Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6364-6]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection

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 proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Requests

(ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting

the ICRs to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on

specific aspects of the proposed information collections as described

below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 23, 1999.

ADDRESSES: U.S. EPA, Office of Compliance, 401 M Street SW, Washington,

DC 20460, Mail code 2223A.

Interested persons may obtain a copy of the ICR without charge by

calling Sandy Farmer of OPPE at (202) 260-2740 or by e-mail at

[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Belinda Breidenbach, (202) 564-7022/

Facsimile Number (202) 564-0050/e-mail

[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are

those which are subject to NESHAP for Mercury Emissions, 40 CFR Part

61, Subpart E.

Title: NESHAP for Mercury Emissions, OMB Control Number 2060-0097,

EPA Number 0113.06, expiration date August 31, 1999.

Abstract: The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air

Pollutants (NESHAP) for Mercury emissions (40 CFR Part 61, Subpart E)

were proposed on December 7, 1971, promulgated on April 6, 1973, and

amended on October 14, 1975 and March 19, 1987. These standards apply

to all stationary sources which process mercury ore to recover mercury,

use mercury chlor-alkali cells to produce chlorine gas and alkali metal

hydroxide, and incinerate or dry wastewater treatment plant sludge.

Approximately 298 sources (274 sludge incineration and drying

plants and 24 mercury-cell chlor-alkali plants) are currently subject

to the standard; and no additional sources are expected to become

subject to the standard in the next three years. Mercury is the

pollutant regulated under this standard.

Owners or operators of the affected facilities described must 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 the date of the initial

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

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. A written report of each period for

which hourly monitored parameters fall outside their established limits

is required semi-annually for mercury-cell chlor-alkali plants. These

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

sources subject to NESHAP.

In the Administrator's judgment, mercury emissions from mercury ore

processing facilities, mercury chlor-alkali plants, including the cell

room ventilation system, and sludge incineration and drying plants

cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated

to endanger public health or welfare.

In order to ensure compliance with the standards promulgated to

protect public health, adequate recordkeeping and reporting is

necessary. In the absence of such information enforcement personnel

would be unable to determine whether the standards are being met on a

continuous basis, as required by the Clean Air Act. Recordkeeping and

reporting are mandatory under this regulation. Records of emission test

results and other data needed to determine total emissions shall be

maintained at the source and made available for inspection for a

minimum of two years.

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.

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: The average annual burden to industry over the

next three years from these recordkeeping and reporting requirements is

estimated at 37,068 person-hours. Assumed that there will be no new

sources in the next 3 years. Therefore, none of the burden hours for

new sources are anticipated to be applicable in the next three years.

For each existing source emission test annual emission tests require 12

person hours, semi-annual reports 8 hours and 4 hours are needed to

submit notifications on other monitored parameters. Recordkeeping of

operating parameters for emission test and mercury leaks require 15

minute per tests. Compilation of data for semi-annual reports require 8

person-hours and the maintenance of data on monitored leaks and

monitored parameters require a period of one-half hour. It is assumed

plants operate 365 days per year and that all the mercury-cell chlor-

alkali plants will have exceedences or leaks semi-annually.

This estimate includes the time needed to review instructions;

develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the

purposes of

[[Page 33285]]

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: June 10, 1999.

John Rasnic,

Director, Manufacturing, Energy and Transportation Division.

[FR Doc. 99-15834 Filed 6-21-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-M