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