Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Mobile Air Conditioning Retrofitting Program

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6473-2]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;

Comment Request; Mobile Air Conditioning Retrofitting 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): Information Collection Activities

Associated with EPA's Mobile Air Conditioner Retrofitting Program, EPA

ICR No. 1774.01, and OMB No. 2060-0350, expiration date 2/28/00. 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 January 10, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in duplicate to the attention

of Air Docket No. A-99-37; Environmental Protection Agency; 401 M

Street, SW. (MC-6102); Washington, DC 20460 (submissions may be faxed

to (202) 260-4400). The Air and Radiation Docket is located in Room M-

1500; Waterside Mall (Ground Floor); U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency; 401 M Street, S.W.; Washington, DC 20460. The docket may be

inspected Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A reasonable

fee may be charged for copying docket materials. For further questions,

contact the docket at (202) 260-7549.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anhar Karimjee at phone: (202) 564-

2683, fax: (202) 565-2096, or e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action

include: new and used car dealers, gas service stations, top and body

repair shops, and automotive repair shops (including air conditioning

and radiator specialty shops).

Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's

Mobile Air Conditioner Retrofitting Program (OMB Control No. 2060-0350;

EPA ICR No. 1774.01) expiring 2/28/00.

Abstract: Section 612 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires EPA to

promulgate rules making it unlawful to replace any ozone-depleting

substance with any substitute that the Administrator determines may

present adverse effects to human health or the environment where the

Administrator has identified an alternative that (1) reduces the

overall risk to human health and the environment, and (2) is currently

or potentially available. In 1994, the Significant New Alternatives

Policy (SNAP) Program was enacted, enabling the Agency to review

available substitutes for ozone depleting substances and determine

their acceptability. The SNAP program includes review of potential

alternatives to ozone-depleting refrigerants used for air conditioning

motor vehicles. EPA is concerned that the existence of several

substitutes in this end-use may increase the likelihood of significant

refrigerant cross-contamination and potential failure of both air

conditioning systems and recovery/recycling equipment. The purpose of

this Information Collection Request (ICR) is to estimate the burden

associated with the 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 82 requirement

that service technicians label mobile air conditioners with information

about new refrigerants when they retrofit a system. These labels

acknowledge that the retrofitting has been completed, and that the

mobile air conditioner cannot accept chloroflourocarbon (CFC)

refrigerant. In addition, the labels provide essential information to

technicians about the specific refrigerant used in the air conditioning

system. This information assists the technician in avoiding service

practices that might result in cross-contamination and system failure.

Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (section 612

of the Clean Air Act and 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 82). 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: EPA estimates that there are approximately

140,000 service technicians, who will be responsible for retrofitting

some 15,000,000 cars by the year 2002 (5,000,000 cars retrofitted per

year). EPA estimates the time to complete and apply the label at 5

minutes per car, making the total burden 1,250,000 hours. At $50 per

hour, the overall cost associated with the burden hours is $62,500,000.

The cost for designing, typesetting, printing and distributing

15,000,000 labels is $1,500,000 ($ .10 per label). Adding the labor and

capital costs together yields a total cost burden of $64,000,000.

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

[[Page 61332]]

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: November 2, 1999.

Edward Callahan,

Acting Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs.

[FR Doc. 99-29450 Filed 11-9-99; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-P