Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Recordkeeping and Reporting of the Production, Import, Export, Destruction, Transhipment, and Exempted Uses of Ozone-Depleting Substances (Renewal), 2775-2777 [2018-00938]
Download as PDF
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 13 / Friday, January 19, 2018 / Notices
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. 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 scope of this ICR is the
electronic reporting components of
CROMERR, which is designed to: (i)
Allow EPA to comply with the
Government Paperwork Elimination Act
of 1998; (ii) provide a uniform,
technology-neutral framework for
electronic reporting across all EPA
programs; (iii) allow EPA programs to
offer electronic reporting as they
become ready for CROMERR; and (iv)
provide states with a streamlined
process—together with a uniform set of
standards—for approval of their
electronic reporting provisions for all
their EPA-authorized programs.
Responses to the collection of
information are voluntary. In order to
accommodate CBI, the information
collected must be in accordance with
the confidentiality regulations set forth
in 40 CFR part 2, subpart B.
Additionally, EPA will ensure that the
information collection procedures
comply with the Privacy Act of 1974
and the OMB Circular 108.
Form Numbers: None.
Respondents/Affected Entities:
Entities that report electronically to EPA
and state or local government
authorized programs; and state and local
government authorized programs
implementing electronic reporting.
Respondent’s Obligation To Respond:
Voluntary, required to obtain or retain a
benefit (Cross-Media Electronic
Reporting Rule (CROMERR) established
to ensure compliance with the
Government Paperwork Elimination Act
(GPEA)).
Estimated Number of Respondents:
175,047 (total).
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Total Estimated Burden: 112,717
hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5
CFR 1320.03(b).
Total Estimated Cost: $5,151,934 (per
year), includes $4,615,463 in annualized
labor costs and $536,471 in annualized
capital or operation & maintenance
costs.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:05 Jan 18, 2018
Jkt 244001
Changes in Estimates: There is an
increase of 63,113 hours in the total
estimated respondent burden compared
with the ICR currently approved by
OMB. This increase occurred primarily
because EPA accounted for the expected
burden associated with the
implementation of the e-Manifest
system. (The e-Manifest Act extends the
scope of the federal manifest program to
include state hazardous waste, i.e.,
wastes regulated by a state but not EPA.)
Under the e-Manifest system, all
respondents that submit manifests
electronically must first register with
the Central Data Exchange (CDX). In
addition, respondents that intend to use
a PIN/Password must prepare an
electronic subscriber agreement. EPA
believes that the estimated number of
respondents included in this ICR is a
reasonable approximation of the actual
respondent universe.
Dated: January 10, 2018.
Connie Dwyer,
Director, Information Exchange Services
Division.
[FR Doc. 2018–00939 Filed 1–18–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2017–0639; FRL–9973–12–
OAR]
Proposed Information Collection
Request; Comment Request;
Recordkeeping and Reporting of the
Production, Import, Export,
Destruction, Transhipment, and
Exempted Uses of Ozone-Depleting
Substances (Renewal)
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Environmental Protection
Agency is planning to submit an
information collection request (ICR),
‘‘Recordkeeping and Reporting of the
Production, Import, Export, Destruction,
Transhipment, and Exempted Uses of
Ozone-Depleting Substances (Renewal)’’
(EPA ICR No. 1432.32, OMB Control No.
2060–0170) to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review and
approval in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act. 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 August, 2018, combined with
two other ICRs for ozone-depleting
substances (ODS). An Agency may not
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
2775
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 March 20, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
OAR–2017–0639 online using
www.regulations.gov (our preferred
method), 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:
Katherine Sleasman, Stratospheric
Protection Division, (6205T),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC
20460; telephone number: (202) 564–
7716; fax number: (202) 564–4775;
email address: sleasman.katherine@
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\19JAN1.SGM
19JAN1
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
2776
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 13 / Friday, January 19, 2018 / 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: EPA is seeking to combine
multiple ICRs into a single ICR for all
the recordkeeping and reporting related
to the production, import, export,
transformation, destruction,
transhipment, and exempted uses of all
ODS, and this merged renewal will
allow for the option of electronic
reporting and improvements to the
electronic forms under Title VI of the
Clean Air Act (CAA). Thus, for this ICR,
EPA is renewing the existing ICR for
class I ODS (ICR No. 1432.32; OMB
Control No. 2060–0170) and transferring
the burden under the ICR for class II
ODS (EPA ICR No. 2014.07; OMB
Control No. 2060–0498 Reporting and
Recordkeeping Requirements of the
HCFC Allowance System (Renewal)) and
Methyl Bromide Critical Use
Exemptions (EPA ICR No. 2031.08;
OMB Control No. 2060–0482 Protection
of Stratospheric Ozone: Request for
Applications from Critical use
Exemption for the Phase-out of Methyl
Bromide (Renewal)). Both 2060–0498
and 2060–0482 will be discontinued
once this ICR is approved.
This ICR covers the requirements
under the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone
Layer (Protocol) and Title VI of the CAA
that establish limits on total U.S.
production, import, and export of class
I and class II controlled ODS (or
controlled substances). Under its
Protocol commitments, the United
States has been obligated to cease
production and import of class I
controlled substances
(chlorofluorocarbons and others) with
exemptions for essential uses, critical
uses of methyl bromide, quarantine and
pre-shipment uses of methyl bromide,
previously used material, and material
that will be transformed or destroyed.
The Protocol also establishes limits and
reduction schedules leading to the
eventual phaseout of class II controlled
substances with limited exemptions for
previously used material, and material
that will be transformed, destroyed, or
exported to developing countries.
Additionally, the CAA limits
production and consumption of
controlled substances which the EPA
must adhere to and enforce. To
implement the CAA provisions and
satisfy commitments under the Montreal
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:05 Jan 18, 2018
Jkt 244001
Protocol, the ODS phaseout regulations
establish control measures for
individual companies. EPA monitors
company compliance through the
recordkeeping and reporting
requirements established in the
regulations at 40 CFR part 82, subpart A.
EPA is also removing reporting
elements that are no longer needed,
revising others to address changes to a
new electronic ODS Tracking System,
and consolidating forms.
The Government Paperwork
Elimination Act (GPEA, Pub. L. 105–
277) requires that, when practicable,
federal organizations use electronic
forms, electronic filings, and electronic
signatures to conduct official business
with the public. EPA’s Cross-Media
Electronic Reporting Regulation
(CROMERR) (October 13, 2005; 70 FR
59848; FRL–7977–1) provides that any
requirement in Title 40 of the Code of
Federal Regulations to submit a report
directly to EPA can be satisfied with an
electronic submission that meets certain
conditions once the Agency publishes a
notice that electronic document
submission is available for that
requirement.
In light of GPEA and CROMERR, this
action will allow all manufacturers,
importers, and processors of class I and
class II ODS to use the internet, through
EPA’s Central Data Exchange (CDX), to
submit ODS reports to the Agency.
Companies will be able to register with
EPA to submit their data electronically
to the Agency via CDX and the Agency
in turn will be able to communicate
back electronically with submitters
through a secure system. This promotes
efficiency in communications and cost
savings in submissions and
correspondence. The adoption of
electronic communications will reduce
the reporting burden on industry by
reducing both the cost and the time
required to review, edit and transmit
data to the Agency. All information sent
via CDX will be transmitted securely to
protect CBI. The Agency will also
benefit from receiving electronic
submissions. The electronic submission
process through CDX will allow for the
import of data into the ODS Tracking
System, which will reduce the potential
for human error that exists when data
are entered by hand. Agency personnel
will also be able to communicate more
efficiently with submitters
electronically, compared to using U.S.
mail.
Upon receipt of the reports, the data
is currently either entered or
electronically imported into the ODS
Tracking System. The ODS Tracking
System is a secure database that
maintains the data submitted to EPA
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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;
(3) enforce against illegal imports; and
(4) assess and report on the U.S.
phasedown caps established under the
CAA and consistent with the Montreal
Protocol.
EPA has implemented an electronic
reporting system through CDX 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.
EPA informs the respondents that
they may assert claims of business
confidentiality for any of the
information they submit. Information
claimed as confidential will be treated
in accordance with the procedures for
handling information claimed as
confidential under 40 CFR part 2,
subpart B, and will be disclosed to the
extent, and by means of procedures, set
forth in Subpart B. If no claim of
confidentiality is asserted when the
information is received by EPA, it may
be made available to the public without
further notice to the respondents (40
CFR 2.203). All information sent by the
submitter via CDX is transmitted
securely to protect CBI. The reporting
tool guides the user through the process
of submitting CBI. Documents
containing information claimed as CBI
must be submitted in an electronic
format, in accordance with the
recordkeeping requirements.
Form Numbers: Class I Producer
Quarterly Report OMB Control No.
2060–0710, Class II Producer Quarterly
Report OMB Control No. 2060–0498,
Methyl Bromide Producer Quarterly
Report OMB Control No. 2060–0482,
Class I Importer Quarterly Report OMB
Control No. 2060–0170, Class II
Importer Quarterly Report OMB Control
No. 2060–0498, Methyl bromide
Importer Quarterly Report OMB Control
No 2060–0482, Class I Exporter Annual
Report OMB Control No. 2060–0170,
Class II Exporter Quarterly Report OMB
Control No. 2060–0498, Methyl Bromide
Exporter Quarterly Report OMB Control
No. 2060–0482, Second-Party
Destruction Annual Report OMB
Control No. 2060–0170, Second-Party
Transformation Annual Report OMB
Control No. 2060–0170, Class I
Laboratory Supplier OMB Control No.
2060–0170, Methyl Bromide Pre-2005
Stocks Annual Report OMB Control No
E:\FR\FM\19JAN1.SGM
19JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 13 / Friday, January 19, 2018 / Notices
daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with NOTICES
2060–0482, Distributor of QPS Methyl
Bromide Quarterly Report OMB Control
No 2060–0482, Methyl Bromide Trades
Report OMB Control No. 2060–0482,
Methyl Bromide Sales of Critical Use
Annual Report OMB Control No 2060–
0482, Class II Request for Additional
Consumption Allowances OMB Control
No. 2060–0498, and Class II Trades
Report OMB Control No. 2060–0498.
Respondents/Affected Entities:
Entities required to comply with
reporting and recordkeeping
requirements include, chemical
producers, importers, and exporters
(CFCs and HCFCs); research and
development (laboratories); and methyl
bromide producers, importers,
exporters, distributors, and applicators.
Respondent’s Obligation To Respond:
Mandatory—Section 603(b) of the Clean
Air Act.
Estimated Number of Respondents:
106 (total).
Frequency of Response: Quarterly,
annually, and as needed.
Total Estimated Burden: 3,811 hours
(per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR
1320.03(b).
Total Estimated Cost: $448,470 (per
year), includes $13,082.00 annualized
capital or operation & maintenance
costs.
Changes in Estimates: There is a
decrease of 1,644 hours in the total
estimated respondent burden compared
with the ICRs currently approved by
OMB. This decrease compared to
previous ICRs is because the merged ICR
accounts for the transition from paper to
electronic reporting and the decrease in
the number of respondents. The
reporting community continues to
change as ODS are phased out.
Specifically, we estimate fewer
companies reporting on imports and
exports of ODS. These updates are based
on 2015 reporting activity. While the
one-time burden associated with the
transition to electronic reporting (i.e.,
CDX registration and electronic
signature) temporarily increases burden,
overall burden decreases because of the
efficiencies associated with electronic
reporting.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
Dated: December 20, 2017.
Cynthia A. Newberg,
Acting Director, Stratospheric Protection
Division.
[Public Notice 2018–3002]
[FR Doc. 2018–00938 Filed 1–18–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:05 Jan 18, 2018
Jkt 244001
[ER–FRL–9037–2]
Environmental Impact Statements;
Notice of Availability
Responsible Agency: Office of Federal
Activities, General Information (202)
564–7156 or https://www2.epa.gov/nepa.
Weekly receipt of Environmental Impact
Statements
Filed 01/08/2018 Through 01/12/2018
Pursuant to 40 CFR 1506.9.
Notice
Section 309(a) of the Clean Air Act
requires that EPA make public its
comments on EISs issued by other
Federalagencies. EPA’s comment letters
on EISs are available at: https://
cdxnodengn.epa.gov/cdx-nepa-public/
action/eis/search.
EIS No. 20180001, Draft, USFS, ID,
Little Boulder Project, Comment
Period Ends: 03/09/2018, Contact:
Stephanie Israel 208–476–8344.
EIS No. 20180002, Final, FHWA, MO, I–
70 Second Tier Combined Final
Environmental Impact Statement and
Record of Decision, Pursuant to 23
U.S.C. 139(N), The 30-day wait/
review period does not apply to this
FEIS, Contact: Kevin W. Ward 573–
638–2600.
EIS No. 20180003, Draft, USFS, NV, Mt.
Rose Ski Tahoe—Atoma Area Project,
Comment Period Ends: 04/19/2018,
Contact: Marnie Bonesteel 775–352–
1240.
EIS No. 20180004, Final, BR, NM,
Pojoaque Basin Regional Water
System EIS, Review Period Ends: 02/
20/2018, Contact: Sarah Branum 505–
462–3591.
EIS No. 20180005, Draft, USFS, CO,
Steamboat Ski Area Improvements,
Comment Period Ends: 03/05/2018,
Contact: Erica Dickerman 970–870–
2185.
Dated: January 16, 2018.
Kelly Knight,
Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office
of Federal Activities.
[FR Doc. 2018–00929 Filed 1–18–18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
EXPORT-IMPORT BANK
Agency Information Collection
Activities: Comment Request
Export-Import Bank of the
United States
ACTION: Submission for OMB review and
comments request.
AGENCY:
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
2777
The Export-Import Bank of
the United States (EXIM), as part of its
continuing effort to reduce paperwork
and respondent burden, invites the
general public and other Federal
Agencies to comment on the proposed
information collection, as required by
the paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
The Export-Import Bank of the United
States, pursuant to the Export-Import
Bank Act of 1945, facilitates the finance
of the export of U.S. goods and services.
The ‘‘Report of Premiums Payable for
Exporters Only’’ form will be used by
exporters to report and pay premiums
on insured shipments to various foreign
buyers.
DATES: Comments must be received on
or before February 20, 2018 to be
assured of consideration.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be
submitted electronically on
WWW.REGULATIONS.GOV (EIB 92–29)
or by mail to Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, 725 17th Street NW,
Washington, DC 20038, Attn: OMB
3048–0017 The application tool can be
reviewed at: https://exim.gov/sites/
default/files/pub/pending/eib92-29.pdf.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title and Form Number: EIB 92–29
Export-Import Bank Report of Premiums
Payable for Exporters Only.
OMB Number: 3048–0017.
Type of Review: Renewal.
Need and Use: The ‘‘Report of
Premiums Payable for Exporters Only’’
form is used by exporters to report and
pay premiums on insured shipments to
various foreign buyers under the terms
of the policy and to certify that
premiums have been correctly
computed and remitted. The ‘Report of
Premiums Payable for Exporters Only’ is
used by EXIM to determine the
eligibility of the shipment(s) and to
calculate the premium due to EXIM for
its support of the shipment(s) under its
insurance program.
Affected Public: This form affects
entities involved in the export of U.S.
goods and services.
Monthly Number of Respondents:
2,600.
Estimated Time per Respondent: 15
minutes.
Annual Burden Hours: 7,800 hours.
Frequency of Reporting or Use:
Monthly.
SUMMARY:
Government Expenses
Reviewing Time per Year: 7,800
hours.
Average Wages per Hour: $42.50.
Average Cost per Year: $331,500.
Benefits and Overhead: 20%.
E:\FR\FM\19JAN1.SGM
19JAN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2775-2777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00938]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0639; FRL-9973-12-OAR]
Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request;
Recordkeeping and Reporting of the Production, Import, Export,
Destruction, Transhipment, and Exempted Uses of Ozone-Depleting
Substances (Renewal)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an
information collection request (ICR), ``Recordkeeping and Reporting of
the Production, Import, Export, Destruction, Transhipment, and Exempted
Uses of Ozone-Depleting Substances (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 1432.32,
OMB Control No. 2060-0170) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act.
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
August, 2018, combined with two other ICRs for ozone-depleting
substances (ODS). 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 March 20, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2017-0639 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), 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: Katherine Sleasman, Stratospheric
Protection Division, (6205T), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202)
564-7716; fax number: (202) 564-4775; email address:
[email protected].
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 2776]]
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: EPA is seeking to combine multiple ICRs into a single ICR
for all the recordkeeping and reporting related to the production,
import, export, transformation, destruction, transhipment, and exempted
uses of all ODS, and this merged renewal will allow for the option of
electronic reporting and improvements to the electronic forms under
Title VI of the Clean Air Act (CAA). Thus, for this ICR, EPA is
renewing the existing ICR for class I ODS (ICR No. 1432.32; OMB Control
No. 2060-0170) and transferring the burden under the ICR for class II
ODS (EPA ICR No. 2014.07; OMB Control No. 2060-0498 Reporting and
Recordkeeping Requirements of the HCFC Allowance System (Renewal)) and
Methyl Bromide Critical Use Exemptions (EPA ICR No. 2031.08; OMB
Control No. 2060-0482 Protection of Stratospheric Ozone: Request for
Applications from Critical use Exemption for the Phase-out of Methyl
Bromide (Renewal)). Both 2060-0498 and 2060-0482 will be discontinued
once this ICR is approved.
This ICR covers the requirements under the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Protocol) and Title VI of the
CAA that establish limits on total U.S. production, import, and export
of class I and class II controlled ODS (or controlled substances).
Under its Protocol commitments, the United States has been obligated to
cease production and import of class I controlled substances
(chlorofluorocarbons and others) with exemptions for essential uses,
critical uses of methyl bromide, quarantine and pre-shipment uses of
methyl bromide, previously used material, and material that will be
transformed or destroyed. The Protocol also establishes limits and
reduction schedules leading to the eventual phaseout of class II
controlled substances with limited exemptions for previously used
material, and material that will be transformed, destroyed, or exported
to developing countries.
Additionally, the CAA limits production and consumption of
controlled substances which the EPA must adhere to and enforce. To
implement the CAA provisions and satisfy commitments under the Montreal
Protocol, the ODS phaseout regulations establish control measures for
individual companies. EPA monitors company compliance through the
recordkeeping and reporting requirements established in the regulations
at 40 CFR part 82, subpart A.
EPA is also removing reporting elements that are no longer needed,
revising others to address changes to a new electronic ODS Tracking
System, and consolidating forms.
The Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA, Pub. L. 105-277)
requires that, when practicable, federal organizations use electronic
forms, electronic filings, and electronic signatures to conduct
official business with the public. EPA's Cross-Media Electronic
Reporting Regulation (CROMERR) (October 13, 2005; 70 FR 59848; FRL-
7977-1) provides that any requirement in Title 40 of the Code of
Federal Regulations to submit a report directly to EPA can be satisfied
with an electronic submission that meets certain conditions once the
Agency publishes a notice that electronic document submission is
available for that requirement.
In light of GPEA and CROMERR, this action will allow all
manufacturers, importers, and processors of class I and class II ODS to
use the internet, through EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX), to submit
ODS reports to the Agency. Companies will be able to register with EPA
to submit their data electronically to the Agency via CDX and the
Agency in turn will be able to communicate back electronically with
submitters through a secure system. This promotes efficiency in
communications and cost savings in submissions and correspondence. The
adoption of electronic communications will reduce the reporting burden
on industry by reducing both the cost and the time required to review,
edit and transmit data to the Agency. All information sent via CDX will
be transmitted securely to protect CBI. The Agency will also benefit
from receiving electronic submissions. The electronic submission
process through CDX will allow for the import of data into the ODS
Tracking System, which will reduce the potential for human error that
exists when data are entered by hand. Agency personnel will also be
able to communicate more efficiently with submitters electronically,
compared to using U.S. mail.
Upon receipt of the reports, the data is currently either entered
or electronically imported 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; (3) enforce against illegal imports; and (4) assess and
report on the U.S. phasedown caps established under the CAA and
consistent with the Montreal Protocol.
EPA has implemented an electronic reporting system through CDX 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.
EPA informs the respondents that they may assert claims of business
confidentiality for any of the information they submit. Information
claimed as confidential will be treated in accordance with the
procedures for handling information claimed as confidential under 40
CFR part 2, subpart B, and will be disclosed to the extent, and by
means of procedures, set forth in Subpart B. If no claim of
confidentiality is asserted when the information is received by EPA, it
may be made available to the public without further notice to the
respondents (40 CFR 2.203). All information sent by the submitter via
CDX is transmitted securely to protect CBI. The reporting tool guides
the user through the process of submitting CBI. Documents containing
information claimed as CBI must be submitted in an electronic format,
in accordance with the recordkeeping requirements.
Form Numbers: Class I Producer Quarterly Report OMB Control No.
2060-0710, Class II Producer Quarterly Report OMB Control No. 2060-
0498, Methyl Bromide Producer Quarterly Report OMB Control No. 2060-
0482, Class I Importer Quarterly Report OMB Control No. 2060-0170,
Class II Importer Quarterly Report OMB Control No. 2060-0498, Methyl
bromide Importer Quarterly Report OMB Control No 2060-0482, Class I
Exporter Annual Report OMB Control No. 2060-0170, Class II Exporter
Quarterly Report OMB Control No. 2060-0498, Methyl Bromide Exporter
Quarterly Report OMB Control No. 2060-0482, Second-Party Destruction
Annual Report OMB Control No. 2060-0170, Second-Party Transformation
Annual Report OMB Control No. 2060-0170, Class I Laboratory Supplier
OMB Control No. 2060-0170, Methyl Bromide Pre-2005 Stocks Annual Report
OMB Control No
[[Page 2777]]
2060-0482, Distributor of QPS Methyl Bromide Quarterly Report OMB
Control No 2060-0482, Methyl Bromide Trades Report OMB Control No.
2060-0482, Methyl Bromide Sales of Critical Use Annual Report OMB
Control No 2060-0482, Class II Request for Additional Consumption
Allowances OMB Control No. 2060-0498, and Class II Trades Report OMB
Control No. 2060-0498.
Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities required to comply with
reporting and recordkeeping requirements include, chemical producers,
importers, and exporters (CFCs and HCFCs); research and development
(laboratories); and methyl bromide producers, importers, exporters,
distributors, and applicators.
Respondent's Obligation To Respond: Mandatory--Section 603(b) of
the Clean Air Act.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 106 (total).
Frequency of Response: Quarterly, annually, and as needed.
Total Estimated Burden: 3,811 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total Estimated Cost: $448,470 (per year), includes $13,082.00
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
Changes in Estimates: There is a decrease of 1,644 hours in the
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICRs currently
approved by OMB. This decrease compared to previous ICRs is because the
merged ICR accounts for the transition from paper to electronic
reporting and the decrease in the number of respondents. The reporting
community continues to change as ODS are phased out. Specifically, we
estimate fewer companies reporting on imports and exports of ODS. These
updates are based on 2015 reporting activity. While the one-time burden
associated with the transition to electronic reporting (i.e., CDX
registration and electronic signature) temporarily increases burden,
overall burden decreases because of the efficiencies associated with
electronic reporting.
Dated: December 20, 2017.
Cynthia A. Newberg,
Acting Director, Stratospheric Protection Division.
[FR Doc. 2018-00938 Filed 1-18-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P