[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 69 (Monday, April 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17661-17662]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-9063]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6323-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities

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 proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Requests 
(ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting 
the ICRs to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on 
specific aspects of the proposed information collections as described 
below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 11, 1999.

ADDRESSES: U.S. EPA, Office of Compliance, 401 M Street SW, Washington, 
D.C. 20460, Mail code 2223A.
    Interested persons may obtain a copy of the ICR without charge by 
calling Sandy Farmer of OPPE at (202) 260-2740 or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Rafael Sanchez, United States 
Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Enforcement and Compliance 
Assurance, Office of Compliance, Manufacturing, Energy and 
Transportation Division, Energy and Transportation Branch (2223A), 401 
M Street, S.W. Telephone: (202) 564-7028. Facsimile: (202) 564-0050.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities affected by this 
action are those owners and operators of benzene storage vessels that 
store benzene having a specific gravity within the range of specific 
gravities specified in ASTM D 836-84 for Industrial Grade Benzene, ASTM 
D 835-85 for Refined Benzene-535 and ASTM D 4734-87 for Refined 
Benzene-545.
    Title: NESHAP for Benzene Emissions from Benzene Storage Vessels--
40 CFR part 61, subpart Y, OMB No. 2060-0185, Expiration Date: 1/31/99.
    Abstract: Respondents are all owners or operators of benzene 
storage vessels. It is estimated that 126 existing plants

[[Page 17662]]

are subject to the standard. All owners and operators of new or 
reconstructed plants would also have to respond.
    In the General Provisions of 40 CFR part 61 applicable to storage 
vessels, up to four separate one-time-only reports are required for 
each owner or operator: notification of construction or reconstruction, 
initial source report, notification of physical/operational changes, 
notification of anticipated and actual startup. The initial source 
report is the only one of these reports that would be required from 
existing sources under the standard.
    Certain records and reports are necessary to assist EPA and State 
agencies to which enforcement has been delegated in determining 
compliance with the standard.
    An initial emissions test is not required because conducting an 
emission test is not feasible. Therefore, the format of the standard is 
that of an equipment standard. Owners or operators of vessels equipped 
with the specified controls are required to submit, along with the 
notifications required by the General Provisions, a report that 
describes the control equipment used to comply with the regulation. 
Thereafter, an annual visual inspection is required of the primary seal 
of internal floating roof vessels (IFR's) (in cases where no secondary 
seal is present). An annual seal gap measurement of the secondary seal 
system on external floating roof vessels (EFR's) is required. The 
following inspections are required every five years: (1) internal 
inspection of seal system on IFR's equipped with primary and secondary 
seals in situations where the owner or operator has decided to forego 
the annual visual inspection; and (2) measurement of gaps between the 
tank wall and primary seal on EFR's. An internal inspection in which 
the tank is emptied and degassed is required at least every 10 years 
for IFR's.
    Another control option allowed is for owners or operators to equip 
vessels with closed-vent systems and 95-percent efficient control 
devices. It is expected that very few, if any, vessels will be equipped 
with these systems; however, owners or operators of vessels with such 
systems are required to submit, for the Administrator's approval, an 
operating plan describing system design specifications and an 
operation, maintenance, and inspection plan for the system. In the 
event the owner or operator has installed a flare, a report showing 
compliance with visible emission provisions shall be furnished to the 
Administrator. For closed-vent systems with control devices, quarterly 
reports are required informing the Administrator of each occurrence 
that results in excess emissions. Annual reports of the results of 
these inspections and seal gap measurements are required. These reports 
will identify each storage vessel that is determined to be out of 
compliance with the standard, the nature of the defects, and the date 
the vessel was emptied or the repair was made. The owner or operator 
will keep copies of all reports and records resulting from these 
inspections for two years.
    The owner or operator of each benzene storage vessel will, for the 
life of the source, keep readily accessible records showing the 
dimension of the vessel and an analysis showing the capacity of the 
storage vessel. For each vessel with a closed vent system and 95-
percent efficient control device, records of the operating plan will be 
kept for the life of the control device. Records of monitored 
parameters and maintenance will be kept for two years.
    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.
    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: For subpart Y, EPA estimated the nationwide 
annualized cost to respondents at a $47,045/yr over a 3-year period. 
The respondent burden is estimated at 1,545 person-hours/yr. Respondent 
costs are estimated based on a cost of $14.50 per hour, and on an 
overhead rate of 110 percent (for a total cost per hour of $30.45). The 
annual reporting burden is estimated at a $39,372/yr over a 3-year 
period. The number of responses per year is estimated to be 162. The 
number of responses per respondent is estimated to be five. The total 
annual responses are estimated to be 810. The number of hours per 
response per year is estimated to be four. These estimates include 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.

    Dated: April 2, 1999.
John B. Rasnic,
Director, Manufacturing, Energy and Transportation, Division, Office of 
Compliance.
[FR Doc. 99-9063 Filed 4-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U