[Federal Register: June 1, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 105)]
[Notices]
[Page 31179-31181]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr01jn06-52]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0407; FRL-8177-1]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With
EPA's ENERGY STAR Program in the Commercial and Industrial Sectors; EPA
ICR No. 1772, OMB Control No. 2060-0347
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is
scheduled to expire on November 30, 2006. 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 July 31, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
OAR-2006-0407, by one of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the online instructions
for submitting comments.
E-mail: a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov.
Fax: 202-566-1741.
Mail: Air and Radiation Docket and Information Center,
Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
Hand Delivery: Air and Radiation Docket and Information
Center in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. Such deliveries are only
accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation, and special
arrangements should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2006-0407. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute.
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Do not submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise
protected through www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov
Web site is an ``anonymous access'' system, which
means EPA will not know your identity or contact information unless you
provide it in the body of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment
directly to EPA without going through http://www.regulations.gov your e-mail
address will be automatically captured and included as part of the
comment that is placed in the public docket and made available on the
Internet. If you submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you
include your name and other contact information in the body of your
comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your
comment due to technical difficulties and cannot contact you for
clarification, EPA may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic
files should avoid the use of special characters, any form of
encryption, and be free of any defects or viruses. For additional
information about EPA's public docket visit the EPA Docket Center
homepage at http://www.epa.gov/ epahome /dockets.htm.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Susan Bailey, Climate Protection
Partnerships Division, Mailcode: 6202J, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: 202-343-9014; fax number: 202-343-2204; e-mail address:
bailey.marysusan@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?
EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID
No. EPA-HQ-OAR-2006-0407, which is available for online viewing at
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Air and Radiation
Docket and Information Center in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA
West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/
DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading
Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the Air and
Radiation Docket and Information Center is 202-566-1742.
Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft collection of
information, submit or view public comments, access the index listing
of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the
public docket that are available electronically. Once in the system,
select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified in this
document.
What Information is EPA Particularly Interested in?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically
solicits 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. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25) on examples of
specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork
burden for very small businesses affected by this collection.
What Should I Consider when I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.
2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal
Register citation.
What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply To?
Affected entities: Entities affected by this action are
participants in EPA's ENERGY STAR Program in the Commercial and
Industrial Sectors.
Title: Information Collection Activities Associated with EPA's
ENERGY STAR Program in the Commercial and Industrial Sectors.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1772, OMB Control No. 2060-0347.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on November
30, 2006. 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 in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal
Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed
either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate
means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if
applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
Abstract: ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program helping businesses and
individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
The Program focuses on reducing utility-generated emissions by reducing
the demand for energy. In 1991, EPA launched the Green Lights program
to encourage corporations, State and local governments, colleges and
universities, and other organizations to adopt energy-efficient
lighting as a profitable means of preventing pollution and improving
lighting quality. Since then, EPA has rolled Green Lights into ENERGY
STAR and expanded ENERGY STAR to encompass organization-wide energy
performance improvement, such as building technology upgrades, product
purchasing initiatives, and employee training. At the same time, EPA
has streamlined the reporting requirements of ENERGY STAR and focused
on providing incentives for improvements (e.g., ENERGY STAR Awards
Program). EPA also makes tools and other resources available over the
Web to help the public overcome the barriers to evaluating their energy
performance and investing in profitable improvements.
To join ENERGY STAR, organizations are asked to complete a
Partnership Letter or Agreement that establishes their commitment to
energy efficiency. Partners agree to undertake efforts such as
baselining, tracking, and benchmarking their organization's energy
performance by using tools such
[[Page 31181]]
as those offered by ENERGY STAR; developing and implementing a plan to
improve energy performance in their facilities and operations by
following the energy management strategy provided by ENERGY STAR; and
educating staff and the public about their Partnership with ENERGY
STAR, and highlighting achievements with the ENERGY STAR, where
available.
Partners also may be asked to periodically submit information to
EPA as needed to assist in program implementation. For example, EPA
maintains the Service and Product Provider Directory to provide the
public with easy access to energy efficiency services and products that
can help companies lower operating costs and increase their bottom
line. Businesses wishing to appear in this directory are asked to
submit a completed profile that details their services and products.
Partnership in ENERGY STAR is voluntary and can be terminated by
Partners or EPA at any time. EPA does not expect organizations to join
the program unless they expect participation to be cost-effective and
otherwise beneficial for them.
In addition, Partners and any other interested party can help EPA
promote energy-efficient technologies by evaluating the efficiency of
their buildings using EPA's on-line tools (e.g., Portfolio Manager) and
applying for recognition. EPA does not expect to deem any information
collected under ENERGY STAR to be Confidential Business Information
(CBI).
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information will vary depending on the
type of participant, the specific collection activity, and other
factors. The annual burden for joining ENERGY STAR and conducting
related activities is estimated to range from about 2 to 8 hours per
respondent. This includes time for preparing and submitting the
Partnership Letter or Agreement and other information as requested. The
burden for applying for an ENERGY STAR is estimated to range from about
5.5 to 10.5 hours per respondent. This includes time for reading the
instructions of the benchmarking tool if needed, gathering and entering
information on building characteristics and energy use into the tool,
printing a Statement of Energy Performance, and preparing/submitting
the ENERGY STAR application materials to EPA. The burden for applying
for an ENERGY STAR Award is estimated to range from 4 to 26.5 hours per
respondent. This includes time for preparing and submitting the awards
application materials to EPA.
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
which have subsequently changed; 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 ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 5,000.
Frequency of response: One-time, annually, and/or periodically,
depending on the type of respondent and collection.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 83,343.
Estimated total annual costs: $6,594,941. This includes a cost of
$5,054,411 for labor and $1,540,530 for operation and maintenance.
There is no capital/start-up cost to respondents.
Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?
The burden estimates presented in this document are from the last
approval. EPA is currently evaluating and updating these estimates as
part of the ICR renewal process. EPA will discuss its updated
estimates, as well as changes from the last approval, in the next
Federal Register notice to be issued for this renewal.
What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?
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 pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 320.5(a)(1)(iv)
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to
submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any questions about this
ICR or the approval process, please contact the technical person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.
Dated: May 24, 2006.
Kathleen Hogan,
Director, Climate Protection Partnerships Division.
[FR Doc. E6-8473 Filed 5-31-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P