[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 217 (Wednesday, November 10, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61331-61332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-29450]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6473-2]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Mobile Air Conditioning Retrofitting Program
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 continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB): Information Collection Activities
Associated with EPA's Mobile Air Conditioner Retrofitting Program, EPA
ICR No. 1774.01, and OMB No. 2060-0350, expiration date 2/28/00. Before
submitting the 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 10, 2000.
ADDRESSES: Comments should be submitted in duplicate to the attention
of Air Docket No. A-99-37; Environmental Protection Agency; 401 M
Street, SW. (MC-6102); Washington, DC 20460 (submissions may be faxed
to (202) 260-4400). The Air and Radiation Docket is located in Room M-
1500; Waterside Mall (Ground Floor); U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency; 401 M Street, S.W.; Washington, DC 20460. The docket may be
inspected Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. A reasonable
fee may be charged for copying docket materials. For further questions,
contact the docket at (202) 260-7549.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anhar Karimjee at phone: (202) 564-
2683, fax: (202) 565-2096, or e-mail: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action
include: new and used car dealers, gas service stations, top and body
repair shops, and automotive repair shops (including air conditioning
and radiator specialty shops).
Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's
Mobile Air Conditioner Retrofitting Program (OMB Control No. 2060-0350;
EPA ICR No. 1774.01) expiring 2/28/00.
Abstract: Section 612 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires EPA to
promulgate rules making it unlawful to replace any ozone-depleting
substance with any substitute that the Administrator determines may
present adverse effects to human health or the environment where the
Administrator has identified an alternative that (1) reduces the
overall risk to human health and the environment, and (2) is currently
or potentially available. In 1994, the Significant New Alternatives
Policy (SNAP) Program was enacted, enabling the Agency to review
available substitutes for ozone depleting substances and determine
their acceptability. The SNAP program includes review of potential
alternatives to ozone-depleting refrigerants used for air conditioning
motor vehicles. EPA is concerned that the existence of several
substitutes in this end-use may increase the likelihood of significant
refrigerant cross-contamination and potential failure of both air
conditioning systems and recovery/recycling equipment. The purpose of
this Information Collection Request (ICR) is to estimate the burden
associated with the 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 82 requirement
that service technicians label mobile air conditioners with information
about new refrigerants when they retrofit a system. These labels
acknowledge that the retrofitting has been completed, and that the
mobile air conditioner cannot accept chloroflourocarbon (CFC)
refrigerant. In addition, the labels provide essential information to
technicians about the specific refrigerant used in the air conditioning
system. This information assists the technician in avoiding service
practices that might result in cross-contamination and system failure.
Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (section 612
of the Clean Air Act and 40 Code of Federal Regulations part 82). 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 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.
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: EPA estimates that there are approximately
140,000 service technicians, who will be responsible for retrofitting
some 15,000,000 cars by the year 2002 (5,000,000 cars retrofitted per
year). EPA estimates the time to complete and apply the label at 5
minutes per car, making the total burden 1,250,000 hours. At $50 per
hour, the overall cost associated with the burden hours is $62,500,000.
The cost for designing, typesetting, printing and distributing
15,000,000 labels is $1,500,000 ($ .10 per label). Adding the labor and
capital costs together yields a total cost burden of $64,000,000.
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
[[Page 61332]]
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: November 2, 1999.
Edward Callahan,
Acting Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs.
[FR Doc. 99-29450 Filed 11-9-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P