
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 63 (Thursday, April 2, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17742-17743]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-07630]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OAR-2004-0082; FRL-9925-61-OAR]; [EPA ICR No. 1736.07, OMB 
Control No. 2060.0328]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Requirements Under EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Requirements Under EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program'' (EPA ICR No. 
1736.07, OMB Control No. 2060.0328) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). 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 September 30, 2015. 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 June 1, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR-
2004-0082, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to a-and-r-Docket@epa.gov, 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 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.

[[Page 17743]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jerome Blackman, Office of Atmospheric 
Programs, Climate Change Division, (6207A), Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: 202-343-9630; fax number: 202-343-2342; email address: 
Blackman.Jerome@epa.gov.

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 
www.regulations.gov 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 http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    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 that 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: Natural Gas STAR is a voluntary program sponsored by the 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that encourages oil and 
natural gas companies to adopt cost effective technologies and practice 
that improve operational efficiency and reduce methane emissions. 
Methane is the primary component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse 
gas. The Program works with oil and natural gas companies in the 
production, gathering & processing, transmission, and distribution 
sectors to remove barriers that inhibit the implementation of 
technologies and practices that reduce methane emissions. The Program 
effectively promotes the adoption of emission reduction technologies 
and practices by helping Natural Gas Star partners evaluate Best 
Management Practices (BMPs) and Partner Reported Opportunities (PROs) 
in the context of their current operations, and implement them where 
cost effective. Implementation of the Program's BMPs and PROs saves 
participants money, improves operational efficiency, and enhances the 
protection of the environment.

Form Numbers

    Natural Gas STAR partners are required to sign and submit to EPA a 
one-page Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that describes the terms of 
participation in the Program. The MOU forms covered under this ICR 
include:
     Production Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-105
     Transmission Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-96
     Distribution Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-98
     Gathering and Processing Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-101
     International Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-108
    Partners must complete and submit a Natural Gas STAR Implementation 
Plan within six to twelve months of signing the MOU. The Implementation 
Plan forms covered under this ICR include:
     Production Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-103
     Transmission Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-109
     Distribution Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-97
     Gathering and Processing Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-100
     International Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-106
    After one full year of participation in the Program, EPA requires 
partners to submit an annual report documenting the previous year's 
methane emission reduction activities. The annual reporting forms 
covered under this ICR include:
     Production Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-104
     Transmission Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-95
     Distribution Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-99
     Gathering and Processing Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-102
     International Partners: EPA Form No. 5900-107
    Respondents/affected entities: The gathering and processing, 
production, transmission, and distribution sectors of the natural gas 
industry.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: voluntary
    Estimated number of respondents: 109 (total).
    Frequency of response: 109.
    Total estimated burden: 5,201 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b)
    Total estimated cost: $477,657, includes $0 annualized capital or 
O&M costs.
    Changes in Estimates: EPA expects that the burden associated with 
the final ICR submission will decrease slightly due to the Program's 
maturity and a decrease in number of new Program partners.

    Dated: March 20, 2015.
Paul Gunning,
Director, Climate Change Division.
[FR Doc. 2015-07630 Filed 4-1-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE CODE 6560-50-P


