Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Mobile Air Conditioner Retrofitting Program (Renewal), 5184-5185 [2021-01062]

Download as PDF khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES 5184 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 11 / Tuesday, January 19, 2021 / Notices the Louisiana petition, this petition does not specify the volume that should be waived. Finally, the Governor of Pennsylvania submitted a similar petition on May 11, 2020, seeking a waiver of the RFS volume requirements. The Pennsylvania petition alleges that increasing annual RFS volume obligations severely harmed Pennsylvania and the East Coast region, and that such harm was compounded both by the Tenth Circuit’s RFA decision, and the coronavirus pandemic and ensuing fall in gasoline and diesel demand. Several organizations and individuals, including the environmental group National Wildlife Federation (NWF), and Members of Congress, have submitted letters expressing support for the granting of a waiver. Other organizations and individuals, including the Renewable Fuels Association and various mayors, have submitted letters expressing opposition to the granting of a waiver. These petitions and related letters are available in the docket for this action. Should we receive additional petitions and letters, we will also add those petitions and letters to the docket and consider them together with requests already received. We encourage commenters to carefully review both the petitions and the letters in the docket in formulating their comments. EPA is seeking comment on the above-described petitions and the discrete issues the petitions raise, including: • In general, whether the petitioners have satisfied the criteria for granting a waiver that EPA previously set forth and/or whether EPA should modify those criteria as requested by the petitioners; 7 • Whether the petitioners have demonstrated severe economic harm to a State, a region, or the United States; • Whether the petitioners have demonstrated a sufficient causal nexus between the RFS volume requirements and such harm (including whether that nexus is actual causation, significant contribution, or some other relationship); • Whether the petitioners have accurately assessed the impacts of a waiver on other directly and indirectly affected persons (including but not limited to biofuel producers, farmers, consumers of transportation fuel, and any affected petroleum refiners and importers), and how such impacts should affect EPA’s decision on the petitions; 7 See 73 FR 47168 (August 13, 2008) and 77 FR 70752 (November 27, 2012). VerDate Sep<11>2014 19:19 Jan 17, 2021 Jkt 253001 • Whether, as requested by the petition from the group of small refineries, EPA may target relief to certain refineries under the general waiver authority; and • Ultimately, whether EPA should exercise the general waiver authority in response to any of the petitions. If the commenter believes EPA should waive volumes, we ask that the commenter identify the specific obligation that should be waived (e.g., the 2019 or 2020 RFS volume obligations), the amount of the waiver, and any other details of the remedy desired. We strongly encourage commenters to include data, specific supporting examples, and technical analysis, to the extent feasible. EPA also received a letter from the National Wildlife Federation suggesting that relief could be granted on the basis of severe environmental harm. The NWF letter suggests there is evidence of environmental harm due to land conversion to cropland resulting in habitat loss and climate change, agricultural runoff and resulting water quality impacts, an increase in water use to irrigate crop fields, and increasing smog and corresponding impacts on air quality due to increasing ethanol content in gasoline. We also solicit comment on the discrete issues raised by this letter and whether the evidence presented in the letter would support a waiver on the basis of severe environmental harm. EPA is publishing and seeking comment on these petitions to foster public dialogue on these issues and to inform our future decision-making. At this time, we are not reconsidering or otherwise reexamining the 2019 or 2020 RFS rulemakings or any other prior action,8 or soliciting comment on any issues beyond those specifically raised by the petitions and the NWF letter in support.9 We are also not proposing to either grant or to deny any of the petitions. 8 See Nat’l Mining Ass’n v. United States Dep’t of the Interior, 70 F.3d 1345, 1351 (D.C. Cir. 1995) (‘‘The decision to publish a petition for rulemaking . . . is not evidence of a reexamination of the policy at issue in the petition.’’); P & V Enterprises v. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 516 F.3d 1021, 1026 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (‘‘an agency must be able to initiate a public dialogue without inadvertently reopening established precedent, or its communications with the public would be unnecessarily stifled’’). 9 For example, we are not soliciting comment on EPA’s small refinery exemption policy, the point of obligation, the generation of RINs for exported fuel, or any other issue beyond those discrete issues raised by the petitions and the NWF letter. PO 00000 Frm 00055 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Dated: January 7, 2021. Anne L. Austin, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation. [FR Doc. 2021–01017 Filed 1–15–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2020–0579; FRL–10018–63– OAR ] Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Mobile Air Conditioner Retrofitting Program (Renewal) Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ‘‘Mobile Air Conditioner Retrofitting Program (Renewal)’’ (EPA ICR No. 1774.08, OMB Control No. 2060–0350) 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 31, 2021. 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 22, 2021. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OAR–2020–0579, online using https:// www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or by email to a-and-r-docket@ epa.gov. Out of an abundance of caution for members of the public and our staff, the EPA Docket Center and Reading Room are closed to the public, with limited exceptions, to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID–19. Our Docket Center staff will continue to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and webform. We encourage the public to submit comments via https:// www.regulations.gov or email, as there may be a delay in processing mail and faxes. Hand deliveries and couriers may be received by scheduled appointment only. For further information on EPA Docket Center services and the current status, please visit us online at https:// www.epa.gov/dockets. EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\19JAN1.SGM 19JAN1 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 11 / Tuesday, January 19, 2021 / Notices 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: Christina Thompson, Environmental Protection Agency, Stratospheric Protection Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs, MC 6205T, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564– 0983; email address: thompson.christina@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 https:// www.regulations.gov. The EPA is temporarily suspending its Docket Center and Reading Room for public visitors, with limited exceptions, to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID– 19. Our Docket Center staff will continue to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and webform. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744. For further information and updates on EPA Docket Center services, please visit us online at 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:56 Jan 17, 2021 Jkt 253001 Abstract: EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program implements Section 612 of the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments which authorized the Agency to establish regulatory requirements to ensure that ozone-depleting substances (ODS) are replaced by alternatives that reduce overall risks to human health and the environment, and to promote an expedited transition to safe substitutes. To promote this transition, CAA specified that EPA establish an information clearinghouse of available alternatives, and coordinate with other Federal agencies and the public on research, procurement practices, and information and technology transfers. Since the program’s inception in 1994, SNAP has reviewed close to 500 new chemicals and alternative manufacturing processes for a wide range of consumer, industrial, space exploration, and national security applications. Roughly 90% of alternatives submitted to EPA for review have been listed as acceptable for a specific use, typically with some condition or limit to minimize risks to human health and the environment. Regulations promulgated under SNAP require that Motor Vehicle Air Conditioners (MVACs) retrofitted to use a SNAP substitute refrigerant include basic information on a label to be affixed to the air conditioner. The label includes the name of the substitute refrigerant, when and by whom the retrofit was performed, environmental and safety information about the substitute refrigerant, and other information. This information is needed so that subsequent technicians working on the MVAC system will be able to service the equipment properly, decreasing the likelihood of significant refrigerant cross-contamination and potential failure of air conditioning systems and recovery/recycling equipment. Form Numbers: None. Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are new and used car dealers, gas service stations, top and body repair shops, general automotive repair shops, automotive repair shops not elsewhere classified, including air conditioning and radiator specialty shops. Respondent’s obligation to respond: Mandatory under 40 CFR 82.180. Estimated number of respondents: 3 (total). Frequency of response: Once per retrofit of a motor vehicle air conditioner. Total estimated burden: 0.08 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b). PO 00000 Frm 00056 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 5185 Total estimated cost: $3.64 (per year), includes $0.10 (per year) annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs. Changes in Estimates: There is a decrease of 0.3 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB (per year). This decrease is based on the decline of MVACs in service today using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), specifically CFC–12. After 1994, new cars in the U.S. were no longer manufactured with CFC–12 MVACs. The number of MVACs originally designed to use CFC–12 as well as the number of those retrofitted has been decreasing every year and EPA estimates a continued reduction in the number of CFC–12 MVAC retrofits will occur during the next three years. EPA estimates that in 2020 there were 1,500 MVACs originally designed to use CFC– 12 operating in the U.S., and estimates that in 2021, 2022 and 2023 the number of cars originally designed to use CFC– 12 will decrease to 600, 200 and 100, respectively. Of these, EPA estimates that 1 MVAC will be retrofitted annually to use alternative refrigerants. Therefore, EPA estimates that in 2021, 2022 and 2023 the number of MVACs to be retrofitted is 1 for each year; resulting in a total of 3 MVAC retrofits over the three years of this ICR. These reductions are due to the decrease of CFC–12 MVACs available on the road for retrofitting. Hans Christopher Grundler, Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs. [FR Doc. 2021–01062 Filed 1–15–21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL–10016–81–Region 3] Delegation of Authority to the State of West Virginia To Implement and Enforce Additional or Revised National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants Standards and New Source Performance Standards Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of delegation of authority. AGENCY: On October 8, 2020, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent the State of West Virginia (West Virginia) a letter acknowledging that West Virginia’s delegation of authority to implement and enforce the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and New Source SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\19JAN1.SGM 19JAN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 11 (Tuesday, January 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5184-5185]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-01062]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2020-0579; FRL-10018-63-OAR ]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Mobile 
Air Conditioner Retrofitting Program (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Mobile Air Conditioner 
Retrofitting Program (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 1774.08, OMB Control No. 
2060-0350) 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 31, 
2021. 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 22, 2021.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2020-0579, online using https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred 
method), or by email to [email protected]. Out of an abundance of 
caution for members of the public and our staff, the EPA Docket Center 
and Reading Room are closed to the public, with limited exceptions, to 
reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. Our Docket Center staff will 
continue to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and 
webform. We encourage the public to submit comments via https://www.regulations.gov or email, as there may be a delay in processing 
mail and faxes. Hand deliveries and couriers may be received by 
scheduled appointment only. For further information on EPA Docket 
Center services and the current status, please visit us online at 
https://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public

[[Page 5185]]

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: Christina Thompson, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Stratospheric Protection Division, Office of 
Atmospheric Programs, MC 6205T, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 
564-0983; 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 https://www.regulations.gov. The EPA is temporarily suspending its Docket 
Center and Reading Room for public visitors, with limited exceptions, 
to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. Our Docket Center staff 
will continue to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and 
webform. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. 
For further information and updates on EPA Docket Center services, 
please visit us online at 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: EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program 
implements Section 612 of the 1990 Clean Air Act (CAA) Amendments which 
authorized the Agency to establish regulatory requirements to ensure 
that ozone-depleting substances (ODS) are replaced by alternatives that 
reduce overall risks to human health and the environment, and to 
promote an expedited transition to safe substitutes. To promote this 
transition, CAA specified that EPA establish an information 
clearinghouse of available alternatives, and coordinate with other 
Federal agencies and the public on research, procurement practices, and 
information and technology transfers.
    Since the program's inception in 1994, SNAP has reviewed close to 
500 new chemicals and alternative manufacturing processes for a wide 
range of consumer, industrial, space exploration, and national security 
applications. Roughly 90% of alternatives submitted to EPA for review 
have been listed as acceptable for a specific use, typically with some 
condition or limit to minimize risks to human health and the 
environment.
    Regulations promulgated under SNAP require that Motor Vehicle Air 
Conditioners (MVACs) retrofitted to use a SNAP substitute refrigerant 
include basic information on a label to be affixed to the air 
conditioner. The label includes the name of the substitute refrigerant, 
when and by whom the retrofit was performed, environmental and safety 
information about the substitute refrigerant, and other information. 
This information is needed so that subsequent technicians working on 
the MVAC system will be able to service the equipment properly, 
decreasing the likelihood of significant refrigerant cross-
contamination and potential failure of air conditioning systems and 
recovery/recycling equipment.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are new and used car dealers, gas service stations, top and 
body repair shops, general automotive repair shops, automotive repair 
shops not elsewhere classified, including air conditioning and radiator 
specialty shops.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory under 40 CFR 82.180.
    Estimated number of respondents: 3 (total).
    Frequency of response: Once per retrofit of a motor vehicle air 
conditioner.
    Total estimated burden: 0.08 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 
5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Total estimated cost: $3.64 (per year), includes $0.10 (per year) 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is a decrease of 0.3 hours in the total 
estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by 
OMB (per year). This decrease is based on the decline of MVACs in 
service today using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), specifically CFC-12. 
After 1994, new cars in the U.S. were no longer manufactured with CFC-
12 MVACs. The number of MVACs originally designed to use CFC-12 as well 
as the number of those retrofitted has been decreasing every year and 
EPA estimates a continued reduction in the number of CFC-12 MVAC 
retrofits will occur during the next three years. EPA estimates that in 
2020 there were 1,500 MVACs originally designed to use CFC-12 operating 
in the U.S., and estimates that in 2021, 2022 and 2023 the number of 
cars originally designed to use CFC-12 will decrease to 600, 200 and 
100, respectively. Of these, EPA estimates that 1 MVAC will be 
retrofitted annually to use alternative refrigerants. Therefore, EPA 
estimates that in 2021, 2022 and 2023 the number of MVACs to be 
retrofitted is 1 for each year; resulting in a total of 3 MVAC 
retrofits over the three years of this ICR. These reductions are due to 
the decrease of CFC-12 MVACs available on the road for retrofitting.

Hans Christopher Grundler,
Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs.
[FR Doc. 2021-01062 Filed 1-15-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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