Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With EPA's ENERGY STAR® Product Labeling (Renewal), 14372-14373 [2019-07109]

Download as PDF 14372 Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 69 / Wednesday, April 10, 2019 / Notices If you are interested in information that is not included in these tables, you may contact EPA’s technical information contact or general information contact as described under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT to access additional non-CBI information that may be available. Authority: 15 U.S.C. 2601 et seq. Dated: March 7, 2019. Pamela Myrick, Director, Information Management Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics. [FR Doc. 2019–07094 Filed 4–9–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–9991–78–OLEM] Access to Confidential Business Information by Eastern Research Group (ERG) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of access to data and request for comments. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will authorize its contractor, Eastern Research Group (ERG) to access Confidential Business Information (CBI) which has been submitted to EPA under the authority of all sections of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976, as amended. EPA has issued regulations that outline business confidentiality provisions for the Agency and require all EPA Offices that receive information designated by the submitter as CBI to abide by these provisions. SUMMARY: Access to confidential data submitted to EPA will occur no sooner than April 22, 2019. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: LaShan Haynes, Document Control Officer, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, (5305P), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460, 703–605–0516. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: DATES: jbell on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES Access to Confidential Business Information Under EPA Contract EP–W–10–055, entitled ‘‘Advancing Sustainable Materials Management (SMM): Waste Facts and Figures and Related Tasks,’’ the Eastern Research Group (ERG) will assist the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, Resource Conservation and Sustainability VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:36 Apr 09, 2019 Jkt 247001 Division in collecting and analyzing municipal solid waste (MSW) information. The contract addresses MSW and other waste such as construction and demolition debris, however, the confidential business information (CBI) only relates to the MSW information collected and analyzed in the contract. The contract period is from March 2019 through September 30, 2020. Some of the data collected from industry are claimed by industry to contain trade secrets or CBI. In accordance with the provisions of 40 CFR part 2, subpart B, ORCR has established policies and procedures for handling information collected from industry, under the authority of RCRA, including RCRA Confidential Business Information Security Manuals. Eastern Research Group (ERG), shall protect from unauthorized disclosure all information designated as confidential and shall abide by all RCRA CBI requirements, including procedures outlined in the RCRA CBI Security Manual. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued regulations (40 CFR part 2, subpart B) that outline business confidentiality provisions for the Agency and require all EPA Offices that receive information designated by the submitter as CBI to abide by these provisions. ERG will be authorized to have access to RCRA CBI under the EPA ‘‘Contractor Requirements for the Control and Security of RCRA Confidential Business Information Security Manual.’’ EPA is issuing this notice to inform all submitters of information under all sections of RCRA that EPA will provide Eastern Research Group access to the CBI records located in the RCRA Confidential Business Information Center. Access to RCRA CBI under this contract will take place at Eastern Research Group and EPA Headquarters only. Contractor personnel will be required to sign non-disclosure agreements and will be briefed on appropriate security procedures before they are permitted access to confidential information. Dated: March 22, 2019. Barnes Johnson, Director, Office of Resource Conservation & Recovery. [FR Doc. 2019–07113 Filed 4–9–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P PO 00000 Frm 00034 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2003–0033; FRL–9992–02– OAR] Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With EPA’s ENERGY STAR® Product Labeling (Renewal) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ‘‘EPA’s ENERGY STAR Product Labeling’’ (EPA ICR No. 2078.07, OMB Control No. 2060–0528), 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 September 30, 2019. 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 June 10, 2019. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OAR–2003–0033, online using www.regulation.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: James Kwon, Climate Protection Partnerships Division, Office of Air and Radiation, Mailcode 6202A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202–564– 8538; fax number: 202–343–2200 email address: kwon.james@epa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail the information that the EPA will SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\10APN1.SGM 10APN1 jbell on DSK30RV082PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 84, No. 69 / Wednesday, April 10, 2019 / Notices 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.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: ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program developed in collaboration with industry to create a self-sustaining market for energy efficient products. The center piece of the program is the ENERGY STAR label, a registered certification label that helps consumers identify products that save energy, save money, and help protect the environment without sacrificing quality or performance. In order to protect the integrity of the label and enhance its effectiveness in the marketplace, EPA must ensure that products carrying the label meet appropriate program requirements. Program participants submit signed Partnership Agreements indicating that they will adhere to logo-use guidelines and program requirements. Retail partners commit to selling, marketing and promoting ENERGY STAR certified products. Product brand owner partners, who are usually the manufacturer of the products, commit to having participating products certified to meet specified energy performance criteria VerDate Sep<11>2014 20:36 Apr 09, 2019 Jkt 247001 based on a standard test method and EPA’s third party certification requirements. These requirements for ENERGY STAR product certification also include provisions for verifying the performance of certified products through verification testing. The program’s emphasis on testing and third-party product review ensures that consumers can trust ENERGY STAR certified products to deliver the energy savings promised by the label. In rare circumstances where product brand licensee’s wish to partner with EPA, the Agency establishes the appropriate contacts and relationships for the brand owner and licensee through a joint brand owner and licensee template that both parties are required to sign. As part of the Agency’s contribution to the overall success of the program, EPA facilitates the sale of certified products by providing consumers with easy-to-use information about the products. To perform this function, EPA must obtain data on certified products. Prior to EPA adopting a third-party certification process, product brand owners were required to submit individual product information directly to the Agency. Since 2011, product information has been recorded by Certification Bodies and shared with EPA using XML-based web services that validate and save the information in EPA’s database. EPA believes the improved process of submission has reduced the burden time for Partners and the Agency by taking advantage of the infrastructure in place for certifying products. With the automated process of obtaining certified product data, certified model data is automatically updated daily on the ENERGY STAR website. To ensure that products are certified properly, the certification process also includes requirements for Certification Bodies to report to EPA products that were reviewed, but not eligible for certification. To ensure continued product performance after initial certification, EPA requires Certification Bodies to conduct postmarket verification testing of a sampling of ENERGY STAR certified products. Certification Bodies are required to share information with EPA on products subjected to this post-market testing twice a year and to immediately report any certified products that no longer meet the program requirements. This process allows EPA to monitor the ongoing performance of products and take necessary steps to maintain consumer confidence in the ENERGY STAR label and protect the investment of partners. In order to monitor progress and support the best allocation of resources, PO 00000 Frm 00035 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 14373 EPA also asks manufacturers to submit annual shipment data for their ENERGY STAR qualifying products. EPA is flexible as to the methods by which manufacturers may submit unit shipment data. For example, many manufacturers are given the option of arranging for shipment data to be sent to EPA via this third party to ensure confidentiality. In using any shipment data received directly from a partner, EPA only shares aggregate information from multiple partners so as to protect confidentiality. Finally, Partners that wish to receive recognition for their efforts in ENERGY STAR may submit an application for the Partner of the Year Award. Form Numbers: 5900–252, 5900–251, 5900–33, 5900–253, 5900–168, 5900– 206, 5900–207, 5900–28, 5900–208, 5900–210, 5900–228, 5900–234, 5900– 229, 5900–235, 5900–47, 5900–349, 5900–350, 5900–351, 5900–348, 5900– 35, 5900–36, 5900–37, 5900–38, 5900– 39, 5900–41, 5900–42, 5900–43, 5900– 44, 5900–48, 5900–49, 5900–50, 5900– 51, 5900–53, 5900–54, 5900–55, 5900– 56, 5900–57, 5900–58, 5900–230, 5900– 224, 5900–227, 5900–166, 5900–165, 5900–164, 5900–226, 5900–163, 5900– 34, 5900–216, 5900–217, 5900–218, 5900–388. Respondents/affected entities: Respondents for this information collection request include Partners in ENERGY STAR. Respondent’s obligation to respond: Voluntary. Estimated number of respondents: 2,080. Frequency of response: Initially/onetime and annually. Estimated total annual hour burden: 41,209 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b). Estimated total annual cost: $3,118,166 (per year), includes $17,285 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs. Changes in the estimates: The burden estimates presented in this notice are from the last approval. EPA is currently evaluating and updating these estimates as part of the ICR renewal process. EPA will discuss its updated estimates, as well as changes from the last approval, in the next Federal Register notice to be issued for this renewal. Dated: April 1, 2019. Carolyn Snyder, Director, Climate Protection Partnerships Division. [FR Doc. 2019–07109 Filed 4–9–19; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P E:\FR\FM\10APN1.SGM 10APN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 10, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14372-14373]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-07109]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0033; FRL-9992-02-OAR]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; 
Information Collection Activities Associated With EPA's ENERGY 
STAR[supreg] Product Labeling (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``EPA's ENERGY STAR 
Product Labeling'' (EPA ICR No. 2078.07, OMB Control No. 2060-0528), 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 
September 30, 2019. 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 June 10, 2019.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2003-0033, online using www.regulation.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to [email protected], 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: James Kwon, Climate Protection 
Partnerships Division, Office of Air and Radiation, Mailcode 6202A, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-8538; fax number: 202-343-2200 
email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that the EPA will

[[Page 14373]]

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.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: ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program developed in 
collaboration with industry to create a self-sustaining market for 
energy efficient products. The center piece of the program is the 
ENERGY STAR label, a registered certification label that helps 
consumers identify products that save energy, save money, and help 
protect the environment without sacrificing quality or performance. In 
order to protect the integrity of the label and enhance its 
effectiveness in the marketplace, EPA must ensure that products 
carrying the label meet appropriate program requirements.
    Program participants submit signed Partnership Agreements 
indicating that they will adhere to logo-use guidelines and program 
requirements. Retail partners commit to selling, marketing and 
promoting ENERGY STAR certified products. Product brand owner partners, 
who are usually the manufacturer of the products, commit to having 
participating products certified to meet specified energy performance 
criteria based on a standard test method and EPA's third party 
certification requirements. These requirements for ENERGY STAR product 
certification also include provisions for verifying the performance of 
certified products through verification testing. The program's emphasis 
on testing and third-party product review ensures that consumers can 
trust ENERGY STAR certified products to deliver the energy savings 
promised by the label. In rare circumstances where product brand 
licensee's wish to partner with EPA, the Agency establishes the 
appropriate contacts and relationships for the brand owner and licensee 
through a joint brand owner and licensee template that both parties are 
required to sign.
    As part of the Agency's contribution to the overall success of the 
program, EPA facilitates the sale of certified products by providing 
consumers with easy-to-use information about the products. To perform 
this function, EPA must obtain data on certified products. Prior to EPA 
adopting a third-party certification process, product brand owners were 
required to submit individual product information directly to the 
Agency. Since 2011, product information has been recorded by 
Certification Bodies and shared with EPA using XML-based web services 
that validate and save the information in EPA's database. EPA believes 
the improved process of submission has reduced the burden time for 
Partners and the Agency by taking advantage of the infrastructure in 
place for certifying products. With the automated process of obtaining 
certified product data, certified model data is automatically updated 
daily on the ENERGY STAR website. To ensure that products are certified 
properly, the certification process also includes requirements for 
Certification Bodies to report to EPA products that were reviewed, but 
not eligible for certification. To ensure continued product performance 
after initial certification, EPA requires Certification Bodies to 
conduct post-market verification testing of a sampling of ENERGY STAR 
certified products. Certification Bodies are required to share 
information with EPA on products subjected to this post-market testing 
twice a year and to immediately report any certified products that no 
longer meet the program requirements. This process allows EPA to 
monitor the ongoing performance of products and take necessary steps to 
maintain consumer confidence in the ENERGY STAR label and protect the 
investment of partners.
    In order to monitor progress and support the best allocation of 
resources, EPA also asks manufacturers to submit annual shipment data 
for their ENERGY STAR qualifying products. EPA is flexible as to the 
methods by which manufacturers may submit unit shipment data. For 
example, many manufacturers are given the option of arranging for 
shipment data to be sent to EPA via this third party to ensure 
confidentiality. In using any shipment data received directly from a 
partner, EPA only shares aggregate information from multiple partners 
so as to protect confidentiality.
    Finally, Partners that wish to receive recognition for their 
efforts in ENERGY STAR may submit an application for the Partner of the 
Year Award.
    Form Numbers: 5900-252, 5900-251, 5900-33, 5900-253, 5900-168, 
5900-206, 5900-207, 5900-28, 5900-208, 5900-210, 5900-228, 5900-234, 
5900-229, 5900-235, 5900-47, 5900-349, 5900-350, 5900-351, 5900-348, 
5900-35, 5900-36, 5900-37, 5900-38, 5900-39, 5900-41, 5900-42, 5900-43, 
5900-44, 5900-48, 5900-49, 5900-50, 5900-51, 5900-53, 5900-54, 5900-55, 
5900-56, 5900-57, 5900-58, 5900-230, 5900-224, 5900-227, 5900-166, 
5900-165, 5900-164, 5900-226, 5900-163, 5900-34, 5900-216, 5900-217, 
5900-218, 5900-388.
    Respondents/affected entities: Respondents for this information 
collection request include Partners in ENERGY STAR.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: 2,080.
    Frequency of response: Initially/one-time and annually.
    Estimated total annual hour burden: 41,209 hours (per year). Burden 
is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Estimated total annual cost: $3,118,166 (per year), includes 
$17,285 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the estimates: The burden estimates presented in this 
notice are from the last approval. EPA is currently evaluating and 
updating these estimates as part of the ICR renewal process. EPA will 
discuss its updated estimates, as well as changes from the last 
approval, in the next Federal Register notice to be issued for this 
renewal.

    Dated: April 1, 2019.
Carolyn Snyder,
Director, Climate Protection Partnerships Division.
[FR Doc. 2019-07109 Filed 4-9-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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