[Federal Register: February 24, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 35)]
[Notices]
[Page 8255-8256]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr24fe09-66]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0078; FRL-8776-2]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Landfill Methane Outreach Program
(Renewal), EPA ICR Number 1849.05, OMB Control Number 2060-0446
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 an Information Collection
Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to reinstate a
previously approved ICR. The ICR that is abstracted below describes the
nature of the collection and the estimated burden and cost.
DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before March 26,
2009.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-
OAR-2003-0078 to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our
preferred method), by e-mail to a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov, or by mail to:
EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), Environmental Protection Agency, Air and
Radiation Docket, mail code 2282T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; and (2) OMB at: Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention:
Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Victoria Ludwig, Climate Change
Division, Office of Atmospheric Programs, 6207J, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: (202) 343-9291; fax number: (202) 343-2202; e-mail
address: ludwig.victoria@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR
1320.12. On June 3, 2008 (73 FR 31681), EPA sought comments on this ICR
pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments. Any additional
comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days
of this notice.
EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under docket ID
number EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0078, which is available for public viewing
online at http://www.regulations.gov, and in person viewing at the Air
and Radiation Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room
3334, 1301 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket
Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 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 is (202) 566-1742.
Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at http://
www.regulations.gov to submit or view public comments, access the index
listing of the contents of the docket, and access those documents in
the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system,
select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number identified
above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public comments, whether
submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public
viewing at http://www.regulations.gov as EPA receives them and without
change, unless the comment contains
[[Page 8256]]
copyrighted material, confidential business information (CBI), or other
information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For
further information about the electronic docket, go to http://
www.regulations.gov.
Title: Landfill Methane Outreach Program (Renewal).
ICR Numbers: EPA ICR Number 1849.05, OMB Control Number 2060-0446.
ICR Status: This ICR was discontinued on July 31, 2007. EPA is
reinstating the 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 in Title 40 of the CFR,
after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are listed in 40
CFR part 9, and 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: The Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP), created by
EPA as part of the Climate Change Action Plan, is a voluntary program
designed to encourage and facilitate the development of environmentally
and economically sound landfill gas (LFG) energy projects across the
United States in order to reduce methane emissions from landfills. LMOP
does this by educating local governments and communities about the
benefits of LFG recovery and use; building partnerships between state
agencies, industry, energy service providers, local communities, and
other stakeholders interested in developing this valuable resource in
their community; and providing tools to evaluate LFG energy (LFGE)
potential. LMOP signs voluntary Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with
these organizations to enlist their support in promoting cost-effective
LFG utilization. The information collection includes completion and
submission of the MOU, and annual completion and submission of
information forms that include basic information on landfill gas energy
projects with which the organizations are involved. The information
collection also includes a one-time effort to update the LMOP Landfill
and Landfill Gas Energy Project Database. The information collection is
to be utilized to maintain up-to-date data and information about LMOP
Partners and landfill gas energy projects with which they are involved.
The data will also be used by the public to assess LFGE project
development opportunities in the United States. In addition, the
information collection will assist LMOP in evaluating the reduction of
methane emissions from landfills. Responses to the information
collection are voluntary.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 5
hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, and
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.
Respondents/Affected Entities: Landfill owners and operators (both
public and private), landfill gas energy project developers,
manufacturers and suppliers of landfill gas energy equipment,
utilities, industries using landfill gas energy, state agencies
involved in energy, air pollution, economic development and solid waste
management, and non-profits involved in the solid waste management,
public works, local government and renewable energy sectors.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,279.
Frequency of Response: Initially, occasionally, annually.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 5,887.
Estimated Total Annual Cost: $344,827, which includes $1,342 in
annualized O&M costs.
Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 4,354 hours in
the total estimated annual respondent burden compared with that
identified in the ICR previously approved by OMB. This increase
reflects a large growth in the number of LMOP Partners since the last
renewal. Since the last ICR renewal, LMOP no longer collects
information annually from Energy, State, and non-developer Industry
Partners, the information forms have been simplified into pre-populated
spreadsheets, and other collection efficiencies have been implemented
such as the option to submit MOUs electronically. As a result of these
changes, the average number of hours per Partner has decreased, but the
total hourly burden for LMOP Partners still increased because of an
increase in the number of Partners. For perspective on the magnitude of
Partner growth, there were 365 Partners at the end of 2003 when the ICR
was last renewed, whereas there were 675 Partners as of July 2007. This
indicates an 85% increase in Partners since the last renewal. The
remainder of the increase in total hourly burden comes from a planned
initiative to collect critical landfill data from 1,000 additional
landfill owners and operators. These data are necessary in order to
better respond to public data requests and evaluate the potential of
future LFGE opportunities. This type of data collection has not
occurred during LMOP's history. This change is the result of a program
change.
Dated: February 18, 2009.
John Moses,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E9-3912 Filed 2-23-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P