[Federal Register: October 18, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 200)]
[Notices]               
[Page 56207-56208]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18oc99-48]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6459-4]

Agency Information Collection Activities:

 
Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Operating Permits 
Regulations

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 EPA is planning to submit the 
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Part 70 Operating Permits Regulations, 
EPA ICR Number 1587.04, OMB Control Number 2060-0243, expiration date 
February 28, 2000. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and 
approval, EPA is soliciting comment on specific aspects of the proposed 
information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 17, 1999.

ADDRESSES: For a copy of the draft ICR estimates, contact Roger Powell 
at (919) 541-5331 or ``powell.roger@epa.gov'' and refer to EPA ICR 
Number 1587.05. To obtain a copy of the draft ICR estimates 
electronically, go to: ``http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t5ria.html'' on 
the internet.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Powell at (919) 541-5331 and e-
mail address listed above.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which must apply for and obtain an operating permit under title V 
of the Clean Air Act (Act). These, in general, include sources which 
are defined as ``major'' under any title of Act.
    Title: Part 70 Operating Permits Regulations; OMB Control Number 
2060-0243; EPA ICR Number 1587.04; expiring February 28, 2000.
    Abstract: Title V of the Act requires States to develop and 
implement a program for issuing operating permits to all source that 
fall under any Act definition of major and certain other non-major 
sources that are subject to Federal air quality regulations. The Act 
further requires EPA to develop regulations that establish the minimum 
requirements for those State operating permits programs and to oversee 
implementation of the programs. The EPA regulations setting forth 
requirements for the operating permits programs are at part 70, title 
40, chapter I of the Code of Federal Regulations.
    In implementing title V of the Act and EPA's part 70 operating 
permits regulations, State and local permitting agencies must develop 
programs and submit them to EPA for approval (section 502(d)) and 
sources subject to the program must develop operating permit 
applications and submit them to the permitting authority within 1 year 
after program approval (section 503). Permitting authorities will then 
issue permits (section 503(c)) and thereafter enforce, revise, and 
renew those permits at no more than 5-year intervals (section 502(d)). 
Permit applications and proposed permits will be provided to, and are 
subject to review by, EPA (section 505(a)). All information submitted 
by a source and the issued permit shall also be available for public 
review except for confidential information which will be protected from 
disclosure (section 503(e)). Sources will semi-annually submit 
compliance monitoring reports to the permitting authorities (section 
504(a)). The EPA has the responsibility to oversee implementation of 
the program and to administer a Federal operating permits program in 
the event a program is not approved for a State (section 502(d)(3))

[[Page 56208]]

or if EPA determines the permitting authority is not adequately 
administering its approved program (section 502(i)(4)). The activities 
to carry out these tasks are considered mandatory and necessary for 
implementation of title V and the proper operation of the operating 
permits program. This notice provides updated burden estimates from a 
previously approved ICR.
    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: The projected cost for implementing the part 70 
program for the 3 years from February 28, 2000 until February 28, 2003 
are approximately 5 million annual burden hours at an annual cost of 
approximately 223 million dollars. 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.
    The burden hours break out to be just under 1.5 million hours for 
permitting authorities and just over 3.5 million hours for sources. The 
costs break out to be around 53 million dollars per year for permitting 
authorities and 170 million dollars per year for sources. During the 
period of this ICR, permitting authorities (in addition to general 
administration of the program) primarily will be issuing the remaining 
permits required by the program (just under 10,000), revising permits 
that have already been issued, renewing permits whose 5-year terms will 
expire, and reviewing semi-annual compliance monitoring reports for 
issued permits. Sources in the part 70 program primarily will be 
interacting with the permitting authority on permit issuance (for those 
that have not been issued), preparing semi-annual compliance monitoring 
reports, revising their permits as needed, carrying out periodic 
monitoring that was created as a result of the program, and preparing 
applications for permit renewal as necessary.

    Dated: October 6, 1999.
William T. Harnett,
Acting Director, Information Transfer and Program Integration Division.
[FR Doc. 99-27139 Filed 10-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P