In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, OMB is withholding approval at this time. Prior to
publication of the final rule, the agency must submit to OMB a
summary of all comments related to the information collection
contained in the proposed rule and the agency response. The agency
should clearly indicate any changes made to the information
collection as a result of these comments.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
36 Months From Approved
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Pursuant to Clean Air Act (CAA)
section 111(d), the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) is proposing state-specific rate-based goals for CO2
emissions from existing fossil fuel-fired EGUs and guidelines for
states to use in developing plans to attain these goals. For
purposes of these guidelines, fossil fuel-fired EGUs include fossil
fuel-fired steam generating units, integrated gasification combined
cycle (IGCC) units, and stationary combustion turbines that
generate electricity for sale and are larger than 25 megawatts
(MW). Existing sources include those EGUs that commenced
construction on or before January 8, 2014. The EPA is proposing
these guidelines because CO2 is a greenhouse gas (GHG), and fossil
fuel-fired power plants are the country's largest stationary source
emitters of GHGs. The EPA in 2009 found that by causing or
contributing to climate change, GHGs endanger both the public
health and the public welfare of current and future generations.
This proposed action requires those states with one or more EGUs
covered under this subpart to develop plans to implement the
emission guidelines and submit the plans to EPA for approval. If an
approvable state plan is not submitted by January 8, 2014, EPA will
develop a federal plan according to 40 CFR 60.27 to implement the
emission guidelines in those states. Owners and operators of EGUs
not covered by an approved state plan must comply with the federal
plan. The federal plan is an interim action and will be
automatically withdrawn when the state plan is approved. Those
states that have no EGUs for which construction commenced on or
before January 8, 2014 would submit a negative declaration letter
in place of the state plan. The emission guidelines include
required components of the state plan, provisions for working with
other states to develop a combined plan, timing requirements for
submitting the state plan, state goals for CO2 emission
performance, compliance schedules, and affected sources (EGUs).
Under the timing requirements provisions in the proposed
guidelines, states are given the option to submit their plans by
the June 30, 2016 deadline or request a 1?year extension for an
individual state plan or a 2-year extension for a combined
multi-state plan.
As previously stated, the EPA
in 2009 found that by causing or contributing to climate change,
GHGs endanger both the public health and the public welfare of
current and future generations. Fossil fuel-fired power plants are
the country's largest stationary source emitters of GHGs.
Therefore, emission guidelines for emissions of CO2 are being
proposed for existing sources in this category at 40 CFR part 60,
subpart UUUU. The emission guidelines are being proposed for states
to use in developing state plans to attain state-specific
goals.
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.