OMB continues to
note that EPA should be careful to not characterize data reported
by Partner companies as an aggregate summary of emissions
reductions resulting from the Program. EPA recognizes that some of
the activities and emissions reductions reported by Partners may
have been achieved in the absence of the Program. EPA also
recognizes that there are emissions reductions occurring in the
industry that have been a direct or indirect result of the
influence of the Program, but are not being reported to EPA. As a
result, EPA has been and will continue to be clear in any Program
related communication that when providing a summary or an
aggregation of emission reductions it is appropriately
characterized as resulting from Partners’ reported activities.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
03/31/2023
36 Months From Approved
03/31/2020
232
0
204
2,608
0
1,688
0
0
0
The GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration
Partnership (hereafter referred to as GreenChill Partnership or
GreenChill) is an EPA cooperative alliance with the supermarket
industry to promote advanced refrigeration technologies,
strategies, and practices that reduce emissions of ozone-depleting
and greenhouse gas refrigerants. A food retailer's decision to
participate in the GreenChill Partnership is completely voluntary.
After joining GreenChill by submitting a signed ''Partnership
Agreement,'' food retailers are asked to submit a ''Stocks and
Emissions Report'' to an independent third party. The form requires
partners to provide corporate-wide, aggregated data on the stocks
and emissions of all refrigerants used in commercial refrigeration
and air conditioning appliances. The independent third party
summarizes the information submitted by the food retailers, removes
any identifying information, and sends a summary of the information
to GreenChill. Partners are then asked to submit a ''Corporate
Refrigerant Management Plan'' with their emissions reductions goals
for the next year, along with a brief description of their plan to
meet that goal (such as retrofitting old equipment, etc.). These
two forms are necessary for GreenChill to track annual supermarket
refrigerant emissions rates, allowing GreenChill and its food
retail partners to benchmark partners' progress on reducing
emissions. The partner emissions data is also the basis for the
achievement awards that GreenChill gives out to its
partners.
Adjustments have been made to
the number of partner companies submitting the Annual Report and
the Refrigeration Management Plan reflecting industry
consolidation, acquisitions and bankruptcy, and the number of
companies newly joining the partnership based on EPA's experience
with the program over the past three years. In addition,
information provided by some partners during a quarterly meeting
indicated a longer time to cross-check and verify the data
submitted in the Annual Report. Finally, the number of stores
voluntarily submitting applications for GreenChill Certification is
growing each year.
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.