Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2010-1016-0006
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: The National Refrigerant Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program
Posted Date: 2014-07-14T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 134 (Monday, July 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40753-40754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-16479]

=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-OAR-2010-1016; FRL-9913-65-OAR]

Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; The 
National Refrigerant Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR) for ``The National 
Refrigerant Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program'' (EPA ICR No. 
1626.12, OMB Control No. 2060-0256) 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 November 30, 2014. 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 September 12, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2010-1016 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Burchard, Stratospheric 
Protection Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs (6205J), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington,

[[Page 40754]]

DC 20460; telephone number (202) 343-9126; fax number: (202) 343-2338; 
email address: burchard.robert@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: EPA developed regulations under the Clean Air Act 
Amendments of 1990 (CAA) regarding the use and disposal of class I and 
class II ozone-depleting substances used as refrigerants during the 
service, maintenance, repair, or disposal of refrigeration and air-
conditioning equipment. Section 608(c) of the CAA states that it is 
unlawful for any person in the course of maintaining, servicing, 
repairing, or disposing of refrigeration or air-conditioning equipment 
to knowingly vent or otherwise knowingly release or dispose of class I 
or class II substance used as a refrigerant in the equipment in a 
manner which permits the substance to enter the environment.
    In 1993, EPA promulgated regulations under section 608 of the CAA 
for the recycling of ozone-depleting refrigerants recovered during 
servicing and disposal of air-conditioning and refrigeration equipment. 
These regulations were published on May 14, 1993 (58 FR 28660) and 
codified in 40 CFR part 82, subpart F (Sec.  82.150 et seq.).
    The regulations require persons servicing refrigeration and air-
conditioning equipment to observe service practices that reduce 
emissions of ozone depleting refrigerants. The regulations also 
establish certification programs for technicians, recycling and 
recovery equipment, and off-site refrigerant reclaimers. In addition, 
EPA requires that ozone depleting refrigerants contained ``in bulk'' in 
appliances be removed prior to disposal of the appliances, and that all 
refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment (except for small 
appliances and room air conditioners) be provided with a servicing 
aperture that facilitates recovery of the refrigerant. Moreover, the 
Agency requires that substantial refrigerant leaks in equipment be 
repaired when discovered. These regulations significantly reduce 
emissions of ozone depleting refrigerants and therefore aid efforts to 
minimize damage to the ozone layer.
    To facilitate compliance with section 608, EPA requires reporting 
and record keeping for technicians; technician certification programs; 
equipment testing organizations; refrigerant wholesalers and 
purchasers; refrigerant reclaimers; refrigeration and air-conditioning 
equipment owners; and other establishments that perform refrigerant 
removal, service, or disposal. The recordkeeping requirements and 
submission of reports to EPA occur on an annual, biannual, one-time or 
occasional basis depending on the nature of the reporting entity and 
the length of time the entity has been in service. Specific reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements were published in 58 FR 28660 and 
codified under 40 CFR part 82, subpart F (i.e.,Sec.  82.166). These 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements help EPA evaluate the 
effectiveness of refrigerant regulations and reduce emissions of ozone-
depleting substances.
    Form Numbers: None
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected are 
those that recover, recycle, reclaim, sell or distribute in interstate 
commerce ozone-depleting refrigerants that contain chlorofluorocarbons 
(CFCs) or hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs); those that service, 
maintain, repair, or dispose of appliances containing CFC or HCFC 
refrigerants; and those that own or operate appliances containing more 
than 50 pounds of CFC or HCFC refrigerants.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory
    Estimated number of respondents: 883,680.
    Frequency of response: Primarily annually, with the exception of 
technician testing organizations that are required to report 
biannually.
    Total estimated burden: 320,537
    Total estimated cost: $14,202,991
    Changes in Estimates: There is a slight increase in the average 
annual burden hours currently identified in the OMB Inventory of 
Approved ICR Burdens.

    Dated: June 23, 2014.
Drusilla Hufford,
Director, Stratospheric Protection Division.
[FR Doc. 2014-16479 Filed 7-11-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P