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Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection

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[Federal Register: June 22, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 119)]
[Notices]               
[Page 33284-33285]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22jn99-68]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6364-6]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection

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 proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Requests 
(ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting 
the ICRs to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on 
specific aspects of the proposed information collections as described 
below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 23, 1999.

ADDRESSES: U.S. EPA, Office of Compliance, 401 M Street SW, Washington, 
DC 20460, Mail code 2223A.
    Interested persons may obtain a copy of the ICR without charge by 
calling Sandy Farmer of OPPE at (202) 260-2740 or by e-mail at 
farmer.sandy@epamail.epa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Belinda Breidenbach, (202) 564-7022/
Facsimile Number (202) 564-0050/e-mail 
breidenbach.belinda@epamail.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which are subject to NESHAP for Mercury Emissions, 40 CFR Part 
61, Subpart E.
    Title: NESHAP for Mercury Emissions, OMB Control Number 2060-0097, 
EPA Number 0113.06, expiration date August 31, 1999.
    Abstract: The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air 
Pollutants (NESHAP) for Mercury emissions (40 CFR Part 61, Subpart E) 
were proposed on December 7, 1971, promulgated on April 6, 1973, and 
amended on October 14, 1975 and March 19, 1987. These standards apply 
to all stationary sources which process mercury ore to recover mercury, 
use mercury chlor-alkali cells to produce chlorine gas and alkali metal 
hydroxide, and incinerate or dry wastewater treatment plant sludge.
    Approximately 298 sources (274 sludge incineration and drying 
plants and 24 mercury-cell chlor-alkali plants) are currently subject 
to the standard; and no additional sources are expected to become 
subject to the standard in the next three years. Mercury is the 
pollutant regulated under this standard.
    Owners or operators of the affected facilities described must make 
the following one-time-only reports: notification of the date of 
construction or reconstruction; notification of the anticipated and 
actual dates of startup; notification of any physical or operational 
change to an existing facility which may increase the regulated 
pollutant emission rate; notification of the date of the initial 
performance test; and the results of the initial performance test.
    Owners or operators are also required to maintain records of the 
occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the 
operation of an affected facility, or any period during which the 
monitoring system is inoperative. A written report of each period for 
which hourly monitored parameters fall outside their established limits 
is required semi-annually for mercury-cell chlor-alkali plants. These 
notifications, reports and records are required, in general, of all 
sources subject to NESHAP.
    In the Administrator's judgment, mercury emissions from mercury ore 
processing facilities, mercury chlor-alkali plants, including the cell 
room ventilation system, and sludge incineration and drying plants 
cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated 
to endanger public health or welfare.
    In order to ensure compliance with the standards promulgated to 
protect public health, adequate recordkeeping and reporting is 
necessary. In the absence of such information enforcement personnel 
would be unable to determine whether the standards are being met on a 
continuous basis, as required by the Clean Air Act. Recordkeeping and 
reporting are mandatory under this regulation. Records of emission test 
results and other data needed to determine total emissions shall be 
maintained at the source and made available for inspection for a 
minimum of two years.
    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.
    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 average annual burden to industry over the 
next three years from these recordkeeping and reporting requirements is 
estimated at 37,068 person-hours. Assumed that there will be no new 
sources in the next 3 years. Therefore, none of the burden hours for 
new sources are anticipated to be applicable in the next three years. 
For each existing source emission test annual emission tests require 12 
person hours, semi-annual reports 8 hours and 4 hours are needed to 
submit notifications on other monitored parameters. Recordkeeping of 
operating parameters for emission test and mercury leaks require 15 
minute per tests. Compilation of data for semi-annual reports require 8 
person-hours and the maintenance of data on monitored leaks and 
monitored parameters require a period of one-half hour. It is assumed 
plants operate 365 days per year and that all the mercury-cell chlor-
alkali plants will have exceedences or leaks semi-annually.
    This estimate includes the time needed to review instructions; 
develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the 
purposes of

[[Page 33285]]

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.

    Dated: June 10, 1999.
John Rasnic,
Director, Manufacturing, Energy and Transportation Division.
[FR Doc. 99-15834 Filed 6-21-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M

 
 

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