Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Information Collection Request for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), "Information Collection Request for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program" (EPA ICR No. 2300.20, OMB Control No. 2060-0629) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through March 31, 2024. 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.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 86 (Thursday, May 4, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 86 (Thursday, May 4, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28546-28547]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-09524]



[[Page 28546]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-10918-01-OAR]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; 
Information Collection Request for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to 
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Information 
Collection Request for the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program'' (EPA ICR 
No. 2300.20, OMB Control No. 2060-0629) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act. Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on 
specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described 
below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently 
approved through March 31, 2024. 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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 3, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2022-0883, online using <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> (our preferred method), or 
by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail 
Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI), or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joe Ford, Climate Change Division, 
Office of Atmospheric Protection, Office of Air and Radiation (MAIL 
CODE 6207A), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. 
NW, Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-7659; fax number: 
202-343-2342; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#aee9e6e9fccbdec1dcdac7c0c9eecbdecf80c9c1d8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="24636c637641544b56504d4a43644154450a434b52">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the 
public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at 
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone 
number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit <a href="http://www.epa.gov/dockets">http://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting 
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. 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. At the time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice 
to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to 
submit additional comments to OMB.
    Abstract: In response to the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act 
(H.R. 2764; Pub. L. 110-161) and under authority of the Clean Air Act, 
the EPA finalized the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule (GHG 
Reporting Rule) (74 FR 56260; October 30, 2009). The GHG Reporting 
Rule, which became effective on December 29, 2009, establishes 
reporting requirements for certain large facilities and suppliers. It 
does not require control of greenhouse gases. Instead, it requires that 
sources emitting greenhouse gases, supplying certain products that 
contain greenhouse gases, or injecting carbon dioxide (CO2) underground 
in quantities above certain threshold levels of carbon dioxide 
equivalent (CO2 e) monitor and report their annual emissions.
    Subsequent rules have promulgated requirements for additional 
facilities, suppliers, and mobile sources; provided clarification and 
corrections to existing requirements; finalized confidentiality 
business information (CBI) determinations, amended recordkeeping 
requirements, and implemented an alternative verification approach. 
Collectively, the GHG Reporting Rule and its associated rulemakings are 
referred to as the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP).
    The purpose for this ICR is to renew and revise the GHG Reporting 
Rule ICR to update and consolidate the burdens and costs imposed by the 
current ICR under the GHGRP.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Facilities emitting GHGs, supplying 
certain products that contain GHGs, or injecting carbon dioxide (CO2) 
underground in quantities above certain threshold levels of CO2 
equivalent (CO2e).
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (42 U.S.C. 7401-
7671q.).
    Estimated number of respondents (annual average): 12,434.
    Frequency of response: Annually.
    Total estimated burden: 705,554 hours per year.
    Total estimated cost: $95,175,521 per year.
    Changes in Estimates: There is a decrease of 34,458 hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the 
last ICR renewal. Furthermore, the annual public reporting and 
recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to 
average 0.07 hours per response. The last ICR estimated an average 
burden of 0.08 hours per response. This change in burden reflects an 
adjustment in the number of respondents from projected to actual, an 
adjustment of labor rates and capital and O&M costs to reflect 2021 
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 
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;

[[Page 28547]]

and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

Sharyn Lie,
Acting Director, Climate Change Division, Office of Atmospheric 
Protection, Office of Air and Radiation.
[FR Doc. 2023-09524 Filed 5-3-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P


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