Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal: National Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program, OMB Number: 2060-0256

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5421-3]

Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal: National

Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program, OMB Number: 2060-0256

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501

et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request

(ICR): National Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program, OMB Number:

2060-0256, EPA Control Number: 1626.03, is coming up for renewal.

Before submitting the renewal package to the Office of Management and

Budget (OMB), EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the

collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 15, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in duplicate to the attention

of Air Docket No. A-92-01 VIII.J at: Environmental Protection Agency,

401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460. The Air and Radiation Docket

and Information Center is located in Room M-1500, Waterside Mall

(Ground Floor), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M Street,

SW., Washington, DC 20460. Dockets may be inspected from 8:30 a.m. to

5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. A reasonable fee may be charged for

copying docket materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Deborah Ottinger, (202) 233-9149.

Facsimile number: (202) 233-9577. For questions only, you may use the

electronic address: [email protected]. All comments must

be sent to the docket.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities affected by this

action are refrigeration and air conditioning service and repair shops,

plumbing, heating, and air conditioning contractors, refrigerated

transport service dealers, scrap metal recyclers, and automobile

dismantlers and recyclers. Additional entities affected include Clean

Air Act Section 608 technician certification programs, equipment

certification programs, refrigerant wholesalers and reclaimers, and

other establishments that perform refrigerant removal at service and

disposal.

Title: ``National Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program'' OMB

Control Number: 2060-0256. EPA Control Number: 1626.03. Expiration

Date: May 31, 1996.

Abstract: In 1993, EPA promulgated regulations under Section 608 of

the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (Act) for the recycling of CFCs

and HCFCs in air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. These

regulations were published in 58 FR 28660, and are codified at 40 CFR

Subpart F (Sec. 82.150 et seq.). The reasons the information is being

collected, the way the information is to be used, and whether the

requirements are mandatory, voluntary, or required to obtain a benefit,

are described below. The ICR renewal does not include any burden for

third-party or public disclosures not previously reviewed and approved

by OMB. 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.

Equipment Testing Organizations. Equipment testing organizations

must apply to EPA to become approved. Approved equipment testing

organizations must maintain records of the tests performed and their

results, and must submit a list of all certified equipment to EPA

annually. Testing organizations must notify EPA whenever a new model of

equipment is certified or whenever an existing certified models fails a

recertification test. Information collected from equipment certifiers

is required to ensure that recycling and recovery equipment meets the

performance standards of the regulation and that all approved testing

laboratories have the equipment and expertise to test equipment to

these standards.

Servicing and Disposal Establishments. Persons maintaining,

servicing, repairing, or disposing of appliances must certify to EPA

that they have acquired certified recycling or recovery equipment and

are complying with the requirements of the rule. This certification

must be renewed in the event of a change of ownership of the service or

disposal establishment. In addition, service establishments are

required to maintain adequate documentation of technician

certification. These requirements help the Agency to target its

enforcement efforts.

Reclaimers. Refrigerant reclaimers must maintain records of the

names and addresses of persons sending them material for reclamation as

well as the quantity of the material (the combined mass of refrigerant

and contaminants) sent. In addition, reclaimers must maintain records

of the mass of refrigerant reclaimed and the mass of waste products.

Reclaimers must report this information (total quantities) to the

Agency annually. This information helps the Agency track refrigerant

use to insure that no refrigerant is vented at service or disposal.

Refrigerant Wholesalers. Wholesalers must maintain records

indicating the names of purchasers, dates of sales, and quantities of

refrigerant purchased. This information helps the Agency to track

refrigerant use and identify points of noncompliance. The Agency

believes that wholesalers already maintain such records. In addition to

normal business records, wholesalers have to maintain records verifying

that purchasers of refrigerant are properly certified. These records

will be used by EPA inspectors to ensure that refrigerants are only

sold to certified technicians. This is to guarantee that individuals

who purchase refrigerant are aware of the legal restrictions on its

use.

Disposers. Persons disposing of small appliances, room air

conditioners, and MVACs must maintain copies of signed statements

attesting that the refrigerant has been removed prior to final disposal

of each appliance. This information helps EPA to verify that

refrigerant is recovered at some point during the disposal process even

if the final

[[Page 5547]]

disposer does not have recovery equipment.

Technicians. In order for technicians to use recycling and recovery

equipment, they have to pass a certification test. Technicians have to

maintain a wallet-sized certification card. The test is necessary to

ensure that technicians understand refrigerant recovery procedures and

regulations. The card is necessary to ensure that only certified

technicians perform work on air conditioning and refrigeration

equipment or purchase refrigerants.

Technician Certification Programs. Organizations operating

technician certification programs have to apply to EPA to have their

program approved. Approved technician certification programs have to

maintain records including the names of certified technicians and the

unique numbers assigned to each technician certified through their

programs. Approved technician certification programs also have to

submit a report to EPA every six months including the pass/fail rate

and testing schedules.

The application process ensures that the technician certification

programs meet minimum standards for generating, tracking, and grading

tests, and keeping records. Record maintenance allows both the Agency

and the certification program to verify certification claims and

monitor the certification process. The semiannual reports give the

Agency the ability to evaluate certification programs and modify the

certification test if necessary.

Refrigeration and air conditioning equipment owners. Owners of

refrigeration or air conditioning equipment that contain more than 50

pounds of refrigerant must maintain records of the quantity of

refrigerant used during each service procedure performed for the

equipment. This ensures that owners can determine when they are subject

to leak repair requirements. In addition, equipment owners who decided

not to repair leaks must develop and maintain a record of a plan that

states that the equipment will be either retired, replaced or

retrofitted. The development of such a plan ensures that equipment

owners intend to take action to reduce emissions.

Owners of Industrial Process Refrigeration. Under an amendment to

the section 608 rule that was promulgated on August 8, 1995 (60 FR

40420), owners of industrial process refrigeration equipment who wish

to receive an extension or exclusion under the leak repair amendment

are subject to the following reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

(The Office of Management and Budget approved the amendment to the ICR

reflecting this amendment on September 28, 1995.)

(1) Those persons wishing to extend leak repair compliance beyond

the required 30 days must maintain and submit to EPA information

identifying the facility, the leak rate, the method used to determine

the leak rate and full charge, the date a leak rate greater than

allowable was discovered, the location of the leaks, any repair work

completed thus far and date completed, a plan to fix other outstanding

leaks to achieve allowable leak rate, reasons why greater than 30 days

is needed, and an estimate of when repair work will be completed. Any

dates and results of static and dynamic tests must also be maintained

and submitted to EPA.

(2) Those persons wishing to extend retrofit compliance beyond the

required one year must maintain and submit to EPA information

identifying the facility, the leak rate, the method used to determine

the leak rate and full charge, the date a leak rate of greater than the

allowable rate was discovered, the location of leaks, any repair work

that has been completed thus far and date completed, a plan to complete

the retrofit or replacement of the system, the reasons why more than

one year is necessary, the date of notification to EPA, an estimate of

when retrofit or replacement work will be completed, if time changes

for original estimates occur, documentation of the reason why, and the

date of notification to EPA regarding a change in the estimate of when

the work will be completed.

(3) Those persons wishing to exclude purged refrigerants that are

destroyed from the annual leak rate calculations must maintain records

on-site to support the amount of refrigerant claimed sent for

destruction. These records must include flow rate, quantity or

concentration of the refrigerant in the vent stream, and periods of

purge flow.

(4) Those persons wishing to calculate the full charge of an

affected appliance by establishing a range based on the best available

data, regarding the normal operating characteristics and conditions for

the appliance, must maintain records on-site to support the methodology

used in selecting or modifying the particular range.

The sum of these changes represents an increase in reporting

requirements only for those persons wishing to receive an extension or

exclusion under the leak repair amendment.

These reporting and recordkeeping requirements allow determinations

to be made regarding requested extensions and exclusions under the

amendments to the leak repair provisions, which were written in

response to industry concerns and with the concurrence of industry.

Specifically, the amendments allow for persons to extend their

compliance deadlines, to exclude destroyed purged refrigerants from

leak rate calculations, or to use a range rather than calculate the

full charge, when certain circumstances exist. EPA would be unable to

make determinations as to the viability of a claim regarding the need

for an extension without the information under the recordkeeping and

reporting requirements. In negotiating the settlement agreement with

members of CMA, those members agreed with the proposed recordkeeping

and reporting requirements.

The EPA would like to solicit comments 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;

(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

collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g.,

permitting electronic submission of responses.

Burden Statement: The annual burden is reported in this Notice by

annual respondent burden. The burden hours shown have been

significantly reduced from the original ICR because most of the burden

hours in the original ICR (technician certification, certification by

service establishments, applications by equipment and technician

certifiers) were associated with the start-up of the program. This

estimate 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 transmit or otherwise disclose the

information.

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Burden

Collection activities hours

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i. Equipment Testing Organizations:

Annual Respondent Burden:

Submit to EPA annual list of all equipment

previously certified.............................. 1

Notify EPA of certification of new models.......... 5

Maintain records of equipment tested and its

performance....................................... 0

Notify EPA of equipment failing retests or

inspections....................................... 2

Total Annual Burden: Hour total (8) x Number of Respondents

(2)=16 hours.

ii. Certification by Service Establishments that Change

Ownership or Enter the Market:

Annual Respondent Burden:

Compile information, complete certification

requirements...................................... .25

Maintain proof of employee certification........... .25

Total Annual Burden: Hour total (.5) x Number of

Respondents (2,250)=1125 hours.

iii. Certification by Disposal Establishments that Change

Ownership or Enter the Market:

Annual Respondent Burden:

Compile information, complete certification

requirements...................................... .25

Maintain proof of employee certification........... .25

Total Annual Burden: Hour total (.5) x Number of

Respondents (25)=12.5 hours.

iv. Maintenance of copies of signed statements by disposal

establishments:

Annual Respondent Burden:

Maintain copies of signed statements verifying

evacuation of refrigerant......................... 20

Total Annual Burden: Hour total (20) x Number of

Respondents (500)=10,000 hours.

v. Certification by Refrigerant Reclaimers that Change

Ownership or Enter the Market:

Annual Respondent Burden:

Completing certification and submitting it to EPA

Headquarters...................................... 2

Total Annual Burden: Hour Total (2) x Number of respondents

(20)=40.

vi. Reclaimer Reporting:

Annual Respondent Burden:

Compiling information and submitting it to EPA

Headquarters...................................... 5

Total Annual Burden: Hour Total (5) x Number of respondents

(80)=400.

vii. Refrigerant Wholesalers:

Annual Respondent Burden:

Maintain usual business records of refrigerant

sales transactions................................ 0

Maintain normal invoices........................... 0

Maintain records of technician certification....... 8

Total Annual Burden: Hour total (8) x Number of respondents

(5,000)=40,000.

viii. Technician Certification Programs Applying for

Approval:

Annual Respondent Burden:

Compiling information to become approved and

submitting it to EPA Headquarters................. 30

Total Annual Burden: Hour Total (30) x Number of

respondents (10)=300.

ix. Recordkeeping by Existing Technician Certification

Programs:

Annual Respondent Burden:

Maintain records of certified technicians,

individuals taking the tests, test scores,

locations, and dates of tests..................... 0

Submit report to EPA every 6 months................ 16

Total Annual Burden: Hour Total (16) x Number of

respondents (100)=1600 hours.

x. Technicians Acquiring Certification and Maintaining

Certification Cards:

Annual Respondent Burden:

Register and take certification test............... 3

Maintain certification card........................ .02

Total Annual Burden: Hour Total (3) x Number of respondents

(30,000)=90,000 hours.

Hour Total (.02) x Number of respondents (300,000)=6,000

hours.

Total: 96,000 hours.

xi. Owners of Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Equipment:

Annual Respondent Burden:

Keep records of the quantity of refrigerant used

during service procedures......................... .1

Develop and maintain plan to retire, replace, or

retrofit equipment................................ 2

Total Annual Burden: Hour Total (.1) x Number of

respondents (1,968,000)= 196,800.

Hour Total (2) x Number of respondents (35,850)=71,700.

Total: 268,500 hours.

xii. Owners of Industrial Process Refrigeration Equipment:

Annual Respondent Burden:

Prepare requests for 30-day extensions............. 5

Prepare requests for retrofit extensions........... 8

Maintain information on purged and destroyed

refrigerant....................................... 4

Maintain information on the calculation of the full

charge using a range.............................. 4

Perform and document results of static and dynamic

tests............................................. 4

Total Annual Burden (same order as above):

Hour total (5) x Number of respondents (30)=150.

Hour total (8) x Number of respondents (30)=240.

Hour total (4) x Number of respondents (60)=240.

Hour total (4) x Number of respondents (30)=120.

Hour total (4) x Number of respondents (60)=240.

Total: 990 hours.

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Send comments regarding these matters, or any other aspects of the

information collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden,

to the address listed above under ADDRESSES near the top of this

Notice.

Dated: February 6, 1996.

Paul M. Stolpman,

Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs.

[FR Doc. 96-3193 Filed 2-12-96; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P