Notice2024-02613
Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Air Pollution Regulations for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Activities
Primary source
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Published
February 8, 2024
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), "Air Pollution Regulations for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Activities" (EPA ICR No. 1601.10, OMB Control No. 2060-0249), to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, the EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed renewal of the ICR, which is currently approved through May 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 89 Issue 27 (Thursday, February 8, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 27 (Thursday, February 8, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8677-8678]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-02613]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OAR-2011-0742; FRL--11599-01-OAR]
Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Air Pollution
Regulations for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Activities
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), ``Air Pollution
Regulations for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Activities'' (EPA ICR No.
1601.10, OMB Control No. 2060-0249), to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act (PRA). Before doing so, the EPA is soliciting public
comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as
described below. This is a proposed renewal of the ICR, which is
currently approved through May 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 April 8, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2011-0724, online using <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> (our preferred method), by
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#ceafe3afa0aae3bce3aaa1ada5abba8eabbeafe0a9a1b8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="85e4a8e4ebe1a8f7a8e1eae6eee0f1c5e0f5e4abe2eaf3">[email protected]</span></a>, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center,
Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania
Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20460.
EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the
public
[[Page 8678]]
docket without change including any personal information provided,
unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information claimed to
be Confidential Business Information or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ben Garwood, Air Quality Policy
Division, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, C504-03, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Post Office Box 12055, Research
Triangle Park, NC 27711; telephone number: (919) 541-1358; fax number:
(919) 541-4028; email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#99fef8ebeef6f6fdb7fbfcf7d9fce9f8b7fef6ef"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b8dfd9cacfd7d7dc96daddd6f8ddc8d996dfd7ce">[email 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="https://www.regulations.gov">https://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="https://www.epa.gov/dockets">https://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, the 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. The
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 that time, the 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: Section 328 of the Clean Air Act (CAA) gives the EPA
responsibility for regulating air pollution from OCS sources located
offshore of the states along the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts (except
the North Slope Borough of Alaska), and along the eastern Gulf of
Mexico coast (off the coast of Florida). In general, these OCS sources
must obtain OCS permits complying with the EPA's preconstruction permit
program (usually Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD)
requirements) and title V operating permit program, and then maintain
ongoing compliance with their permit conditions. Industry respondents
include owners or operators of existing and new or modified OCS
sources. These respondents must prepare permit applications and, after
receiving their permits, conduct testing, monitoring, recordkeeping and
reporting as required by their permits. The recordkeeping and reporting
requirements are necessary so that the EPA can determine whether these
sources are meeting all the requirements that apply to them. The EPA
has delegated the authority to implement and enforce the OCS
regulations to four local air pollution control agencies in California
(Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (SBCAPCD), South
Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), Ventura County Air
Pollution Control District (VCAPCD) and San Luis Obispo County Air
Pollution Control District (SLOCAPCD)). The EPA has also delegated the
authority to implement and enforce the OCS regulations for sources
located off the coast to 3 state air pollutions control agencies:
Delaware (DDNREC), Maryland (MDE), and Virginia (VDEQ). These agency
respondents must review sources' permit applications and reports, issue
permits, observe performance tests and conduct inspections to ensure
that the sources off their coasts are meeting all the requirements that
apply to them. Section 176(c) of the CAA (42 U.S.C. 7401 et seq.)
requires that all federal actions conform with the State Implementation
Plans to attain and maintain the National Ambient Air Quality
Standards.
Depending on the type of action, the federal entities must collect
information themselves, hire consultants to collect the information or
require applicants/sponsors of the federal action to provide the
information.
The type and quantity of information required will depend on the
circumstances surrounding the action. First, the entity must make an
applicability determination. If the source is located within 25 miles
of the state's seaward boundary (Inner OCS) as established in the
regulations, the requirements are the same as those that would be
applicable if the source were located in the corresponding onshore area
(COA). Sources locating beyond 25 nautical miles from the state seaward
boundary (Outer OCS) are subject to federal air quality requirements
which could include the EPA's PSD preconstruction permit program, Part
71 Title V operating permit program, New Source Performance Standards
and some standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants promulgated under
section 112 of the CAA. State and local air pollution control agencies
are usually requested to provide information concerning regulation of
offshore sources and are provided opportunities to comment on the
proposed determinations. The public is also provided an opportunity to
comment on the proposed determinations.
Form numbers: None.
Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by
this action are those that must apply for and obtain an OCS permit
pursuant the OCS permit program. In addition, state and local agencies
that have been delegated authority to implement and enforce the OCS
permit program, which must review permit applications and issue
permits, are affected entities.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory [see 40 CFR part 55].
Estimated number of respondents: 74 industrial facilities and 7
state and local permitting agencies.
Frequency of response: On occasion, as necessary.
Total estimated burden: 36,001 hours (per year). Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $3,755,783.00 (per year) in addition to
$55,268.00 annually in Operation and Maintenance costs and $325,104.00
in capital costs.
Changes in estimates: There is a projected increase of 15,778 hours
in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR most
recently approved by OMB. This increase is primarily due the projected
number of OCS sources subject to the program mainly related to
alternative energy sources including new wind power farms along the
eastern seaboard of the United States, and changes to burden estimates
as noted in the excel spreadsheet in the docket for this notice titled
``1601t10 Draft OCS ICR Burden Calculations 2024.''
Scott Mathias,
Director, Air Quality Policy Division.
[FR Doc. 2024-02613 Filed 2-7-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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