[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 187 (Friday, September 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50606-50607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25650]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5898-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Information Collection Request for Iron and 
Steel Foundries

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 notice announces that the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Information Collection 
Request for Iron and Steel Foundries, EPA ICR Number 1809.01. The ICR 
describes the nature of the information collection and its expected 
burden and cost; where appropriate, it includes the actual data 
collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 27, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CALL: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 260-
2740, and refer to EPA ICR No 1809.01.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Information Collection Request for Iron and Steel Foundries; 
EPA ICR No. 1809.01. This is a new collection.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
iron and steel foundries, which are facilities primarily engaged in 
manufacturing iron and steel castings. The Standard Industrial 
Classification (SIC) codes for these facilities include 3321 (gray and 
ductile iron foundries), 3322 (malleable iron foundries), 3324 (steel 
investment foundries), and 3325 (steel foundries, not elsewhere 
classified).
    Abstract: The EPA is charged under section 112 of the Clean Air Act 
(the Act) with developing national emission standards for listed 
hazardous air pollutants (HAP). Preliminary information indicates that 
there are major sources of HAP in the iron and steel foundry source 
categories. These categories were listed pursuant to section 112(c) of 
the Act on July 16, 1992, and section 112(d) of the Act requires the 
Administrator to promulgate regulations establishing emission standards 
for this source category. Standards must be promulgated by November 15, 
2000. The responses to the survey are mandatory and are being collected 
under the authority of section 114 of the Act.

[[Page 50607]]

    The Emission Standards Division (ESD) of the Office of Air Quality 
Planning and Standards plans to use the survey responses to develop 
legally defensible maximum achievable control technology (MACT) 
standards. The focus of the survey is on determinations of HAP 
emissions, emission controls, and control performance, which are 
critical elements in the development of technology-based standards. 
Other questions in the survey provide information that ESD will use to 
develop reasonable estimates of impacts associated with potential 
standards, including emission reductions, cost, and economic impacts.
    Specifically, the information will be used by ESD to develop 
estimates of emissions of HAP, make determinations with respect to 
probable ``major'' sources, and develop MACT standards for both new and 
existing foundries. The data base compiled from the results will be 
used to make a determination of the MACT floor for existing sources 
based on the average emission limitation achieved by the best-
performing 12 percent of sources. The results will also aid in 
identifying the best controlled sources for a determination of MACT for 
new foundries. In addition, the data base will be invaluable to make 
defensible estimates of the impacts of the standards, including 
emissions and emission reductions, costs of control options and their 
cost effectiveness, and economic impacts. Because many foundries meet 
the definition of small entities, the survey is necessary for EPA to 
meet the requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act of 1980 and the 
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996.
    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 
Federal Register notice required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published on June 3, 
1997 (62 FR 30322); three comments were received. All three commenters 
supported the need for the survey to gather information to develop MACT 
standards and recommended an expeditious distribution to allow EPA to 
meet statutory deadlines.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 24 
hours per response. 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 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Iron and steel foundries.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 742.
    Frequency of Response: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 5,681 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $0.
    Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the 
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods 
for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please 
refer to EPA ICR No 1809.01 in any correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OPPE Regulatory 
Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460.
    
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA 725 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: September 23, 1997.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 97-25650 Filed 9-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P