In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three
years.
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)