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Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Activities Associated With EPA's SF<INF>6</INF> Emission Reduction Partnership for the Magnesium Industry

Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.

  [Federal Register: January 12, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 8)]
[Notices]
[Page 1861-1862]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr12ja00-67]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6522-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Activities Associated With
EPA's SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for the Magnesium
Industry

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 document announces that EPA is planning to submit the
following proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB): Reporting and Recordkeeping Activities
Associated with EPA's SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for
the Magnesium Industry, EPA ICR No. 1942.01. Before submitting the ICR
to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific
aspects of the proposed information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 13, 2000.

ADDRESSES: To obtain a free copy of the proposed ICR, contact Scott
Bartos, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 401 M Street, SW (6202J)
Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Scott Bartos, Program Manager Tel.:
(202) 564-9167, Fax: (202) 565-2078, E-mail: bartos.scott@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
those which produce or cast magnesium and magnesium-based alloys.
    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Activities Associated with EPA's
SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for the Magnesium
Industry (EPA ICR No. 1942.01).
    Abstract: In April 1993, President Clinton issued the Climate
Change Action Plan (CCAP), which established a national commitment to
reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. EPA's newly launched
SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for the Magnesium
Industry is an important voluntary program contributing to the
country's overall reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Like Energy
Star Buildings, the Voluntary Aluminum Industrial Partnership, the PFC
Emission Reduction Partnership for the Semiconductor Industry, and
other programs, the SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for
the Magnesium Industry is a voluntary effort aimed at preventing
pollution before it is generated. These voluntary programs all focus on
reducing greenhouse gas emissions and tracking progress by collecting
information from partners on a periodic basis.
    The SF6 Emissions Reduction Partnership for the
Magnesium Industry is a voluntary, non-regulatory program that promotes
reduction of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions from
companies that melt and cast magnesium. These companies generally
include primary magnesium plants and magnesium casting facilities.
EPA's Climate Protection Division (CPD) manages the voluntary program.
    SF6 is the most potent greenhouse gas known; it is
23,900 times as effective as carbon dioxide (CO2) at
trapping heat in the Earth's atmosphere. Once released, it will remain
in the atmosphere for more than 3,000 years. Magnesium companies use
SF6 gas to prevent the molten metal from violent oxidation
(i.e., burning or explosions).
    EPA's partnership with the magnesium industry seeks to inform
partners about available cost-effective emission reduction technologies
and keep track of successful emission reduction efforts. EPA works with
the U.S. magnesium companies and serves as a clearinghouse for
technical information on strategies for reducing SF6
emissions that are economically, technically, and environmentally
sound. EPA will also conduct preliminary assessments of possible
substitute gases and share this information with partners. Ultimately,
EPA provides recognition to companies for their successes in reducing
SF6 emissions, either through certificates and awards or
through assistance in publishing their achievements.
    Participation in the program begins by completing a Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) that outlines EPA and partner company
responsibilities. This MOU defines a voluntary agreement between the
magnesium company and EPA. All U.S. magnesium producing and casting
companies are invited to join the partnership. The MOU agreement can be
terminated by either party 30 days after receipt of

[[Page 1862]]

written notice by the other party with no penalties or continuing
obligations.
    By joining the partnership, a company agrees to track and report an
estimate of its SF6 emissions to EPA annually. The
International Magnesium Association (IMA) acts as a third party,
assembling the reported data and transmitting it to EPA for the purpose
of protecting the confidentiality of data submitted by individual
companies. A partner company's annual report will indicate:
     An estimated normalized SF6 emission rate in
terms of the weight of SF6 emitted (kg) per unit weight of
magnesium produced or processed (metric tons).
     Estimated total SF6 emissions.
     Information provided at the partner's discretion on
efforts the company has undertaken to reduce SF6 use or
emissions.

It is anticipated that SF6 emissions will be reported based
on records of SF6 use, with any necessary adjustments made
to account for emission reductions achieved by the Company during the
year. IMA will prepare a report for EPA that presents a total
SF6 emissions estimate for all reporting partners. The
partnership will track progress as a group using the aggregate total
SF6 emissions estimate and by individual company using the
normalized emissions rate. The emissions data will be presented along
with the optional descriptions of partner activities in an annual
report in an effort to promote technical information sharing. In
preparing this report, any information designated confidential by
partners will be omitted or otherwise protected. 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: In estimating the expected burden, EPA assumes 10
companies will join in the first year and 5 companies will join in each
of the second and third years for an average of 15 partners/year over
the 3 years covered by this ICR.
    Average annual reporting burden hours = 1,834.
    Average burden hours/response = 122.
    Frequency of response = 1/year.
    Estimated number of respondents = 15.
    Estimated total annual cost burden = $95,251.
    Total capital and start-up costs = $931.
    Total operation and maintenance costs = $26,400.
    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.

    Dated: December 20, 1999.
Jeanne Briskin,
Chief, State Outreach & Industrial Branch.
[FR Doc. 00-731 Filed 1-11-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P

 
 

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