[Federal Register: November 30, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 230)]
[Notices]
[Page 67720-67722]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr30no07-43]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0081; FRL-8500-1]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collections;
Comment Request; Prevention of Significant Deterioration and
Nonattainment Area New Source Review (Renewal), EPA ICR No. 1230.17,
OMB Control No. 2060-0003
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is
scheduled to expire on January 31, 2008. Before submitting this 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 29, 2008.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2004-0081, by one of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 566-7944.
Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket
Center (EPA/DC), Air and Radiation Docket Information Center, 1200
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Mail Code 2822T, Washington, DC 20460.
Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room 3334,
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004. Such deliveries
are accepted only during the Docket's normal hours of operation--8:30
a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Special arrangements should
be made for deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2004-0081. EPA's policy is that all comments
[[Page 67721]]
received will be included in the public docket without change and may
be made available online at http://www.regulations.gov including any
personal information provided, unless the comment includes information
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit
information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise to be protected
through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The www.regulations.gov Web site
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means we will not know your
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to us without
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, we recommend that you include your name
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, we may
not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the
use of special characters or any form of encryption and be free of any
defects or viruses. For additional information about the EPA public
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm
.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carrie Wheeler, Office of Air Quality
Planning and Standards, Air Quality Policy Division (C504-05), U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711;
telephone number: (919) 541-9771; fax number: (919) 541-5509; e-mail
address: wheeler.carrie@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?
EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0081 which is available for online viewing at
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Air and Radiation
Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301
Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004. The EPA/DC Public
Reading Room is open from 8:30 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 is (202) 566-1742.
Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft collections
of information, submit or view public comments, access the index
listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in
the public docket that are available electronically. Once in the
system, select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID numbers identified
in this document.
What Information Particularly Interests EPA?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically
solicits comments and information to enable it 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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.
What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.
2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
ID numbers assigned to these actions in the subject line on the first
page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal
Register citation.
To What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply?
Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0081.
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
those which must apply for and obtain a preconstruction permit under
parts C or D of title I of the Clean Air Act (Act).
Title: Prevention of Significant Deterioration and Nonattainment
Area New Source Review (Renewal).
ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1230.17, OMB Control No. 2060-0003.
ICR status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2008. 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
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: Part C of the Clean Air Act (Act)--``Prevention of
Significant Deterioration,'' and Part D--``Plan Requirements for
Nonattainment Areas,'' require all States to adopt preconstruction
review programs for new or modified stationary sources of air
pollution. In addition, the provisions of section 110 of the Act
include a requirement for States to have a preconstruction review
program to manage the emissions from the construction and modification
of any stationary source of air pollution to assure that the National
Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) are achieved and maintained.
Implementing regulations for these three programs are promulgated at 40
CFR 51.160 through 51.166 to part 51 and 40 CFR 52.21 and 52.24. In
order to receive a construction permit for a major new source or major
modification, the applicant must conduct the necessary research,
perform the appropriate analyses and prepare the permit application
with documentation to demonstrate that their project meets all
applicable statutory and regulatory NSR requirements. Specific
activities and requirements are
[[Page 67722]]
listed and described in the Supporting Statement for the ICR.
Reviewing authorities, either State, local or Federal, review the
permit application and provides for public review of the proposed
project and issues the permit based on its consideration of all
technical factors and public input. The EPA, more broadly, reviews a
fraction of the total applications and audits the State and local
programs for their effectiveness. Consequently, information prepared
and submitted by the source is essential for the source to receive a
permit, and for Federal, State and local environmental agencies to
adequately review the permit application and thereby properly
administer and manage the NSR programs.
Information that is collected and handled according to EPA's
policies set forth in title 40, chapter 1, part 2, subpart B--
Confidentiality of Business Information (see 40 CFR part 2). See also
section 114(c) of the Act.
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 public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this
collection of information is broken down as follows:
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Type of permit action Major PSD Major Part D Minor
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Number of Sources............................................... 282 519 74,591
Burden Hours per Response:
Industry.................................................... 839 577 40
Permitting Agencies......................................... 272 109 30
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Total Annual Burden Hours:
Industry............................................ 236,262 299,578 2,983,640
Permitting Agencies................................. 76,595 56,593 2,237,730
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Respondents/Affected Entities: Industrial plants, State and local
permitting agencies.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 150,784.
Estimated Total Annual Burden: 5,890,399 hours.
Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?
Since the last renewal of this ICR (November 2, 2004; 69 FR 63530),
the estimated number of respondents has increased by 51 due to the
decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to vacate
the Clean Units and Pollution Control Project Exclusion provisions of
the NSR program. See New York v. EPA, 413 F.3d 3 (D.C. Cir. 2005). As a
result, the total annual burden has been increased by 39,273 hours. The
burden per type of permit remains unchanged.
What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?
EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICRs as
appropriate. The final ICR packages will then be submitted to OMB for
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICRs to OMB and the
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any
questions about these ICRs or the approval process, please contact the
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Dated: November 21, 2007.
Stephen D. Page,
Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards.
[FR Doc. E7-23296 Filed 11-29-07; 8:45 am]
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