Since each allowance is equal to
1 kilogram of HCFC, EPA is able to monitor the quantity of HCFCs being
produced, imported and exported. Transfers of production and
consumption allowances among producers and importers are allowed and
are tracked by EPA.
The above-described limits and restrictions are monitored by EPA
through the recordkeeping and reporting requirements established in the
regulations in 40 CFR part 82, subpart A. To submit required
information, regulated entities can download reporting forms from EPA's
Web site (https://www.epa.gov/ozone/record), complete them, and send
them to EPA electronically, via mail, courier, or fax.
Upon receipt of the reports, the data is entered into the ODS
Tracking System. The ODS Tracking System is a secure database that
maintains the data submitted to EPA and helps the agency: (1) Maintain
oversight over total production and consumption of controlled
substances; (2) monitor compliance with limits and restrictions on
production, imports, and trades and specific exemptions from the
phaseout for individual U.S. companies; and (3) assess, and report on,
compliance with U.S. obligations under the Montreal Protocol.
EPA has implemented an electronic reporting system that allows
regulated entities to prepare and submit data electronically. Coupled
with the widespread use of the standardized forms, electronic reporting
has improved data quality and made the reporting process efficient for
both reporting companies and EPA. Most reporting is done
electronically.
Pursuant to regulations in 40 CFR part 2, subpart B, reporting
businesses are entitled to assert a business confidentiality claim
covering any part of the submitted business information as defined in
40 CFR 2.201(c). EPA's practice is to manage the reported information
as confidential business information.
Form numbers: Forms associated with this ICR are: Quarterly
Reports, Second Party Transformation Report, Second Party Destruction
Report, Transmission Verification Report, Destruction Efficiency
Report, Destruction Verification Report, Semi-annual Report,
International Transfer of Allowances Report, and the Domestic Transfer
of Allowances Report. All are under OMB Control Number 2060-0498.
Respondents/affected entities: 40.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (Title VI of the
Clean Air Act Amendments).
Estimated number of respondents: 40.
Frequency of response: Annually, quarterly, or as needed.
Total estimated burden: 1,434 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $153,264 (per year), includes $1,155
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
Changes in estimates: The respondent numbers changed because the
reporting community continues to change as ODS are phased out in the
US. Specifically, we estimate fewer companies reporting on imports and
exports of Class II ODS. We also assume fewer companies reporting on
the destruction and transformation of this material. These updates are
based on 2014 reporting activity whereas our previous estimates were
based on 2010-2011 reporting activity.
Dated: November 23, 2015.
Drusilla Hufford,
Director, Stratospheric Protection Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-31051 Filed 12-8-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
