In accordance with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three years.
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
05/31/2020
36 Months From Approved
05/31/2017
212
0
221
6,371
0
6,683
22,970
0
22,281
Title VI of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 (the Act) implements the obligation of the United States under the Montreal Protocol to phase out the use of ozone-depleting substances. Section 612 of Title VI establishes as U.S. policy the requirement that Class I and Class II ozone-depleting substances shall be replaced, to the maximum extent practicable, by chemicals, product substitutes, or alternative manufacturing processes that reduce overall risks to human health and the environment. EPA developed its Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program to fulfill the requirements of Section 612. The five major provisions of Section 612 are: Rulemaking; Listing of Unacceptable/Acceptable Substitutes; Petition Process; 90-day notification; and Clearinghouse.
Information required to be collected under the SNAP program is intended to fulfill the general mandate in Section 612(c) of identifying acceptable substitutes that can serve as replacements for ozone-depleting substances being phased out under the Act, as well as unacceptable substances which may not be used as replacements for ozone-depleting substances being phased out under the Act.
Respondents for reporting requirements, as well as for the recordkeeping requirement for the exemption for small volume use, include manufacturers, importers, formulators and processors of substitutes for ozone-depleting substances. Principally, these respondents are in the following major categories of industry groups, by Standard Industry Code (SIC) and North American Industry Classification System (NAICS): Manufacturers, Chemicals and Allied Products; Manufactures, Rubber and Misc. Plastics Products; and Wholesale Trade - Nondurable Goods. The respondents for the narrowed use limit recordkeeping requirement include end users of the substitutes in the following industrial sectors: Construction - Special Trade Contractors; Manufacturing - Industrial Machinery and Equipment; Manufacturing - Electronic and Other Electric Equipment; Manufacturing - Transportation Equipment; and Services.
The total number of respondent burden hours requested annually (Exhibit 6E-1) for this information collection has decreased from 6,683 hours in 2010 to 6,371 hours in 2014. The SNAP burden hours have been decreasing since 2000, starting at 10,363 hours and decreasing to 8,972 hours in 2004, 8,204 hours in 2007, 6,683 hours in 2010, and 6,371 hours in 2014. The decrease is due to several factors, explained below.
The number of SNAP Information Notice submissions each year is expected to increase from an average of 7 per year in the previous ICR to an average of 12 per year during the next 3 years. In 2013 the Agency received 8 new SNAP submissions, while in the first 8 months of 2014 alone, the Agency received 12 submissions. Many of the recent SNAP submissions, and those anticipated over the next three years, are for chemicals previously found acceptable for other SNAP applications, or for blends of alternatives already found acceptable. While the number of submissions is expected to increase, the burden of developing supporting information for the majority of these submissions is expected to decrease because it is easier to find and review information for substitutes that have been reviewed previously.
The SNAP submission forms have been revised to improve usability and ease burden on submitters by clarifying the information necessary for review based on the specific sector(s) and end-use(s) being pursued, and by eliminating redundancy. Improving the quality of incoming submissions decreases the burden for both respondents and EPA by allowing for EPA to complete its review more quickly, and reducing the amount of additional information and clarifications requested of the respondents in order to complete the submission. Also, the Agency encourages the submission of electronic files via mail services, reducing burden hours placed on respondents and the Agency for processing. These improvements will allow submissions to be found complete faster, resulting in the inclusion of alternatives in Agency notices or rules sooner, and thus allowing products to enter the market faster. Improving the clarity of information necessary for review within the forms will also decrease the burden of pre-submission communications.
There is a 20% reduction in the number of respondents responsible for recordkeeping for substitutes acceptable subject to use conditions and narrowed use limits. This reduction is expected because the increased availability of alternatives decreases the need for industry to use alternatives previously listed as acceptable subject to narrowed use limits. There is also a reduction of contractor services for administrative support of the SNAP program. EPA staff complete an increasing proportion of clearinghouse maintenance and updates, rather than using contractor services.
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.
Form 1265-14 Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) (40 CFR Part 82, subpart G)(Renewal)
2014-06369.pdf
SNAP Form Comparing 2011 to Current Request - 4_4_2017.docx
Text of SNAP Regulations Subpart G.doc
Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) (40 CFR Part 82, subpart G)(Renewal)