Agency Information Collection Activities

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5878-1]

Agency Information Collection Activities

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 EPA is planning to submit the

following

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proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Requests (ICR) to the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Municipal Incinerators, NSPS

Subpart E, ICR Number 1058, OMB Control Number 2060-0040; Stationary

Gas Turbines, NSPS Supbart GG, ICR Number 1071, OMB Control Number

2060-0028; nd Benzene Equipment Leaks, NESHAP subpart V, ICR Number

1153, OMB Control Number 2060-0068. Before submitting the ICRs to OMB

for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects

of the proposed information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 20, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Office of

Compliance. People interested in getting copies of this ICR or making

comments about the ICR should direct inquiries or comments to the

Office of Compliance, Mail Code 2224A, 401 M Street, SW., Washington,

DC 20460. Information may also be acquired electronically through the

Enviro$en$e Bulletin Board, (703) 908-2092 or the Enviro$en$e WWW/

Internet Address, http//wastenot.inel.gov./envirosense/. Interested

persons may obtain a copy of the ICR without charge by calling Sandy

Farmer of OPPE at (202) 260-2740.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joyce Chandler, (202) 564-7073,

facsimile number (202) 564-0037, E-Mail: [email protected]

for NSPS Subpart E; Jordan Spooner, (202) 564-7058, facsimile number

(202) 564-0050, E-mail: [email protected] for NSPS Subpart

GG; and Rafael Sanchez, (202) 564-7028, facsimile number (202) 564-

0050, E-Mail: [email protected] for NESHAP Subpart V.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

NSPS (Subpart E) for Municipal Incinerators

Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are

those which are subject to the New Source Performance Standards (NSPS)

for Incinerators Subpart E. The NSPS Subpart E standards of 40 CFR

60.50 apply to each incinerator with a charging rate of more than 45

metric tons per day (50 tons per day), which commenced construction,

reconstruction, or modification after August 17, 1991 and before the

proposal date of NSPS Subpart Eb. For Subpart E an incinerator is

defined as any furnace burning solid waste (refuse, more than 50

percent of which is municipal type waste) to reduce the volume of waste

by removing combustible matter. The Subpart Ea standards of CFR part 60

apply to municipal incinerators with a capacity greater than 225

megagrams per day (250 ton/day) of municipal solid waste or refuse-

derived fuel, for which construction, modification, or reconstruction

commenced between March 20, 1989 and September 20, 1994. Large

municipal waste combustors that are constructed, modified, or

reconstructed after September 20, 1994 are subject to NSPS Subpart Eb.

Title: NSPS Subpart E: New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for

Municipal Incinerators Subpart E, OMB number 2060.0040, expires March

31, 1998.

Abstract: This ICR contains recordkeeping and reporting

requirements that are mandatory for compliance with 40 CFR part 60,

Subpart E, New Source Performance Standards for Incinerators. In the

Administrator's judgement, the particulate matter (PM) emissions 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.

Owners or operators of units subject to Subpart E must provide EPA,

or the delegated State regulatory authority, with 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 operation change to an

existing facility which may increase the regulated pollutant emission

rate; notification of the date of the initial performance test; and the

results of the initial performance test. The recordkeeping requirements

for incinerators consist of the occurrence and duration of any startup

and malfunctions in the operation of an affected facility, and

measurements of PM emissions. The recordkeeping requirements include

the initial performance test results including information necessary to

determine the conditions of the performance test, and performance test

measurements and results, including conversion factors and measurements

of PM emissions. Owners or operators must also maintain records of

daily charging rate and hours of operation. Records of startup,

shutdowns, and malfunctions should be noted as they occur. Any owner or

operator subject to this part shall maintain a file of these

measurements, and retain the file for at least two years following the

date of such measurements, maintenance reports, and records. These

notifications, reports and records are required, in general, of all

sources subject to NSPS. The notification and reports enable EPA or the

delegated State regulatory authority to determine that the proper

technology is installed and properly operated and maintained and to

schedule inspections. This information notifies the Agency when a

source becomes subject to the regulations and informs the Agency of the

sources's compliance status when it begins operation. Performance test

reports are needed as these are the Agency's record of a source's

initial capability to comply with the emission standard, and note the

operating conditions under which compliance was achieved.

The EPA is charged under section 111 of the Clean Air Act, as

amended, to establish standards of performance for new stationary

sources. The standards must reflect application of the best

technological system of continuous emission reductions. Such reductions

should take into consideration the cost of achieving emission

reduction, or any non-air quality health and environmental impact and

energy requirements.

Any information submitted to the Agency for which a claim of

confidentiality is made will be safeguarded according to the Agency

policies set forth in Title 40, Chapter 1, part 2, subpart B--

Confidentiality of Business Information (see 40 CFR part 2; 41 FR

36902, September 1, 1976; amended by 43 FR 40000, September 8, 1978; 43

FR 42251, September 20, 1978; 44 FR 1764, March 23, 1979).

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 EPA would like to solicit comments to:

(i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is

necessary for the proper performance of the function 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

[[Page 44273]]

are to respond, including 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.

Burden Statement: The average annual burden to the industry over

the next three years from these recordkeeping and reporting

requirements is estimated at 8,277 person-hours. Respondents costs

generally can be calculated on the basis of $14.50 per hour, plus 110

percent overhead. The average annual burden to the industry over the

next three years of the ICR is estimated to be $252,035. This is based

on an estimated 93 respondents, with no new incinerators subject to

Subpart E in the next three years of the ICR. New municipal

incinerators capable of combusting more than 225 megagrams per day

where construction is commenced after September 20, 1994, or

reconstruction or modification is commenced after June 19, 1996, will

be subject to NSPS subpart Eb.

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 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.

NSPS Subpart GG: Stationary Gas Turbines

Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are

those stationary gas turbines with a heat input at peak load equal to

or greater than 10.7 gigajoules per hour, based on the lower heating

value of the fuel fired. Any facilities using stationary gas turbines

which commence construction, modification, or reconstruction after

October 3, 1977 are also potentially affected.

There are several exceptions to the standard. One exception

includes those turbines with a heat input at peak load equal to or

greater than 10.7 gigajoules per hour (10 million Btu/hr) but less than

or equal to 107.2 gigajoules per hour (100 million Btu/hour) based on

the lower heating value of the fuel fired, and that have commenced

construction prior to October 3, 1982. Another exception includes those

turbines with a heat input at peak load greater than 107.2 gigajoules

per hour that commenced construction, modification, or reconstruction

between the dates of October 3, 1977, and January 27, 1982, except for

electric utility gas turbines. Additional exemptions are specified in

detail at 40 CFR 60.332, Standard for Nitrogen Oxides.

Title: NSPS for Stationary Gas Turbines, OMB number 2060-0028,

expires January 31, 1998.

Abstract: The New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for

stationary gas turbines (GG) were promulgated on September 10, 1979 to

regulate the emissions of Nitrogen Oxide (NOX) and Sulfur

Dioxide (SO2) into the ambient air supply. The EPA is

charged under section 111 of the Clean Air Act of 1990, as amended, to

establish these standards for new stationary sources that reflect

application of the best demonstrated technology. In addition, section

114(a) of the Clean Air Act provides for monitoring, recordkeeping, and

reporting requirements for these standards.

Owners or operators of affected facilities must make one-time-only

reports which include the following notifications: date of

construction/reconstruction; anticipated and actual dates of start-up;

any physical or operational change which may increase the

SOX or NOX emission rates; commencement date for

the continuous monitoring system performance demonstration; and date

and results of the initial performance test. Plant owners or operators

must also provide semi-annual reports of excess emissions, as

promulgated in the December 13, 1990 Federal Register, 55 FR 51378.

Owners or operators must maintain records of the occurrence and

duration of any start-up, shutdown, or malfunction in operations, or

any periods during which the monitoring system is inoperative.

Recordkeeping is also required to document process information

regarding the: sulfur and nitrogen content of the fuel; fuel:water

ratio; rate of fuel consumption; and ambient conditions. This latter

recordkeeping function involves daily measurements from the continuous

monitoring system to monitor ambient conditions, and to record the fuel

consumption and the ratio of water to fuel being fired in the turbine

only for plants which use water or steam injection to control

NOX emissions. There is generally no additional burden on

the owner/operator to provide this information because adequate

recordkeeping is required of plant operations.

It is important to note that if these data and reports are not

collected, the Agency has no means for ensuring that compliance with

the standards is being achieved and/or maintained by the new, modified,

or reconstructed sources which are subject to regulation. In the

absence of information collection requirements, compliance with the

standards could be ensured only through continuous on-site inspections

by regulatory agency personnel. Consequently, not collecting the

information would result in either greatly increased expenditures of

resources, or the inability to ensure compliance with the standards. In

addition to the purposes mentioned above, this kind of information is

used for targeting plants for inspections and as evidence when

compliance cases are taken to court.

It is also important to note that 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. Any information submitted to the Agency for which a claim of

confidentiality is requested will be safeguarded according to the

Agency policies set forth in Title 40, Chapter 1, part 2, subpart B:

Confidentiality of Business Information (see 40 CFR part 2; 41 FR

36902, September 1, 1976; amended by 43 FR 39999, September 8, 1978; 43

FR 42251, September 28, 1978; 44 FR 17674, March 23, 1979).

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, 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.

[[Page 44274]]

Burden Statement: The average annual burden to the industry over

the next three years from these recordkeeping and reporting

requirements is estimated at 76,681.25 person-hours. This is based on

an estimated 550 sources currently subject to the standard, and an

additional 50 sources per year over the next three years. 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.

NESHAP Subpart V: Benzene for Equipment Leaks (Fugitive Emission

Sources)

Affected entities: Entities affected by this action are those

owners or operators of process units operating in volatile hazardous

air pollutant (VHAP) service (those containing or contacting fluids

(liquid or gas) consisting by weight of at least 10 percent VHAP).

Title: NESHAP for Equipment Leaks (Fugitive Emission Sources), OMB

number 2060-0068, expires March 31, 1998.

Abstract: The standards apply to fugitive emissions from equipment

sources operating in VHAP service (containing or contacting fluids with

at least 10 percent VHAP by weight). More specifically, it applies to

each of the following sources that are intended to operate in VHAP

service: pumps; compressors; pressure relief devices; sampling

connection systems; open-ended valves or lines; valves, flanges and

other connectors; product accumulator vessels; and control devices or

systems that contain or contact fluids (liquid or gas) consisting by

weight of at least 10 percent VHAP.

Owners or operators of the affected process units must make the

following one-time-only reports: application for approval of

construction or modification; notification of startup; application of

waiver of testing (if desired by source); application for equivalency

(if desired by source); and an initial report, which is to include a

list of the equipment installed for compliance, a description of the

physical and functional characteristics of each piece of equipment, a

description of the methods which have been incorporated into the

standard operating procedures for measuring or calculating emissions,

and a statement that the equipment and procedures are in place and are

being used.

Owners or operators are also required to submit semiannual reports

of the number of valves, pumps, and compressors for which leaks were

detected, and explanations for any leak repair delays.

Generally, the one-time-only reports are required of all sources

subject to the NESHAP. However, the recordkeeping and other reporting

requirements are specific to the provisions of Subpart V (Equipment

Leaks Standards). To fulfill the recordkeeping requirement, affected

process units must be monitored to detect leaks by Method 21 of

Appendix A of 40 CFR part 60. The recordkeeping requirements of

Sec. 61.246 apply to leaks detected from pumps, compressors, valves,

flanges, and pressure relief devices. Pumps are checked visually each

calendar week, and pertinent information on each unit is recorded in a

log, required in Sec. 61.246(e). Compressor sensors are checked daily,

and valves are monitored monthly. Recordkeeping requirements for these

units are in effect only when a leak is detected (Secs. 61.242-3, 242-

7). Action taken to repair leaks must also be recorded and kept on file

in a readily accessible location.

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 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 majority of industry costs associated with

the information collection activity in the standards are labor costs.

The respondent costs have been calculated on the basis of $14.50 per

hour plus 110 percent overhead. The current average annual burden to

industry over the next three years is estimated to be $716,762. The

current annual burden to industry over the next three years from these

reporting and recordkeeping requirements is estimated to be 23,539

person-hours. The estimated number of likely respondents within the

term of this ICR is 200. The estimated average burden hours per

response is 30.

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 transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

Dated: August 8, 1997.

Bruce R. Weddle,

Acting Director, Office of Compliance.

[FR Doc. 97-22070 Filed 8-19-97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P