Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,

[Federal Register: May 10, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 90)]

[Notices]

[Page 27239-27240]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr10my06-47]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2005-0509, FRL 8168-2]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Acid Rain Program Under Title IV of the CAA Amendments of 1990 (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 1633.14, OMB Control Number 2060-0258

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICF) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments must be submitted on or before June 9, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR- 2005-0509, to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by e-mail to a-and-r-docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket

Center (EPA/DC), Environmental Protection Agency, Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kenon Smith, Clean Air Markets Division, Office of Air and Radiation, (6204J), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-343-9164; fax number: 202-343-2361; e-mail address: smith.kenon@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OBM for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On January 5, 2006 (71 FR 597), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received 1 comment during the comment period, which is addressed in the ICR. Any additional comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.

EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA-OAR-2005-0509, which is available for online viewing at http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Air and Radiation

Docket and Information Center in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center is 202-566-1742.

Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at http://www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the

index

[[Page 27240]]

listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public comment, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing at http://www.regulations.gov as EPA receives them and without change,

unless the comment contains copyrighted material, Confidential Business Information (CBI), or other information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov.

Title: Acid Rain Program.

ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1633.14, OMB Control No. 2060-0258.

ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on June 30, 2006. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information, unless it displays a current valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.

Abstract: The Acid Rain Program was established under Title IV of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments. The program calls for major reductions of the pollutants that cause acid rain while establishing a new approach to environmental management. This information collection is necessary to implement the Acid Rain Program. It includes burden hours associated with developing and modifying permits, transferring allowances, obtaining allowances from the conservation and renewable energy reserve, monitoring emissions, participating in the annual auctions, completing annual compliance certifications, participating in the Opt-in program, and complying with NOXpermitting requirements. Most of this information collection is mandatory under 40 CFR parts 72-78. Some parts of it are voluntary or to obtain a benefit, such as participation in the annual auctions under 40 CFR part 73, subpart E.

Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 110 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 which have subsequently changed; 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: Electric Utilities, Industrial Sources, and other persons.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,700.

Frequency of Response: On occasion, quarterly, and annually.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 1,971,276.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $262,369,989, which includes $71,307,000 annualized capital/startup costs, $70,951,000 annual O&M costs, and $120,111,989 annual labor costs.

Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 370,469 hours in the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burdens. This increase is due to adjustments (379,044 hours), with changes in program requirements decreasing the burden (8,575 hours).

Dated: April 27, 2006. Oscar Morales, Director, Collection Strategies Division.

[FR Doc. 06-4352 Filed 5-9-06; 8:45am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-M

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