[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 27, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 70749-70750]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28653]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2012-0333; FRL 9524-5]
Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and
Approval; Comment Request; Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (Renewal)
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted an
information collection request (ICR), Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
(Renewal) (EPA ICR No. 2300.10, OMB Control No. 2060-0629) to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved
through November 30, 2012. Public comments were previously requested
via the Federal Register (77 FR 28376) on May 14, 2012 during a 60-day
comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public
comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its
estimated burden and cost to the public. 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.
DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before December 27,
2012.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2012-0333, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method), by email to a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov or by mail to:
EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T,
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via email
to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. Address comments to OMB Desk Officer
for EPA.
EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the
public docket without change including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carole Cook, Climate Change Division,
Office of Atmospheric Programs, Mail Code 6207J, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: (202) 343-9263; fax number: (202) 343-2342; email
address: GHGReportingRule@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents, which explain in
detail the information that the EPA will be collecting, are available
in the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, EPA West,
Room
[[Page 70750]]
3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The telephone number
for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional information about
EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
Abstract: The purpose for this ICR is to renew and revise the
Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule (GHG Reporting Rule) ICR
to update and consolidate the burdens and costs imposed by all of the
current ICRs under the GHG Reporting Rule. In response to the FY2008
Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2764; Pub. L. 110-161) and under
authority of the Clean Air Act, the EPA finalized the GHG Reporting
Rule (74 FR 56260; October 30, 2009). The GHG Reporting Rule, which
became effective on December 29, 2009, establishes reporting
requirements for some direct GHG emitters as well as suppliers of
certain products that will emit GHG when released, combusted, or
oxidized, industrial gas suppliers, and manufacturers of heavy-duty and
off-road vehicles and engines. It does not require control of
greenhouse gases. Instead, it requires that sources emitting above
certain threshold levels of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) monitor
and report emissions.
Subsequent rules provide corrections and clarification on existing
requirements; include requirements for additional facilities and
suppliers; require reporters to provide information about parent
companies, NAICS code(s), and whether emissions are from cogeneration;
and finalize confidentiality determinations. Collectively, the GHG
Reporting Rule and its associated rulemakings are referred to as the
Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP).
Data submitted under the GHGRP that is classified as CBI is
protected under the provisions of 40 CFR part 2, subpart B. The EPA is
determining through a series of rulemaking actions the data elements
that will be eligible for treatment as CBI. However, according to CAA
section 114(c), ``emissions data'' cannot be classified as CBI. The EPA
has proposed that inputs to emissions equations meet the definition of
``emissions data'' and cannot be afforded the protections of CBI. The
EPA has deferred the reporting deadline for data elements that are used
as inputs to emissions equations to provide the EPA time needed to
fully evaluate and resolve issues regarding the reporting and potential
release of these data (76 FR 53057, August 25, 2011).
Form Numbers: EPA Form 5900-211, EPA Form 5900-233.
Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by
this action are suppliers of certain products that will emit GHG when
released, combusted, or oxidized, motor vehicle and engine
manufacturers, including aircraft engine manufacturers; facilities in
certain industrial categories that emit greenhouse gases; and
facilities that emit 25,000 metric tons or more of carbon dioxide
equivalent (CO2e) per year.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory. Authority contained
in Sections 114 and 208 of the CAA.
Estimated number of respondents: 11,039.
Frequency of response: Annual.
Total estimated burden: 981,032 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $90,847,769 (per year), includes $28,192,763
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.
Changes in the Estimates: This renewal consolidates all of the
existing Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program ICRs. The increase in burden
resulting from consolidating these ICRs will be negated when those ICRs
are discontinued following the consolidation. In comparison to the net
total estimated respondent burden currently approved by OMB for all of
the existing Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program ICRs, there is a decrease
of 735,690 hours. This decrease is the result of an adjustment for one-
time activities that occurred during the first year of data collection
and an adjustment based on the actual number of reporters.
John Moses,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2012-28653 Filed 11-26-12; 8:45 am]
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