### 76475 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 2015 / Notices

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: The international treaty The
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (Protocol) and
Title VI of the Clean Air Act Amendments (CAAA) established limits on total U.S. production, import, and export of class I and class II controlled ozone depleting substances (referred to hereinafter as ‘‘controlled substances’’).

Under its Protocol commitments, the United States was obligated to cease production and import of class I controlled substances ( e.g., chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs) with exemptions for essential uses, critical uses, previously-used material, and material that is transformed, destroyed, or exported to developing countries.
The Protocol also establishes limits and reduction schedules leading to the eventual phaseout of class II controlled substances (i.e., hydrochlorofluorocarbons or HCFCs).

The U.S. is obligated to limit HCFC consumption (defined by the Protocol as production plus imports, minus exports). The schedule called for a 35 percent reduction on January 1, 2004, followed by a 75 percent reduction on January 1, 2010, a 90 percent reduction on January 1, 2015, a 99.5 percent reduction on January 1, 2020, and a total phaseout on January 1, 2030. EPA is responsible for administering the phaseout.

To ensure U.S. compliance with these limits and restrictions, EPA established an allowance system to control U.S. production and import of HCFCs by granting control measures referred to as baseline and calendar-year allowances.
Baseline allowances are based on the historical activity of individual companies. Calendar-year allowances allow holders to produce and/or import controlled substances in a given year and are allocated as a percentage of
baseline.

There are two types of baseline and calendar-year allowances: Consumption and production allowances. Since each allowance is equal to 1 kilogram of HCFC, EPA is able to monitor the quantity of HCFCs being produced, imported and exported. Transfers of production and consumption allowances among producers and importers are allowed and are tracked by EPA. The above-described limits and restrictions are monitored by EPA through the recordkeeping and reporting requirements established in the regulations in 40 CFR part 82, subpart A. To submit required information, regulated entities can download reporting forms from EPA’s Web site (http://www.epa.gov/ozone/record), complete them, and send them to EPA electronically, via mail, courier, or fax.

Upon receipt of the reports, the data is entered into the ODS Tracking System. The ODS Tracking System is a
secure database that maintains the data submitted to EPA and helps the agency: (1) Maintain oversight over total production and consumption of controlled substances; (2) monitor compliance with limits and restrictions on production, imports, and trades and specific exemptions from the phaseout for individual U.S. companies; and (3) assess, and report on, compliance with U.S. obligations under the Montreal
Protocol.

EPA has implemented an electronic reporting system that allows regulated entities to prepare and submit data electronically. Coupled with the widespread use of the standardized forms, electronic reporting has improved data quality and made the reporting process efficient for both reporting companies and EPA. Most reporting is done electronically.

Pursuant to regulations in 40 CFR part

2, subpart B, reporting businesses are
entitled to assert a business confidentiality claim covering any part
of the submitted business information as
defined in 40 CFR 2.201 (c). EPA’s practice is to manage the reported
information as confidential business
information.

Form numbers: Forms associated with this ICR are: Quarterly Reports, Second Party Transformation Report, Second Party Destruction Report, Transmission Verification Report, Destruction Efficiency Report, Destruction Verification Report, Semi-annual Report, International Transfer of Allowances Report, and the Domestic Transfer of Allowances Report. All are
under OMB Control Number 2060–0498.

Respondents/affected entities: 40. Respondent’s obligation to respond: Mandatory (Title VI of the Clean Air Act Amendments).

Estimated number of respondents: 40. Frequency of response: Annually, quarterly, or as needed.

Total estimated burden: 1,434 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).

Total estimated cost: $153,264 (per year), includes $1,155 annualized capital or operation & maintenance

costs.

Changes in estimates: The respondent numbers changed because the reporting community continues to change as ODS are phased out in the US. Specifically, we estimate fewer companies reporting on imports and exports of Class II ODS. We also assume fewer companies reporting on the destruction and
transformation of this material. These updates are based on 2014 reporting activity whereas our previous estimates were based on 2010–2011 reporting activity.

Dated: November 23, 2015.

Drusilla Hufford,
Director, Stratospheric Protection Division.

[FR Doc. 2015–31051 Filed 12–8–15; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6560–50–P**

**ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION**
**AGENCY**

**[FRL–9939–84–OW]**

**Notice of Open Meeting of the Environmental Financial Advisory** 

**Board**

**AGENCY :**  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  The EPA’s Environmental Financial Advisory Board (EFAB) will hold a public meeting on January 12–13, 2016. EFAB is an EPA advisory
committee chartered under the Federal Advisory Committee Act to provide
advice and recommendations to EPA on creative approaches to funding environmental programs, projects, and

activities.

The purpose of this meeting is to hear from informed speakers on environmental finance issues, proposed legislation, and EPA priorities; to discuss activities, progress, and preliminary recommendations with regard current EFAB work projects; and to consider requests for assistance from
EPA offices. Environmental finance discussions and presentations are expected on, but not limited to, the following topics: Financing operations and maintenance costs at green infrastructure sites; financing stormwater and green infrastructure programs; public-private partnerships for water infrastructure projects; financing pre-development activities in communities; affordability challenges in the water sector; and financial capacity development for small drinking/ wastewater systems. The meeting is open to the public; however, seating is limited. All members of the public who


### 76476 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 236 / Wednesday, December 9, 2015 / Notices

wish to attend the meeting must register, in advance, no later than Monday, December 28, 2015. Registration is required for all members of the public to ensure an expeditious security process.

**DATES :**  The full board meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 from 1:00 p.m. to 5 p.m., EST and Wednesday, January 13, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., EST.

**ADDRESSES :**  Hamilton Crowne Plaza Hotel, 1001 14th St. NW., Washington,

DC 20005.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  For
information on access or services for individuals with disabilities, or to request accommodations for a person with a disability, please contact Sandra Williams at (202) 564–4999 or williams.sandra@epa.gov, at least 10 days prior to the meeting, to allow as much time as possible to process your
request.

Dated: December 2, 2015.
Andrew D. Sawyers,
Director, Office of Wastewater Management, Office of Water.

[FR Doc. 2015–31044 Filed 12–8–15; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6560–50–P**

**ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION**
**AGENCY**

**[FRL–9939–69–OECA]**

**Notice of eDisclosure Portal Launch: Modernizing Implementation of EPA’s**  **Self-Policing Incentive Policies**

**AGENCY :**  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is modernizing implementation of its self-disclosurepolicies by creating a centralized webbased ‘‘eDisclosure’’ portal to receive and automatically process self-disclosed
civil violations of environmental law.
Under the automated eDisclosure system, large and small businesses will quickly be able to get some of their more routine types of disclosures resolved.

EPA is launching the eDisclosure system because it continues to believestrongly in the benefits of its selfdisclosure policies: To provide penalty mitigation and other incentives for companies that self-police, disclose, correct and prevent violations. EPA believes that the implementation changes announced today will make the processing of disclosures faster and more efficient, and will save time and resources for regulated entities and EPA. **DATES :**  These modifications to the implementation of EPA’s Audit Policy and Small Business Compliance Policy, and the launch of the eDisclosure portal, are effective immediately, December 9,

2015.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Philip Milton of EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, Office of Civil Enforcement,

at milton.philip@epa.gov or (202) 564– 5029. For general information on the eDisclosure portal please visit http://www2.epa.gov/compliance/epasedisclosure.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Over the past several years, EPA has been evaluating how best to realize the benefits of the self-disclosure policies. Most recently, EPA held two webinars in June 2015 to share its plan for eDisclosure and allow the nearly 350 people who participated to share their views and ask questions.

Companies have suggested that EPA could streamline implementation of the self-disclosure policies for more routine disclosures to make the process faster, more efficient, and to save time and resources for regulated entities and EPA, while still retaining the incentives to self-police environmental problems. The regulated community also emphasizedthat a key time to encourage selfauditing and self-disclosure is when companies are purchased or acquired, because that is a point in time when companies typically are assessing operations and management systems. EPA agrees with those suggestions from the regulated community and welcomes input, on an ongoing basis, as to how the eDisclosure system is working.

I. Explanation of Modification to the Implementation of the Policies

A. Introduction

On April 11, 2000, EPA issued its policy on ‘‘Incentives for Self-Policing: Discovery, Disclosure, Correction and Prevention of Violations’’ (Audit Policy). 65 FR 19618. The purpose of the Audit Policy is to enhance protection of human health and the environment by encouraging regulated entities to voluntarily discover, promptly disclose, expeditiously correct and prevent the recurrence of violations
of federal environmental law. Benefits
available to entities that make
disclosures under the terms of the Audit Policy include reductions in, and in some cases the elimination of, civil penalties, and an EPA determination not to recommend criminal prosecution of disclosing entities. (Ultimate prosecutorial discretion resides with the U.S. Department of Justice.) More information on the Audit Policy is
available athttp://www2.epa.gov/compliance/epasaudit-policy.

On August 1, 2008, EPA issued the ‘‘Interim Approach to Applying the Audit Policy to New Owners’’ (New Owner Policy). 73 FR 44991. The purpose of the New Owner Policy is to tailor Audit Policy incentives for new
owners that want to make a ‘‘clean start’’ at recently acquired facilities by addressing environmental noncompliance that began prior to acquisition. The New Owner Policy is designed to motivate new owners to audit newly acquired facilities and to encourage self-disclosures of violations that will, once corrected, yield significant pollutant reductions and
benefits to the environment. The
incentives tailored for new owners include clearly defined penalty mitigation beyond what is offered by the Audit Policy, as well as the modification of certain Audit Policy
conditions that will allow more violations to be eligible for penalty mitigation under the Audit Policy. More information on the New Owner Policy is
available at http://www2.epa.gov/compliance/epas-interim-approachapplying-audit-policy-new-owners.

EPA’s Small Business Compliance Policy (65 FR 19630, April 11, 2000) is an additional voluntary disclosure policy that provides incentives for small businesses (with 100 or fewer employees) that voluntarily discover, promptly disclose, and expeditiously
correct environmental violations. More
information on the Small Business Compliance Policy is available at http://www2.epa.gov/compliance/smallbusiness-compliance.

B. Background on Today’s Modifications

The penalty mitigation available under EPA’s self-disclosure policies has provided an incentive for regulated entities to detect, promptly disclose, expeditiously correct and prevent
violations of federal environmental requirements. Since 1995, the regulated community has increasingly adopted environmental auditing and environmental management practices as key components of sound business practices. Thousands of entities have disclosed violations to EPA pursuant to the Agency’s voluntary disclosure policies, and EPA continues to receive hundreds of new disclosures every year.
Enforcement also has contributed to the dramatic expansion of environmental auditing, as many regulated entities who
conducted audits have told EPA that one of the primary reasons for doing so