[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17742-17743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07630]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0082; FRL-9925-61-OAR]; [EPA ICR No. 1736.07, OMB
Control No. 2060.0328]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping
Requirements Under EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an
information collection request (ICR), ``Reporting and Recordkeeping
Requirements Under EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program'' (EPA ICR No.
1736.07, OMB Control No. 2060.0328) 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.). Before doing so, EPA is
soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed
information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension
of the ICR, which is currently approved through September 30, 2015. 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: Comments must be submitted on or before June 1, 2015.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2004-0082, 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.
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.
[[Page 17743]]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerome Blackman, Office of Atmospheric
Programs, Climate Change Division, (6207A), Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: 202-343-9630; fax number: 202-343-2342; email address:
Blackman.Jerome@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, WJC West,
Room 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.
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting
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. EPA
will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate.
The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and
approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to
submit additional comments to OMB.
Abstract: Natural Gas STAR is a voluntary program sponsored by the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that encourages oil and
natural gas companies to adopt cost effective technologies and practice
that improve operational efficiency and reduce methane emissions.
Methane is the primary component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse
gas. The Program works with oil and natural gas companies in the
production, gathering & processing, transmission, and distribution
sectors to remove barriers that inhibit the implementation of
technologies and practices that reduce methane emissions. The Program
effectively promotes the adoption of emission reduction technologies
and practices by helping Natural Gas Star partners evaluate Best
Management Practices (BMPs) and Partner Reported Opportunities (PROs)
in the context of their current operations, and implement them where
cost effective. Implementation of the Program's BMPs and PROs saves
participants money, improves operational efficiency, and enhances the
protection of the environment.
Form Numbers
Natural Gas STAR partners are required to sign and submit to EPA a
one-page Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that describes the terms of
participation in the Program. The MOU forms covered under this ICR
include:
Production Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-105
Transmission Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-96
Distribution Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-98
Gathering and Processing Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-101
International Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-108
Partners must complete and submit a Natural Gas STAR Implementation
Plan within six to twelve months of signing the MOU. The Implementation
Plan forms covered under this ICR include:
Production Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-103
Transmission Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-109
Distribution Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-97
Gathering and Processing Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-100
International Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-106
After one full year of participation in the Program, EPA requires
partners to submit an annual report documenting the previous year's
methane emission reduction activities. The annual reporting forms
covered under this ICR include:
Production Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-104
Transmission Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-95
Distribution Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-99
Gathering and Processing Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-102
International Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-107
Respondents/affected entities: The gathering and processing,
production, transmission, and distribution sectors of the natural gas
industry.
Respondent's obligation to respond: voluntary
Estimated number of respondents: 109 (total).
Frequency of response: 109.
Total estimated burden: 5,201 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b)
Total estimated cost: $477,657, includes $0 annualized capital or
O&M costs.
Changes in Estimates: EPA expects that the burden associated with
the final ICR submission will decrease slightly due to the Program's
maturity and a decrease in number of new Program partners.
Dated: March 20, 2015.
Paul Gunning,
Director, Climate Change Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-07630 Filed 4-1-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE CODE 6560-50-P