Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; ``National Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program''

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6348-15]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request; ``National Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program''

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 EPA is planning to submit the

following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office

of Management and Budget (OMB): ``National Recycling and Emissions

Reduction Program,'' EPA ICR Number: 1626.07, OMB Control Number: 2060-

0256, expiration date--June 30, 1999. Before submitting the ICR 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 July 20, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in duplicate to the attention

of Air Docket No. A-92-01 VIII.J; Environmental Protection Agency; 401

M Street (6205J), S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20460. Materials relevant to

this proposed rulemaking are contained in Air and Radiation Docket No.

A-92-01 VIII.J. This docket is located in Room M-1500; Waterside Mall

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

S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20460. Dockets may be inspected Monday through

Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A reasonable fee may be charged for

copying docket materials.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julius Banks; Stratospheric Protection

Division; U.S. EPA (6205J); 401 M Street, S.W.; Washington, D.C. 20460;

Phone: (202) 564-9870; Facsimile: (202) 565-2096. For questions only,

you may use the electronic address [email protected]. All comments

must be sent to the docket.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Affected entities: Entities potentially 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; automobile dismantlers and

recyclers. Additional entities affected include Clean Air Act section

608

[[Page 27780]]

technician certification programs, equipment certification programs,

refrigerant wholesalers and reclaimers, and other establishments that

perform refrigerant removal, service, and/or disposal.

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

Control No. 2060-0256; EPA ICR No. 1626.07) expiring 6/30/99.

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

the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 for the recycling of ozone

depleting refrigerants, specifically chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and

hydrofluorocarbons (HCFCs), in air-conditioning and refrigeration

equipment. These regulations were published on May 14, 1993 (58 FR

28660) and codified in 40 CFR subpart F (section 82.150 et seq.).

Section 608 also establishes self-effectuating prohibitions on the

knowing venting, release, or disposal of any substitute substance for

ozone-depleting refrigerants during the maintenance, service, repair,

and disposal of any device which contains and uses any substitute

refrigerant for household or commercial purposes. Substitutes may be

exempt from this prohibition if EPA determines that venting, releasing,

or disposing of such substances does not pose a threat to the

environment. Substitutes for CFCs and HCFCs are included in

recordkeeping requirements which will not lead to additional burden

hours on affected entities. The reasons for collection of the

information; its intended use; and whether the requirements are

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

below. 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, 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.

Burden Statement: 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.

The annual burden is reported in this Notice by annual respondent

burden. 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.

Additional burden hours associated with the implementation of this

notice are avoided due to the marketplace balance that will occur as

ozone-depleting substances are phased out and replaced by substitutes;

therefore, this ICR renewal does not include any burden for third-party

or public disclosures that were not previously reviewed and approved by

OMB. The annual burden hours for this collection of information are

estimated as follows: 16 hours for two equipment testing organizations;

1,125 hours for an estimated 2,250 service establishments that will

change ownership or enter the market; 12.5 hours for an estimated 25

disposal establishments that change ownership or enter the market;

10,000 hours for the maintenance of copies of signed statements by an

estimated 500 disposal establishments; 40 hours for certification of an

estimated 20 refrigerant reclaimers that change ownership or enter the

market; 400 hours for reclaimer reporting from an estimated 80

respondents; 40,000 hours for an estimated 5,000 refrigerant

wholesalers to maintain records of refrigerant sales transactions; 300

hours for an estimated 10 technician certification programs applying

for first-time approval; 1,600 hours for 100 technician certification

programs to maintain records; 96,000 hours for an estimated 330,000

technicians acquiring certification and maintaining certification

cards; 268,500 hours for an estimated 2,003,850 owners of refrigeration

and air-conditioning equipment to maintain records on refrigerant and

equipment; and 990 hours for an estimated 210 owners of industrial

process refrigeration equipment.

Dated: May 7, 1999.

Julius Banks,

Stratospheric Protection Division, OAR.

[FR Doc. 99-12941 Filed 5-20-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P