Notice of Data Availability Relevant to Management of Regulated Substances Under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020, 62843-62845 [2022-22458]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 199 / Monday, October 17, 2022 / Notices issuance.10 The OEP Director, or his or her designee, will act on all of those extension requests that are uncontested. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the Federal Register, The Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the internet through the Commission’s Home Page (https:// www.ferc.gov) using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. At this time, the Commission has suspended access to Commission’s Public Reference Room, due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID–19), issued by the President on March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact FERC at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (886) 208–3676 or TYY, (202) 502–8659. The Commission strongly encourages electronic filings of comments, protests and interventions in lieu of paper using the ‘‘eFiling’’ link at https:// www.ferc.gov. Persons unable to file electronically should submit an original and three copies of the protest or intervention to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. Comment Date: 5 p.m. eastern time on October 26, 2022. Dated: October 11, 2022. Kimberly D. Bose, Secretary. [FR Doc. 2022–22475 Filed 10–14–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Federal Energy Regulatory Commission [Docket No. ER23–48–000] lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 West Line Solar, LLC; Supplemental Notice That Initial Market-Based Rate Filing Includes Request for Blanket Section 204 Authorization This is a supplemental notice in the above-referenced proceeding of West Line Solar, LLC’s application for market-based rate authority, with an accompanying rate tariff, noting that such application includes a request for blanket authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of future issuances of securities and assumptions of liability. Any person desiring to intervene or to protest should file with the Federal 10 Algonquin Gas Transmission, LLC, 170 FERC ¶ 61,144, at P 40 (2020). VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Oct 14, 2022 Jkt 259001 Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426, in accordance with Rules 211 and 214 of the Commission’s Rules of Practice and Procedure (18 CFR 385.211 and 385.214). Anyone filing a motion to intervene or protest must serve a copy of that document on the Applicant. Notice is hereby given that the deadline for filing protests with regard to the applicant’s request for blanket authorization, under 18 CFR part 34, of future issuances of securities and assumptions of liability, is October 31, 2022. The Commission encourages electronic submission of protests and interventions in lieu of paper, using the FERC Online links at https:// www.ferc.gov. To facilitate electronic service, persons with internet access who will eFile a document and/or be listed as a contact for an intervenor must create and validate an eRegistration account using the eRegistration link. Select the eFiling link to log on and submit the intervention or protests. Persons unable to file electronically may mail similar pleadings to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 888 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20426. Hand delivered submissions in docketed proceedings should be delivered to Health and Human Services, 12225 Wilkins Avenue, Rockville, Maryland 20852. In addition to publishing the full text of this document in the Federal Register, the Commission provides all interested persons an opportunity to view and/or print the contents of this document via the internet through the Commission’s Home Page (https:// www.ferc.gov) using the ‘‘eLibrary’’ link. Enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the docket number field to access the document. At this time, the Commission has suspended access to the Commission’s Public Reference Room, due to the proclamation declaring a National Emergency concerning the Novel Coronavirus Disease (COVID–19), issued by the President on March 13, 2020. For assistance, contact the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission at FERCOnlineSupport@ferc.gov or call toll-free, (886) 208–3676 or TYY, (202) 502–8659. Dated: October 11, 2022. Debbie-Anne A. Reese, Deputy Secretary. [FR Doc. 2022–22485 Filed 10–14–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6717–01–P PO 00000 Frm 00062 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 62843 ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA–HQ–OAR–2022–0606; FRL–10105–03– OAR] Notice of Data Availability Relevant to Management of Regulated Substances Under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice of data availability. AGENCY: This Notice of Data Availability (NODA) is to alert stakeholders of information from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the United States’ hydrofluorocarbon reclamation market and to solicit stakeholder input. The Agency is making available a draft report, Analysis of the U.S. Hydrofluorocarbon Reclamation Market: Stakeholders, Drivers, and Practices, which analyzes the United States’ hydrofluorocarbon reclamation market and describes the reclamation process, factors affecting costs of reclamation, incentives, and barriers to refrigerant reclamation. The Agency is providing this information in preparation for an upcoming regulatory action which EPA intends to propose under subsection (h) of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020. The notice identifies possible data gaps and requests comment on areas where additional information could improve the Agency’s information on the United States hydrofluorocarbon reclamation market and practices. The Agency is also providing notice of a stakeholder meeting to enable stakeholders to provide input as the Agency prepares to engage in rulemaking. DATES: To ensure that comments can be accounted for in an upcoming proposed rule that EPA is considering, please submit comments to the Agency by November 7, 2022. ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OAR–2022–0606, by any of the following methods: • Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/ (our preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting comments. • Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket Center, Air and Radiation Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460. • Hand Delivery or Courier (by scheduled appointment only): EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM 17OCN1 62844 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 199 / Monday, October 17, 2022 / Notices NW, Washington, DC 20004. The Docket Center’s hours of operations are 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Monday–Friday (except Federal Holidays). Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID No. for this rulemaking. Comments received may be posted without change to https:// www.regulations.gov/, including any personal information provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments and additional information on the rulemaking process, see the ‘‘Public Participation’’ heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Annie Kee, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Stratospheric Protection Division, telephone number: 202–564–2056; or email address: kee.annie@epa.gov. You may also visit EPA’s website at https://www.epa.gov/ climate-hfcs-reduction for further information. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Public Participation lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is interested in receiving comments on the draft report developed in support of this notice of data availability (NODA) to inform the Agency’s regulatory process for an upcoming proposed rule that EPA is considering. Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– OAR–2022–0606, at https:// www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or the other methods identified in the ADDRESSES section. You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your comments: Explain your views as clearly as possible; describe any assumptions that you used; provide any technical information or data you used that support your views; provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns; offer alternatives; and make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline identified. Please provide any published studies or raw data supporting your position. Confidential Business Information (CBI) should not be submitted through www.regulations.gov. Please work with the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section if submitting a comment containing CBI. II. Background The Agency is providing information in preparation for an upcoming regulatory action under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020 (AIM Act or Act), codified at 42 U.S.C. 7675. Among other provisions, VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Oct 14, 2022 Jkt 259001 subsection (h) of the Act authorizes EPA to establish certain requirements for management of certain hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) and their substitutes. Specifically, subsection (h)(1) of the Act directs the Agency to establish regulations to control, where appropriate, practices, processes, or activities regarding the servicing, repair, disposal, or installation of equipment, for purposes of maximizing the reclamation and minimizing the release of certain HFCs from equipment and ensuring the safety of technicians and consumers. Subsection (h) also provides that ‘‘[i]n carrying out this section, the Administrator shall consider the use of authority available to the Administrator under this section to increase opportunities for the reclaiming of regulated substances used as refrigerants’’ (subsection (h)(2)(A)) and authorizes EPA in promulgating regulations carrying out subsection (h) of the AIM Act to ‘‘coordinate those regulations with any other [EPA] regulations’’ involving ‘‘the same or a similar practice, process, or activity regarding the servicing, repair, disposal, or installation of equipment,’’ or reclaiming (subsection (h)(3)). Such regulations could potentially include the refrigerant management program established under title VI of the Clean Air Act. EPA is seeking comment on the accuracy of the data and analyses presented in the draft report in the docket to this notice regarding the United States’ hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant reclamation market and welcomes input on those data and potential data gaps. Readers should note that EPA will only consider comments about the draft report provided in the docket, and the Agency is not soliciting comments on any other topic through this notice. EPA plans to undergo a future notice and comment rulemaking process, which will be a separate action, that will outline the Agency’s approach to the management of HFCs and their substitutes under the AIM Act. EPA will solicit public feedback on these issues through that separate notice and comment process, and therefore is not accepting public comment on these matters through this notice. Public comments that pertain to issues beyond the scope of this notice will not be considered as the Agency updates the draft report. To the extent such comments are relevant to the previously referenced future and separate rulemaking, those comments should be resubmitted through that future rulemaking process in order to ensure that they are duly considered by the PO 00000 Frm 00063 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Agency in that process. Use of AIM Act terminology in this notice is for communication purposes only and should not be viewed as indications of how EPA will define these terms in any future rulemaking action. EPA intends to provide more information on the status of rulemakings and stakeholder interaction, including opportunities for submitting public comment, on the Agency’s website: https://www.epa.gov/ climate-hfcs-reduction. EPA will hold a virtual stakeholder meeting for input on the draft report and an upcoming regulatory action which EPA intends to propose under subsection (h) of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020. Information concerning this meeting will be available on the Agency’s website: https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcsreduction. III. What information is available? This notice provides for public review and comment on the draft report, Analysis of the U.S. Hydrofluorocarbon Reclamation Market: Stakeholders, Drivers, and Practices, that is available in the docket. The draft report describes EPA’s current understanding of the U.S. HFC refrigerant reclamation market and provides information on the reclamation process, factors affecting costs of reclamation, incentives, and barriers to reclamation. EPA requests comment on the information and analysis in the draft report, and information on potential data gaps. The report provides background information on the reclamation industry in support of an upcoming proposed rule that EPA is considering under subsection (h) of the AIM Act to establish regulations to control, where appropriate, practices, processes, or activities regarding the servicing, repair, disposal, or installation of equipment, for purposes of maximizing the reclamation and minimizing the release of certain HFCs from equipment and ensuring the safety of technicians and consumers. The draft report provides information on the following: • Background information on the refrigerant reclamation of HFCs, federal and state statutory and regulatory provisions • Subsectors and applications using refrigerants • Historical reclamation market in the U.S., the reclamation process, factors affecting costs of reclamation, and incentives for refrigerant reclamation • Safety of technicians and consumers • Barriers and key challenges to refrigerant reclamation. E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM 17OCN1 lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with NOTICES1 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 199 / Monday, October 17, 2022 / Notices IV. What is EPA taking comment on and what supporting documentation do I need to include in my comments? EPA is accepting comments on possible data gaps and areas where additional information could improve the Agency’s information outlined in this notice and contained in the draft report, Analysis of the U.S. Hydrofluorocarbon Reclamation Market: Stakeholders, Drivers, and Practices. Specifically, EPA requests comment on topics contained in the draft report, including but not limited to: • Current reclamation process, practices, and technologies • Supply chain of reclaimed refrigerants (e.g., recovery, collection, stockpiling, destruction) • Costs of reclamation (e.g., price of refrigerants, transport, storage, operating costs of reclamation systems) • Incentives for reclamation • Safety of technicians and consumers (e.g., outreach, best practices) • Barriers and challenges to reclamation (e.g., contamination and accommodation of blends and cylinders with mixed refrigerants, market demand). EPA is also interested in responses to any of the following questions related to this draft report, including but not limited to: • Current recovery and reclamation practices, technologies, and trends: Æ What are some major changes and/ or trends in reclamation technology and equipment over the past 25 years? Æ What are the current trends for the price of refrigerants and how can this affect reclamation and recovery? Æ How do reclaimers address waste oils, impurities, etc.? Æ What type of equipment do reclaimers use (e.g., off-the-shelf reclamation equipment, modified offthe-shelf reclamation equipment, custom-built equipment)? Æ What are the current practices for refrigerant recovery at equipment endof-life? • Supply chain: Æ What are the primary sources of recovered refrigerant (technicians, distributors, wholesalers, etc.)? Stationary vs. motor vehicle air conditioning systems? Æ Are Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) purchasing reclaimed HFCs for initial equipment charge? Æ Besides refrigeration and air conditioning (e.g., fire suppression), are there other sectors where reclaimed or reprocessed HFCs are being used? • Barriers and challenges to recovery and reclamation: VerDate Sep<11>2014 17:35 Oct 14, 2022 Jkt 259001 Æ What are major barriers to increasing the amount of refrigerant recovered and reclaimed? For example, increasing the amount of reclaimed material re-entering the market or the increased use of reclaimed material in other sectors (i.e., beyond refrigeration and air conditioning)? Æ What are the losses of refrigerant during recovery and/or the reclamation process (e.g., chronic leaking) and what steps can be taken to minimize the losses (e.g., best practices, technologies)? Æ How are multi-component refrigerant blends handled during recovery and/or the reclamation process? EPA requests that commenters provide corrected information or suggested language on the draft report, along with the rationale as to why the existing text was incorrect or incomplete. In addition, please provide any published studies or raw data supporting your comments. Cynthia A. Newberg, Director, Stratospheric Protection Division. [FR Doc. 2022–22458 Filed 10–14–22; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560–50–P 62845 Monday, 21 November 2022 1 to 3 p.m. ET Registration deadlines: 1. Novel Space Capabilities: Sunday, 13 November 2022 11:59 a.m. ET 2. Approaches for Authorization & Supervision: Sunday, 20 November 2022 11:59 a.m. ET Written comments regarding these topics are not necessary but invited and must be received within 45 days of this publication. ADDRESSES: Register for a virtual listening session using the sessionspecific links below: Novel Space Capabilities: https:// pitc.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/ vJIsd-Gurj4tGy6OkzdSEG bJGjshsVTsoqI Approaches to Authorization & Supervision: https:// pitc.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/ vJIsf-CtrjooEzU71B_ fF2SeAksTFKshLyY Please send written comments to Diane Howard at MBX.NSpC.IASP@ ovp.eop.gov FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT National Space Council Notice of In-space Authorization and Supervision Policy Listening Sessions; Request for Comments National Space Council, Executive Office of the President (EOP). ACTION: Notice; request for comments. AGENCY: On 9 September 2022, Vice President Kamala Harris, Chair of the National Space Council, requested Council Members to provide ‘‘a proposal for the authorization and supervision of commercial novel space activities within 180 days[.]’’ The White House National Space Council in the Executive Office of the President is organizing a series of virtual 2 hour listening sessions to engage with members of the public and learn about novel space capabilities and innovative missions, experiences with United States regulatory bodies, and approaches to mission authorization and supervision that can evolve over time. DATES: 1. Novel Space Capabilities: Monday, 14 November 2022 1 to 3 p.m. ET 2. Approaches for Authorization & Supervision: SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00064 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Diane Howard at MBX.NSpC.IASP@ ovp.eop.gov or by calling 202.456.7831. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Perspectives gathered during the virtual listening sessions will inform the National Space Council as it develops a whole-of-government framework that provides a clear, predictable, and flexible process in furtherance of the United States Space Priorities Framework (December 2021) which states that ‘‘U.S regulations must provide clarity and certainty for the authorization and supervision of nongovernmental space activities, including for novel activities such as on-orbit services, orbital debris removal, spacebased manufacturing, commercial human spaceflight, and recovery and use of space resources.’’ Novel activities relate to those missions/activities that are not directly reviewed under existing regulatory regimes, including assembly and manufacturing, mining, and fueling stations. Participants are invited to share information about their missions—the different phases from cradle to grave as well the multiple aspects of these phases. i.e. the communications aspect, role of imagery in operations, in-space safety protocols such as conjunction assessment and collision avoidance, and any others participants believe are appropriate to be considered. E:\FR\FM\17OCN1.SGM 17OCN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 199 (Monday, October 17, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62843-62845]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-22458]


=======================================================================
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0606; FRL-10105-03-OAR]


Notice of Data Availability Relevant to Management of Regulated 
Substances Under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of data availability.

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

SUMMARY: This Notice of Data Availability (NODA) is to alert 
stakeholders of information from the U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency (EPA) regarding the United States' hydrofluorocarbon reclamation 
market and to solicit stakeholder input. The Agency is making available 
a draft report, Analysis of the U.S. Hydrofluorocarbon Reclamation 
Market: Stakeholders, Drivers, and Practices, which analyzes the United 
States' hydrofluorocarbon reclamation market and describes the 
reclamation process, factors affecting costs of reclamation, 
incentives, and barriers to refrigerant reclamation. The Agency is 
providing this information in preparation for an upcoming regulatory 
action which EPA intends to propose under subsection (h) of the 
American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 2020. The notice 
identifies possible data gaps and requests comment on areas where 
additional information could improve the Agency's information on the 
United States hydrofluorocarbon reclamation market and practices. The 
Agency is also providing notice of a stakeholder meeting to enable 
stakeholders to provide input as the Agency prepares to engage in 
rulemaking.

DATES: To ensure that comments can be accounted for in an upcoming 
proposed rule that EPA is considering, please submit comments to the 
Agency by November 7, 2022.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2022-0606, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov/ 
(our preferred method). Follow the online instructions for submitting 
comments.
     Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket 
Center, Air and Radiation Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery or Courier (by scheduled appointment only): 
EPA Docket Center, WJC West Building, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution 
Avenue

[[Page 62844]]

NW, Washington, DC 20004. The Docket Center's hours of operations are 
8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday-Friday (except Federal Holidays).
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the Docket ID 
No. for this rulemaking. Comments received may be posted without change 
to https://www.regulations.gov/, including any personal information 
provided. For detailed instructions on sending comments and additional 
information on the rulemaking process, see the ``Public Participation'' 
heading of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of this document.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Annie Kee, U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency, Stratospheric Protection Division, telephone number: 
202-564-2056; or email address: [email protected]. You may also visit 
EPA's website at https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction for further 
information.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Public Participation

    The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is interested in 
receiving comments on the draft report developed in support of this 
notice of data availability (NODA) to inform the Agency's regulatory 
process for an upcoming proposed rule that EPA is considering. Submit 
your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0606, at 
https://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or the other 
methods identified in the ADDRESSES section. You may find the following 
suggestions helpful for preparing your comments: Explain your views as 
clearly as possible; describe any assumptions that you used; provide 
any technical information or data you used that support your views; 
provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns; offer 
alternatives; and make sure to submit your comments by the comment 
period deadline identified. Please provide any published studies or raw 
data supporting your position. Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
should not be submitted through www.regulations.gov. Please work with 
the person listed in the FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT section if 
submitting a comment containing CBI.

II. Background

    The Agency is providing information in preparation for an upcoming 
regulatory action under the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act 
of 2020 (AIM Act or Act), codified at 42 U.S.C. 7675. Among other 
provisions, subsection (h) of the Act authorizes EPA to establish 
certain requirements for management of certain hydrofluorocarbons 
(HFCs) and their substitutes. Specifically, subsection (h)(1) of the 
Act directs the Agency to establish regulations to control, where 
appropriate, practices, processes, or activities regarding the 
servicing, repair, disposal, or installation of equipment, for purposes 
of maximizing the reclamation and minimizing the release of certain 
HFCs from equipment and ensuring the safety of technicians and 
consumers. Subsection (h) also provides that ``[i]n carrying out this 
section, the Administrator shall consider the use of authority 
available to the Administrator under this section to increase 
opportunities for the reclaiming of regulated substances used as 
refrigerants'' (subsection (h)(2)(A)) and authorizes EPA in 
promulgating regulations carrying out subsection (h) of the AIM Act to 
``coordinate those regulations with any other [EPA] regulations'' 
involving ``the same or a similar practice, process, or activity 
regarding the servicing, repair, disposal, or installation of 
equipment,'' or reclaiming (subsection (h)(3)). Such regulations could 
potentially include the refrigerant management program established 
under title VI of the Clean Air Act.
    EPA is seeking comment on the accuracy of the data and analyses 
presented in the draft report in the docket to this notice regarding 
the United States' hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant reclamation market and 
welcomes input on those data and potential data gaps. Readers should 
note that EPA will only consider comments about the draft report 
provided in the docket, and the Agency is not soliciting comments on 
any other topic through this notice. EPA plans to undergo a future 
notice and comment rulemaking process, which will be a separate action, 
that will outline the Agency's approach to the management of HFCs and 
their substitutes under the AIM Act. EPA will solicit public feedback 
on these issues through that separate notice and comment process, and 
therefore is not accepting public comment on these matters through this 
notice. Public comments that pertain to issues beyond the scope of this 
notice will not be considered as the Agency updates the draft report. 
To the extent such comments are relevant to the previously referenced 
future and separate rulemaking, those comments should be resubmitted 
through that future rulemaking process in order to ensure that they are 
duly considered by the Agency in that process. Use of AIM Act 
terminology in this notice is for communication purposes only and 
should not be viewed as indications of how EPA will define these terms 
in any future rulemaking action. EPA intends to provide more 
information on the status of rulemakings and stakeholder interaction, 
including opportunities for submitting public comment, on the Agency's 
website: https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction. EPA will hold a 
virtual stakeholder meeting for input on the draft report and an 
upcoming regulatory action which EPA intends to propose under 
subsection (h) of the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act of 
2020. Information concerning this meeting will be available on the 
Agency's website: https://www.epa.gov/climate-hfcs-reduction.

III. What information is available?

    This notice provides for public review and comment on the draft 
report, Analysis of the U.S. Hydrofluorocarbon Reclamation Market: 
Stakeholders, Drivers, and Practices, that is available in the docket. 
The draft report describes EPA's current understanding of the U.S. HFC 
refrigerant reclamation market and provides information on the 
reclamation process, factors affecting costs of reclamation, 
incentives, and barriers to reclamation. EPA requests comment on the 
information and analysis in the draft report, and information on 
potential data gaps.
    The report provides background information on the reclamation 
industry in support of an upcoming proposed rule that EPA is 
considering under subsection (h) of the AIM Act to establish 
regulations to control, where appropriate, practices, processes, or 
activities regarding the servicing, repair, disposal, or installation 
of equipment, for purposes of maximizing the reclamation and minimizing 
the release of certain HFCs from equipment and ensuring the safety of 
technicians and consumers. The draft report provides information on the 
following:

 Background information on the refrigerant reclamation of HFCs, 
federal and state statutory and regulatory provisions
 Subsectors and applications using refrigerants
 Historical reclamation market in the U.S., the reclamation 
process, factors affecting costs of reclamation, and incentives for 
refrigerant reclamation
 Safety of technicians and consumers
 Barriers and key challenges to refrigerant reclamation.

[[Page 62845]]

IV. What is EPA taking comment on and what supporting documentation do 
I need to include in my comments?

    EPA is accepting comments on possible data gaps and areas where 
additional information could improve the Agency's information outlined 
in this notice and contained in the draft report, Analysis of the U.S. 
Hydrofluorocarbon Reclamation Market: Stakeholders, Drivers, and 
Practices. Specifically, EPA requests comment on topics contained in 
the draft report, including but not limited to:

 Current reclamation process, practices, and technologies
 Supply chain of reclaimed refrigerants (e.g., recovery, 
collection, stockpiling, destruction)
 Costs of reclamation (e.g., price of refrigerants, transport, 
storage, operating costs of reclamation systems)
 Incentives for reclamation
 Safety of technicians and consumers (e.g., outreach, best 
practices)
 Barriers and challenges to reclamation (e.g., contamination 
and accommodation of blends and cylinders with mixed refrigerants, 
market demand).

    EPA is also interested in responses to any of the following 
questions related to this draft report, including but not limited to:
     Current recovery and reclamation practices, technologies, 
and trends:
    [cir] What are some major changes and/or trends in reclamation 
technology and equipment over the past 25 years?
    [cir] What are the current trends for the price of refrigerants and 
how can this affect reclamation and recovery?
    [cir] How do reclaimers address waste oils, impurities, etc.?
    [cir] What type of equipment do reclaimers use (e.g., off-the-shelf 
reclamation equipment, modified off-the-shelf reclamation equipment, 
custom-built equipment)?
    [cir] What are the current practices for refrigerant recovery at 
equipment end-of-life?
     Supply chain:
    [cir] What are the primary sources of recovered refrigerant 
(technicians, distributors, wholesalers, etc.)? Stationary vs. motor 
vehicle air conditioning systems?
    [cir] Are Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) purchasing 
reclaimed HFCs for initial equipment charge?
    [cir] Besides refrigeration and air conditioning (e.g., fire 
suppression), are there other sectors where reclaimed or reprocessed 
HFCs are being used?
     Barriers and challenges to recovery and reclamation:
    [cir] What are major barriers to increasing the amount of 
refrigerant recovered and reclaimed? For example, increasing the amount 
of reclaimed material re-entering the market or the increased use of 
reclaimed material in other sectors (i.e., beyond refrigeration and air 
conditioning)?
    [cir] What are the losses of refrigerant during recovery and/or the 
reclamation process (e.g., chronic leaking) and what steps can be taken 
to minimize the losses (e.g., best practices, technologies)?
    [cir] How are multi-component refrigerant blends handled during 
recovery and/or the reclamation process?
    EPA requests that commenters provide corrected information or 
suggested language on the draft report, along with the rationale as to 
why the existing text was incorrect or incomplete. In addition, please 
provide any published studies or raw data supporting your comments.

Cynthia A. Newberg,
Director, Stratospheric Protection Division.
[FR Doc. 2022-22458 Filed 10-14-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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