Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; NSPS, Sulfuric Acid Plants

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6345-2]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB

Review; Comment Request; NSPS, 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. 3501

et seq.), this document 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 Control Number: 2060-0041 and expiration date: 06/30/99.

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 June 18, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 260-2740,

by E-Mail at Farmer.S[email protected] or download a copy of the ICR

off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No.

1057.08.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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

0041; EPA ICR No. 1057.08 ) expiring 06/30/99. 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 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 judgement, 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 and 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 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 feed stocks 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 the 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 systems (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 any

exceeding 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.

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 document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting

comments on this collection of information was published on 01/05 /99;

no comments were received.

Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping

burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 117

hours per response. 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.

Respondents/Affected Entities: Owners or Operators of Sulfuric Acid

Plants.

[[Page 27254]]

Estimated Number of Respondents: 106.

Frequency of Response: 2.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 24,823 hours.

Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $477,000.

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. 1057.08 and OMB Control No. 2060-0041 in any

correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of

Policy, 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: May 13, 1999.

Joseph Retzer,

Director,

Regulatory Information Division.

[FR Doc. 99-12587 Filed 5-18-99; 8:45 am]

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