In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three
years. Consistent with 5 CFR 1320, the agency is reminded that it
should have in place an internal planning process so that
collections are submitted to OMB 60 days prior to the expiration
date to allow for OMB review.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
07/31/2017
36 Months From Approved
06/30/2014
2
0
35
24
0
140
0
0
0
With this information collection
request (ICR), we are seeking permission to accept production
outlook reports from domestic or foreign renewable fuel producers
who are not currently regulated parties under the RFS2 program and
are, therefore, not required to register or report under the RFS2
regulations. Submission of production outlook information to EPA
under this ICR will be on a voluntary basis. The information that
respondents provide will allow EPA to more accurately project
cellulosic biofuel volumes for the following calendar year, and
these volume projections will form the basis of the percentage
standards EPA sets under the RFS2 program. Without information from
these respondents, EPA's volume projections are more likely to fall
below actual projection volumes. Under such circumstances, actual
supply for cellulosic biofuel will exceed the demand created by the
standards EPA sets, and the value of cellulosic biofuel Renewable
Identification Numbers (RINs) will fall. RINs are marketable
credits that correspond to a given volume of renewable fuel. Since
RIN market price directly affects the economic viability of
cellulosic biofuel production, low RIN prices could present
economic difficulties to producers. Thus, it is in the interests of
these respondents to provide this information to EPA, as doing so
could ensure that the market price of RINs appropriately reflects
the value of their cellulosic biofuel. This information also serves
a more general program purpose because it will assist EPA in
setting the annual RFS2 standards more accurately for biomass-based
diesel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel. Compiling this
information may also assist respondents with their planning and
compliance activities. We believe that many parties would wish to
submit this information in order to receive better assistance in
understanding and complying with the RFS2 regulations.
There is a decrease of 116
hours in the total estimated respondent burden as compared with the
ICR currently approved by OMB. The decrease in hours is due to a
decrease in the respondent universe based on the reported number of
submissions in the DCFUEL database. The number of respondents
decreased by 33 per year lowering the total number of reports
collected. These decreases have lowered the total burden even
though the cost to report per response has risen due to better
numbers used to calculate the industry burden and to account for
inflation.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.