Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review; NSPS Subpart H, Sulfuric Acid Plants

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5462-7]

Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review; NSPS

Subpart H, Sulfuric Acid Plants

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.

3507(a)(1)(D).), this notice announces that the following Information

Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management

and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: NSPS Subpart H, Sulfuric Acid

Plants, OMB number 2060-0041, EPA ICR No. 1057.07 expires 06/31/96. The

ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected

burden and cost; where appropriate, it includes the actual data

collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 24, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CALL: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 260-

2740, and refer to EPA ICR No. 1057.07 and OMB No. 2060-0041.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: NSPS Subpart H, Sulfuric Acid Plants (OMB Control No. 2060-

0041; EPA ICR No. 1057.07) expiring 06/31/96. This is a request for

extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: This ICR contains recordkeeping and reporting

requirements that are mandatory for compliance with 40 CFR Part 60.80,

Subpart H, New Source Performance Standards for Sulfuric Acid Plants.

This information notifies the Agency when a source becomes subject to

the regulations, and informs the Agency that the source is in

compliance when it begins operation. The Agency is informed of the

sources' compliance status by semiannual reports. The calibration and

maintenance requirements aid in a source remaining in compliance.

In the Administrator's judgment, SO2 and acid mist emissions

from the manufacture of sulfuric acid cause or contribute to air

pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health

or welfare. Therefore, New Source Performance Standards have been

promulgated for this source category as required under Section 111 of

the Clean Air Act.

The control of SO2 and acid mist requires not only the

installation of properly designed equipment, but also

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the proper operation and maintenance of that equipment. Sulfur dioxide

and acid mist emissions from sulfuric acid plants result from the

burning of sulfur or sulfur-bearing feedstocks to form SO2,

catalytic oxidation of SO2 to SO3, and absorption of SO2

in a strong acid stream. These standards rely on the capture of

SO2 and acid mist by venting to a control device.

Owners or operators of Sulfuric Acid Plants subject to NSPS are

required to make the following one-time-only reports: notification of

the date of construction or reconstruction; notification of the

anticipated and actual dates of startup; notification of any physical

or operational change to an existing facility which may increase the

regulated pollutant emission rate; notification of demonstration of the

continuous emission monitoring system (CEMS); notification of the date

of the initial performance test; and the results of the initial

performance test. After the initial recordkeeping and reporting

requirements, semiannual reports are required if there has been an

exceedance of control device operating parameters.

Owners or operators are also required to maintain records of the

occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the

operation of an affected facility, or any period during which the

monitoring system is inoperative. These notification, reports and

records are required, in general, of all sources subject to NSPS.

Four new facilities are estimated to become subject to NSPS Subpart

H annually.

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. The OMB control numbers for EPA's

regulations are listed in 40 CFR Part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15. The

Federal Register Notice required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting

comments on this collection of information was published on 12/08/95

(60FR63039); no comments were received.

Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping

burden for this collection of information is estimated to average

595.80 hours per new facility, and 220 hours per existing facility.

Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by

persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide

information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed

to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize

technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and

verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and

disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to

comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements;

train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information;

search data sources; complete and review the collection of information;

and transit or otherwise disclose the information.

Respondents/Affected Entities: 4 new facilities per year, 100

existing facilities.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 106.

Frequency of Response: 2.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 24,823 hours.

Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $1,094,703.

Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the

accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods

for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of

automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please

refer to EPA ICR No. 1057.07 and OMB Control No. 2060-0041 in any

correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer,

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

OPPE Regulatory Information Division (2137),

401 M Street, SW,

Washington, DC 20460

and

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,

Office of Management and Budget,

Attention: Desk Officer for EPA

725 17th Street, NW,

Washington, DC 20503

Dated: April 18, 1996.

Joseph Retzer,

Director, Regulatory Information Division.

[FR Doc. 96-10093 Filed 4-23-96; 8:45 am]

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