This supporting statement addresses information collection activities imposed by the Sewage Sludge Incineration (SSI) Unit Emission Guidelines Subpart MMMM. The guidelines do not apply directly to SSI unit owners and operators. The guidelines can be thought of as model regulations that States use in developing State plans to implement the emission guidelines. If a State does not develop, adopt, and submit an approvable State plan, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must develop a Federal plan to implement the emission guidelines. Whether a SSI unit is ultimately regulated under a State plan or Federal plan, the full respondent burden for the first 3 years after promulgation of the emission guidelines is included in this information collection request (ICR).
This ICR includes the burden for activities that will be conducted in the first three years following promulgation of the emission guidelines. These activities include reading the rule, submitting a control plan, initial stack testing, establishing operating parameters, and monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements. We realize, however, that some facilities may not incur these costs within the first three years, and may incur them during the fourth or fifth year instead. Therefore, this ICR presents a conservatively high burden estimate for the initial three years following promulgation of the proposed emission guidelines.
This ICR presents the burden to respondents (owners or operators of SSI units) and the Designated Administrator (State or Federal Government) that will be imposed by State plans developed to implement the emission guidelines. Respondents are owners or operators of existing SSI units.
The requirements described below are the minimum requirements established by the emission guidelines. Although States may choose to impose more stringent requirements, it is assumed for this burden estimate that the State plans mirror the emission guidelines.
Sewage Sludge Incinerators are categorized into fluidized bed or multiple hearth units. For fluidized bed SSI units, 60 units at 42 facilities would be affected by the proposed standards; for multiple hearth SSI units, 144 units at 69 facilities would be affected. One of these facilities has both a multiple hearth and a fluidized bed unit, so 110 facilities in all are expected to be subject to the regulation. The cost of this Information Collection Request (ICR), based on these 204 units at 110 facilities, will be $28.9 million.
US Code:
42 USC 7429
Name of Law: Solid Waste Combustion
US Code:
42 USC 7411
Name of Law: Standards of performance for new stationary sources
The burden has been reduced between proposal and the final rule due to modifications of the rule. The most significant impact on the burden was the allowance for facilities to test once every three years instead of complying through annual performance testing if certain criteria are met. Furthermore, changes in the emission limits have led to different counts for the number of control devices and their associated monitors altering the capital costs. Changes to the facility and unit counts have also caused differences. The reports and their associated hours were also changed to more accurately reflect the rule.
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.
Emission Guidelines for Existing Sources: Solid Sludge Incineration (SSI) Units (40 CFR Part 60, Subpart MMMM)-Private Sector