Document ID: EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0708-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: National Refrigerant Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program
Posted Date: 2022-09-19T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 180 (Monday, September 19, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 57194-57195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-20172]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2022-0708; FRL-10097-01-OAR]

Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; 
National Refrigerant Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program 
(Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``National Refrigerant 
Recycling and Emissions Reduction Program'' (EPA ICR No. 1626.18, OMB 
Control No. 2060-0256) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. 
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 
April 30, 2023. 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 November 18, 2022.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2022-0708, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to: [email protected] 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, (6205A, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 343-9126; email address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Supporting documents which explain in detail the information that 
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 Paperwork Reduction Act, 
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: Section 608 of the Clean Air Act (CAA), also known as the 
National Recycling and Emission Reduction Program (the Program), 
directs the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue regulations 
governing the use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS), including 
chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs),

[[Page 57195]]

during the maintenance, service, repair, or disposal of air-
conditioning and refrigeration appliances. Section 608 also prohibits 
knowingly venting or releasing ozone-depleting and substitute 
refrigerants in the course of maintaining, servicing, repairing, or 
disposing of appliances or industrial process refrigeration except for 
de minimis releases associated with good faith attempts to recycle or 
recover refrigerants. The regulations require persons servicing 
refrigeration and air-conditioning appliances to follow certain service 
practices that reduce emissions of refrigerants. The regulations also 
establish certification programs for technicians, recovery/recycling 
equipment, and refrigerant reclamation. In addition, EPA requires that 
refrigerants contained in appliances be removed prior to disposal of 
the appliances and that all refrigeration and air-conditioning 
appliances be provided with a servicing aperture that facilitates 
recovery of the refrigerant. The Agency requires that substantial 
refrigerant leaks in appliances containing ozone-depleting refrigerant 
be repaired when they are discovered.
    Form Numbers: 5900-404, 5900-405, 5900-407.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities required to comply with 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements include technicians; 
technician certification programs; refrigerant wholesalers; refrigerant 
reclaimers; refrigerant recovery equipment certification programs; 
certain refrigeration and air-conditioning equipment owners and/or 
operators; and other establishments that perform refrigerant removal, 
service, or disposal.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (40 CFR part 82, 
subpart F).
    Estimated number of respondents: 572,727.
    Frequency of response: The frequency of responses varies from once 
a year to daily.
    Total estimated burden: 425,514 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $31,432,946 (per year), There are no 
estimated annualized capital or operation and maintenance costs 
associated with the reporting or recordkeeping requirements.
    Changes in Estimates: There is a decrease of 47,837 hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This decrease is due to adjusted respondent estimates 
for appliance leak repair and retrofit or retirement plan extension 
requests based on recently available industry data and reported 
activity.

Cynthia A. Newberg,
Director, Stratospheric Protection Division.
[FR Doc. 2022-20172 Filed 9-16-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P