80 FR 65752 - Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With EPA's ENERGY STAR® Product Labeling; EPA ICR No. 2078.06, OMB Control No. 2060-0528
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 207 (October 27, 2015)
Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 207 (October 27, 2015)
| Page Range | 65752-65753 | |
| FR Document | 2015-27379 |
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 207 (Tuesday, October 27, 2015)] [Notices] [Pages 65752-65753] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2015-27379] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [EPA-HQ-OAR-2003-0033; FRL-9936-28-OAR] Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Information Collection Activities Associated With EPA's ENERGY STAR[supreg] Product Labeling; EPA ICR No. 2078.06, OMB Control No. 2060-0528 AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``EPA's ENERGY STAR Product Labeling'' (EPA ICR No. 2078.06, OMB Control No. 2060-0528) 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 revision of the ICR, which is currently approved through February 29, 2016.'' 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 December 28, 2015. ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OAR- 2003-0033, online using www.regulation.gov (our preferred method), by email to [email protected], 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. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kirsten Hesla, Climate Protection Partnerships Division, Office of Air and Radiation, Mailcode 6202J, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-2984; fax number: 202- 343-2200 email address: [email protected]. 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: ENERGY STAR is a voluntary program developed in collaboration with industry to create a self-sustaining market for energy efficient products. The center piece of the program is the ENERGY STAR label, a registered certification label that helps consumers identify products that save energy, save money, and help protect the environment without sacrificing quality or performance. In order to protect the integrity of the label and enhance its effectiveness in the marketplace, EPA must ensure that products carrying the label meet appropriate program requirements. Program participants submit signed Partnership Agreements indicating that they will adhere to logo-use guidelines and program requirements. Retail partners commit to selling, marketing and promoting ENERGY STAR certified products. Product brand owner partners, who are usually the manufacturer of the products, commit to having participating products certified to meet specified energy performance criteria based on a standard test method and EPA's third party certification requirements. These requirements for ENERGY STAR product certification also include provisions for verifying the performance of certified products through verification testing. The program's emphasis on testing and third-party product review ensures that consumers can trust ENERGY STAR certified products to deliver the energy savings promised by the label. In rare circumstances where product brand licensee's wish to partner with EPA, the Agency establishes the appropriate contacts and relationships for the brand owner and licensee through a joint brand owner and licensee template that both parties are required to sign. As part of the Agency's contribution to the overall success of the program, EPA facilitates the sale of certified products by providing consumers with easy-to-use information about the products. To perform this function, EPA must obtain data on certified products. Prior to EPA adopting a third-party certification process, product brand owners were required to submit individual product information directly to the Agency. Now, product information is recorded by Certification Bodies and shared with EPA using XML-based web services that validate and save the information in EPA's database. EPA believes the improved [[Page 65753]] process of submission has reduced the burden time for Partners and the Agency by taking advantage of the infrastructure in place for certifying products. With the new process of obtaining certified product data, certified model data is automatically updated daily on the ENERGY STAR Web site. To ensure that products are certified properly, the certification process also includes requirements for Certification Bodies to report to EPA products that were reviewed, but not eligible for certification. To ensure continued product performance after initial certification, EPA requires Certification Bodies to conduct post-market verification testing of a sampling of ENERGY STAR certified products. Certification Bodies are required to share information with EPA on products subjected to this post-market testing twice a year and to immediately report any certified products that no longer meet the program requirements. This process allows EPA to monitor the ongoing performance of products and take necessary steps to maintain consumer confidence in the ENERGY STAR label and protect the investment of partners. In order to monitor progress and support the best allocation of resources, EPA also asks manufacturers to submit annual shipment data for their ENERGY STAR qualifying products. EPA is flexible as to the methods by which manufacturers may submit unit shipment data. For example, many manufacturers are given the option of arranging for shipment data to be sent to EPA via this third party to ensure confidentiality. In using any shipment data received directly from a partner, EPA only shares aggregate information from multiple partners so as to protect confidentiality. Finally, Partners that wish to receive recognition for their efforts in ENERGY STAR may submit an application for the Partner of the Year Award. Burden Statement: EPA will consult with Partners to re-evaluate the burden. 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 which have subsequently changed; 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. The estimated total cost for respondents is $3,908,125 and the hourly burden is approximately 59,407 hours. This cost includes an estimated burden cost of $3,890,840 and an estimated cost of $17,285 for capital investment or maintenance and operational costs. The estimated total cost for the Agency is $566,573 and the hourly burden is approximately 14,044 hours. This cost includes an estimated burden cost of $566,549.63 and an estimated cost of $23.37 for capital investment or maintenance and operational costs. A grand total of $4,474,698 and an hourly burden of approximately 73,451 hours are expected for all information collection activities under ENERGY STAR product labeling. Respondents/Affected Entities: Respondents for this information collection request include Partners in ENERGY STAR. Partners are product brand owners. Estimated Number of Respondents: 2050. Frequency of Response: Initially/one-time and annually. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 73,451 hours. Estimated Total Annual Cost: $4,474,698, that includes an estimated $17,308.37 in Operations and Maintenance Costs. Changes in the Estimates: There is an estimated decrease of approximately 10,951 in the total burden hours, and a decrease of 5,931 in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. Although participation in the ENERGY STAR program has steadily increased, EPA believes the automated process of sharing information between Certification Bodies and the Agency has reduced the overall burden for both Partners and the Agency. EPA increased the estimated number of respondents for Partnership Agreements, Unit Shipment data, and Award applications based on updated program data. EPA also updated the hourly wage rates to reflect inflation and current baseline labor rates for each labor category. EPA is currently evaluating and updating these estimates as part of the ICR renewal process. EPA will discuss its updated estimates, as well as changes from the last approval, in the next Federal Register notice to be issued for this renewal. Dated: October 21, 2015. Jean Lupinacci, Acting Director, Climate Protection Partnerships Division. [FR Doc. 2015-27379 Filed 10-26-15; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
![65752 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 207 / Tuesday, October 27, 2015 / Notices
Estimated number of respondents: ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, will then be submitted to OMB for
15,780 sources and 116 state, local and referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– review and approval. At that time, EPA
tribal permitting authorities. OAR–2003–0033, online using will issue another Federal Register
Frequency of response: On occasion. www.regulation.gov (our preferred notice to announce the submission of
Total estimated burden: 5,168,815 method), by email to a-and-r-Docket@ the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to
hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket submit additional comments to OMB.
CFR 1320.3(b). Center, Environmental Protection Abstract: ENERGY STAR is a
Total estimated cost: $326,493,677 Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 voluntary program developed in
(per year). There are no annualized Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, collaboration with industry to create a
capital or operation & maintenance DC 20460. self-sustaining market for energy
costs. EPA’s policy is that all comments efficient products. The center piece of
Changes in Estimates: There is a received will be included in the public the program is the ENERGY STAR label,
decrease of 144,871 hours per year for docket without change including any a registered certification label that helps
the estimated respondent burden personal information provided, unless consumers identify products that save
compared with the ICR currently the comment includes profanity, threats, energy, save money, and help protect
approved by OMB. This decrease is not information claimed to be Confidential the environment without sacrificing
likely a result of any new or changed Business Information (CBI) or other quality or performance. In order to
federal program or mandate; but rather, information whose disclosure is protect the integrity of the label and
the costs are largely related to the restricted by statute. enhance its effectiveness in the
projected number of sources and FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: marketplace, EPA must ensure that
permitting activity during the relevant Kirsten Hesla, Climate Protection products carrying the label meet
three year period. Partnerships Division, Office of Air and appropriate program requirements.
Program participants submit signed
Courtney Kerwin, Radiation, Mailcode 6202J,
Partnership Agreements indicating that
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Environmental Protection Agency, 1200
they will adhere to logo-use guidelines
Division. Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,
and program requirements. Retail
DC 20460; telephone number: 202–564–
[FR Doc. 2015–27312 Filed 10–26–15; 8:45 am] partners commit to selling, marketing
2984; fax number: 202–343–2200 email
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P and promoting ENERGY STAR certified
address: hesla.kirsten@epa.gov.
products. Product brand owner partners,
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: who are usually the manufacturer of the
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Supporting documents which explain in products, commit to having
AGENCY detail the information that the EPA will participating products certified to meet
be collecting are available in the public specified energy performance criteria
[EPA–HQ–OAR–2003–0033; FRL–9936–28– docket for this ICR. The docket can be
OAR] based on a standard test method and
viewed online at www.regulations.gov EPA’s third party certification
Agency Information Collection or in person at the EPA Docket Center, requirements. These requirements for
Activities; Proposed Collection; WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 ENERGY STAR product certification
Comment Request; Information Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, also include provisions for verifying the
Collection Activities Associated With DC. The telephone number for the performance of certified products
EPA’s ENERGY STAR® Product Docket Center is 202–566–1744. For through verification testing. The
Labeling; EPA ICR No. 2078.06, OMB additional information about EPA’s program’s emphasis on testing and
Control No. 2060–0528 public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/ third-party product review ensures that
dockets. consumers can trust ENERGY STAR
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of certified products to deliver the energy
Agency (EPA). the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments savings promised by the label. In rare
ACTION: Notice. and information to enable it to: (i) circumstances where product brand
Evaluate whether the proposed licensee’s wish to partner with EPA, the
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection collection of information is necessary Agency establishes the appropriate
Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an for the proper performance of the contacts and relationships for the brand
information collection request (ICR), functions of the Agency, including owner and licensee through a joint
‘‘EPA’s ENERGY STAR Product whether the information will have brand owner and licensee template that
Labeling’’ (EPA ICR No. 2078.06, OMB practical utility; (ii) evaluate the both parties are required to sign.
Control No. 2060–0528) to the Office of accuracy of the Agency’s estimate of the As part of the Agency’s contribution
Management and Budget (OMB) for burden of the proposed collection of to the overall success of the program,
review and approval in accordance with information, including the validity of EPA facilitates the sale of certified
the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. the methodology and assumptions used; products by providing consumers with
3501 et seq.). Before doing so, EPA is (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and easy-to-use information about the
soliciting public comments on specific clarity of the information to be products. To perform this function, EPA
aspects of the proposed information collected; and (iv) minimize the burden must obtain data on certified products.
collection as described below. This is a of the collection of information on those Prior to EPA adopting a third-party
‘‘proposed revision of the ICR, which is who are to respond, including through certification process, product brand
currently approved through February the use of appropriate automated owners were required to submit
29, 2016.’’ An Agency may not conduct
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
electronic, mechanical, or other individual product information directly
or sponsor and a person is not required technological collection techniques or to the Agency. Now, product
to respond to a collection of information other forms of information technology, information is recorded by Certification
unless it displays a currently valid OMB e.g., permitting electronic submission of Bodies and shared with EPA using
control number. responses. EPA will consider the XML-based web services that validate
DATES: Comments must be submitted on comments received and amend the ICR and save the information in EPA’s
or before December 28, 2015. as appropriate. The final ICR package database. EPA believes the improved
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![Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 207 / Tuesday, October 27, 2015 / Notices 65753
process of submission has reduced the respond to a collection of information; Dated: October 21, 2015.
burden time for Partners and the Agency search data sources; complete and Jean Lupinacci,
by taking advantage of the infrastructure review the collection of information; Acting Director, Climate Protection
in place for certifying products. With and transmit or otherwise disclose the Partnerships Division.
the new process of obtaining certified information. [FR Doc. 2015–27379 Filed 10–26–15; 8:45 am]
product data, certified model data is The estimated total cost for BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
automatically updated daily on the respondents is $3,908,125 and the
ENERGY STAR Web site. To ensure that hourly burden is approximately 59,407
products are certified properly, the hours. This cost includes an estimated ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
certification process also includes burden cost of $3,890,840 and an AGENCY
requirements for Certification Bodies to estimated cost of $17,285 for capital [EPA–HQ–OECA–2011–0271; FRL–9935–
report to EPA products that were investment or maintenance and 70–OEI]
reviewed, but not eligible for operational costs. The estimated total
certification. To ensure continued cost for the Agency is $566,573 and the Information Collection Request
product performance after initial Submitted to OMB for Review and
hourly burden is approximately 14,044
certification, EPA requires Certification Approval; Comment Request; NESHAP
hours. This cost includes an estimated
Bodies to conduct post-market for Integrated Iron and Steel
burden cost of $566,549.63 and an
verification testing of a sampling of Manufacturing Facilities (Renewal)
estimated cost of $23.37 for capital
ENERGY STAR certified products.
investment or maintenance and AGENCY: Environmental Protection
Certification Bodies are required to
operational costs. A grand total of Agency (EPA).
share information with EPA on products
$4,474,698 and an hourly burden of
subjected to this post-market testing ACTION: Notice.
approximately 73,451 hours are
twice a year and to immediately report
expected for all information collection SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection
any certified products that no longer
meet the program requirements. This activities under ENERGY STAR product Agency has submitted an information
process allows EPA to monitor the labeling. collection request (ICR), ‘‘NESHAP for
ongoing performance of products and Respondents/Affected Entities: Integrated Iron and Steel Manufacturing
take necessary steps to maintain Respondents for this information Facilities (40 CFR part 63, subpart
consumer confidence in the ENERGY collection request include Partners in FFFFF) (Renewal)’’ (EPA ICR No.
STAR label and protect the investment ENERGY STAR. Partners are product 2003.06, OMB Control No. 2060–0517),
of partners. brand owners. to the Office of Management and Budget
In order to monitor progress and Estimated Number of Respondents: (OMB) for review and approval in
support the best allocation of resources, 2050. accordance with the Paperwork
EPA also asks manufacturers to submit Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
annual shipment data for their ENERGY Frequency of Response: Initially/one- This is a proposed extension of the ICR,
STAR qualifying products. EPA is time and annually. which is currently approved through
flexible as to the methods by which Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: October 31, 2015. Public comments
manufacturers may submit unit 73,451 hours. were requested previously via the
shipment data. For example, many Estimated Total Annual Cost: Federal Register (80 FR 32116) on June
manufacturers are given the option of $4,474,698, that includes an estimated 5, 2015, during a 60-day comment
arranging for shipment data to be sent $17,308.37 in Operations and period. This notice allows for an
to EPA via this third party to ensure Maintenance Costs. additional 30 days for public comments.
confidentiality. In using any shipment A fuller description of the ICR is given
data received directly from a partner, Changes in the Estimates: There is an below, including its estimated burden
EPA only shares aggregate information estimated decrease of approximately and cost to the public. An Agency may
from multiple partners so as to protect 10,951 in the total burden hours, and a not conduct or sponsor, and a person is
confidentiality. decrease of 5,931 in the total estimated not required to respond to, a collection
Finally, Partners that wish to receive respondent burden compared with the of information unless it displays a
recognition for their efforts in ENERGY ICR currently approved by OMB. currently valid OMB control number.
STAR may submit an application for the Although participation in the ENERGY
DATES: Additional comments may be
Partner of the Year Award. STAR program has steadily increased,
EPA believes the automated process of submitted on or before November 27,
Burden Statement: EPA will consult
with Partners to re-evaluate the burden. sharing information between 2015.
Burden means the total time, effort, or Certification Bodies and the Agency has ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
financial resources expended by persons reduced the overall burden for both referencing Docket ID Number EPA–
to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose Partners and the Agency. EPA increased HQ–OECA–2011–0271, to: (1) EPA
or provide information to or for a the estimated number of respondents for online using www.regulations.gov (our
Federal agency. This includes the time Partnership Agreements, Unit Shipment preferred method), or by email to
needed to review instructions; develop, data, and Award applications based on docket.oeca@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA
acquire, install, and utilize technology updated program data. EPA also Docket Center, Environmental
and systems for the purposes of updated the hourly wage rates to reflect Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T,
collecting, validating, and verifying inflation and current baseline labor rates 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW.,
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
information, processing and for each labor category. EPA is currently Washington, DC 20460; and (2) OMB via
maintaining information, and disclosing evaluating and updating these estimates email to oira_submission@omb.eop.gov.
and providing information; adjust the as part of the ICR renewal process. EPA Address comments to OMB Desk Officer
existing ways to comply with any will discuss its updated estimates, as for EPA.
previously applicable instructions and well as changes from the last approval, EPA’s policy is that all comments
requirements which have subsequently in the next Federal Register notice to be received will be included in the public
changed; train personnel to be able to issued for this renewal. docket without change including any
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Document Created: 2015-12-14 15:35:39
Document Modified: 2015-12-14 15:35:39
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice. | |
| Dates | Comments must be submitted on or before December 28, 2015. | |
| Contact | Kirsten Hesla, Climate Protection Partnerships Division, Office of Air and Radiation, Mailcode 6202J, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-2984; fax number: 202- | |
| FR Citation | 80 FR 65752 |
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