EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program (Renewal)

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form 5900-97 EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program (Renewal) Form and Instruction	Modified
1736ss07.docx Supporting Statement A	2015-07-22

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
24452	EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program (Renewal) Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2060-0328	ICR Reference No: 201507-2060-004
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201107-2060-005
Agency/Subagency: EPA/OAR	Agency Tracking No: 1736.07
Title: EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program (Renewal)
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 03/29/2016
	Date Received in OIRA: 08/13/2015
Terms of Clearance: As stated in the previous terms of clearance: The data gathered under this collection represents estimates of emissions reductions associated with activities reported by participants in the Natural Gas STAR Program. Some of the activities and emissions reductions may have been achieved in the absence of the Natural Gas STAR program. For this reason, the data is not appropriate for use as an aggregate summary of emissions reductions resulting from the program, but is instead correctly characterized as activities and reductions associated with Program partners' reported activities. The Agency should exercise care to ensure that the data not be characterized inappropriately in program effectiveness measures, on the Program website, or in other communications. When this ICR is resubmitted for renewal, EPA should continue to address the extent to which the partners would have reduced their emissions in the absence of this program.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	03/31/2019	36 Months From Approved	03/31/2016
Responses	124	0	224
Time Burden (Hours)	6,995	0	5,201
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: Natural Gas STAR is an EPA-sponsored, voluntary program that encourages natural gas companies to adopt cost effective methods for reducing methane emissions. Natural Gas STAR Partners agree to implement cost-effective technologies and practices to reduce methane emissions, which will save participants money and improve environmental quality. EPA needs to collect information to establish program participation and to obtain general information on new Natural Gas STAR Partners. EPA also uses the information collection to evaluate a Partner's progress and performance, assess overall program results, and develop technical guidance documents for the benefit of the industry. Information collection is accomplished through the use of an annual reporting process that allows companies to report their accomplishments in either a traditional hard-copy format or electronically. Participation in Natural Gas STAR is voluntary. Natural Gas STAR Partners may designate information submitted under this ICR as confidential business information. EPA will treat all such information as confidential business information and will not make the company or agency-specific information collected under this ICR available to the general public. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	80 FR 17742	04/02/2015
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	80 FR 48529	08/13/2015
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
EPA's Natural Gas STAR Program (Renewal)	5900-100, 5900-98, 5900-99, 5900-95, 5900-103, 5900-104, 5900-107, 5900-106, 5900-105, 5900-108, 5900-97, 5900-109, 5900-101, 5900-96, 5900-102	Implementation Plan for Distribution Sector ,   Annual Reporting Form for Production Sector ,   Implementation Plan for Gathering and Processing Sector ,   MOU for Distribution Sector ,   Annual Reporting Form for Distribution Sector ,   Annual Reporting Form for Transmission Sector ,   Annual Reporting Form for International Partners ,   Implementation Plan for International Partners ,   Implementation Plan for Production Sector ,   Implementation Plan for Transmission Sector ,   MOU for Production Sector ,   MOU for Gathering and Processing Sector ,   MOU for Transmission Sector ,   MOU for International Sector ,   Annual Reporting Form for Gathering and Processing

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	124	224	0	0	-100	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	6,995	5,201	0	0	1,794	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The overall annual reporting burden for respondents increased from 5,201 hours in the previous ICR to 6,995 hours in the current ICR. This change is attributed to additional information provided by Natural Gas STAR partners consulted that the old burden estimate did not fully reflect the average time burden of program participation.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $45,500

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(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;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

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.

Certification Date: 08/13/2015

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