In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three
years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2022
36 Months From Approved
04/30/2021
5,170
0
16,517
134,423
0
175,122
8,207,545
0
13,116,886
The United States Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) is renewing an information collection
request (ICR) for the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR)
trading programs to allow for continued implementation of the
programs. There are currently five CSAPR trading programs
addressing sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions, annual nitrogen oxides
(NOX) emissions, or seasonal NOX emissions in various sets of
states. The information collection requirements under all five
CSAPR trading programs are reflected in the existing ICR as most
recently revised in 2016. In 2017, Texas sources were removed from
two CSAPR trading programs and EPA promulgated the Texas SO2
Trading Program using the CSAPR trading programs as a model. This
ICR renewal reflects the 2017 termination of information collection
requirements for Texas sources under the two CSAPR trading programs
and the 2019 re-establishment of some of the same requirements for
some of the same sources under the Texas trading program. The
principal information collection requirements under the CSAPR and
Texas trading programs relate to the monitoring and reporting of
emissions and associated data in accordance with 40 CFR part 75.
Other information collection requirements under the programs
concern the submittal of information necessary to allocate and
transfer emission allowances and the submittal of certificates of
representation and other typically one-time registration forms.
Affected sources under the CSAPR and Texas trading programs are
generally stationary, fossil fuel-fired boilers and combustion
turbines serving generators larger than 25 megawatts (MW) producing
electricity for sale. Most of these affected sources are also
subject to the Acid Rain Program (ARP). The information collection
requirements under the CSAPR and Texas trading programs and the ARP
substantially overlap and are fully integrated. The burden and
costs of overlapping requirements are accounted for in the ARP ICR
(OMB Control Number 2060-0258). This ICR accounts for information
collection burden and costs under the CSAPR and Texas trading
programs that are incremental to the burden and costs already
accounted for in the ARP ICR. While most sources participating in
the CSAPR and Texas trading programs are directly regulated under
federal implementation plans (FIPs), sources in some states
participate in the CSAPR trading programs under state
implementation plan (SIP) revisions adopted to replace previous
FIPs. This ICR accounts for the burden and costs for sources
participating under both FIPs and SIPs.
There is decrease of 40,699
hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the
ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease is due almost entirely
to adjustments in the estimated numbers of respondents and
transactions and the time required to complete certain activities.
Changes in programs i.e., the removal of Texas units from two CSAPR
trading programs and the start of the Texas SO2 Trading Program
together are responsible for approximately 574 hours of the overall
decrease.
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.