[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69758-69759]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32383]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6508-2]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request, National Emission Standard for Mercury
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 the following Information
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: National Emission Standard
for Mercury, OMB 2060-0097, expiration date January 31, 2000. The ICR
describes the nature of the information collection and its expected
burden and cost; where appropriate, it includes the actual data
collection instrument.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 13, 2000.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the ICR contact Sandy
Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 260-2740, by E-Mail at
Farmer.S[email protected] or download off the Internet at http://
www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 0113.07. For technical
questions about the ICR contact Melissa Raack at (202) 564-7039.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: National Emission Standard for
Mercury, (OMB Control No. 2060-0097; EPA ICR No. 0113.07) expiring
January 31, 2000. This is a request for extension of a currently
approved collection.
Abstract: Abstract: The National Emission Standards for Hazardous
Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Mercury emissions (40 CFR part 61, subpart
E) were proposed on December 7, 1971, promulgated on April 6, 1973, and
amended on October 14, 1975 and March 19, 1987. These standards apply
to all stationary sources which process mercury ore to recover mercury,
use mercury chlor-alkali cells to produce chlorine gas and alkali metal
hydroxide, and incinerate or dry wastewater treatment plant sludge.
Approximately 142 sources (133 sludge incineration and drying plants
and 12 mercury-cell chlor-alkali plants) are currently subject to the
standard; and no additional sources are expected to become subject to
the standard in the next three years. Mercury is the pollutant
regulated under this standard. Owners or operators of the affected
facilities described must make the following one-time-only reports:
notification of the date of construction or reconstruction;
notification of the anticipated and actual dates of startup;
notification of any physical or operational change to an existing
facility which may increase the regulated pollutant emission rate;
notification of the date of the initial performance test; and the
results of the initial performance test. Owners or operators are also
required to maintain records of the occurrence and duration of any
startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the operation of an affected
facility, or any period during which the monitoring system is
inoperative. A written report of each period for which hourly monitored
parameters fall outside their established limits is required semi-
annually for mercury-cell chlor-alkali plants. These notifications,
reports and records are required, in general, of all sources subject to
NESHAP.
In the Administrator's judgment, mercury emissions from mercury ore
processing facilities, mercury chlor-alkali plants, including the cell
room ventilation system, and sludge incineration and drying plants
cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated
to endanger public health or welfare.
In order to ensure compliance with the standards promulgated to
protect public health, adequate recordkeeping and reporting is
necessary. In the absence of such information enforcement personnel
would be unable to determine whether the standards are being met on a
continuous basis, as required by the Clean Air Act. Recordkeeping and
reporting are mandatory under this regulation. Records of emission test
results and other data needed to determine total emissions shall be
maintained at the source and made available for inspection for a
minimum of two years.
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
Federal Register document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting
comments on this collection of information was published on June 22,
1999 ( 64 FR 33284); one comment was received; however, there was no
comment received on adjusting the burden figures.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1,104
hours per response. 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.
Respondents/Affected Entities: Owners/operators of sources which
process mercury.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 142.
[[Page 69759]]
Frequency of Response: semiannual for existing sources (chlor-
alkali facilities).
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 26,504 hours.
Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $0.
Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy
of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for
minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of automated
collection techniques to the following addresses. Please refer to EPA
ICR No. 0113.07 and OMB Control No. 2060-0097 in any correspondence.
Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of
Environmental Information, Collection Strategies Division (2822), 401 M
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460; and
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20503.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 99-32383 Filed 12-13-99; 8:45 am]
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