In accordance
with 5 CFR 1320, the information collection is approved for three
years.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
04/30/2023
36 Months From Approved
09/30/2021
1,903
0
2,929
2,939
0
3,763
7,400
0
13,082
This ICR covers provisions under the
Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
(Montreal Protocol) and Title VI of the CAA that establish limits
on total U.S. production, import, and export of class I and class
II ODS (or controlled substances). Production and import of class I
controlled substances (chlorofluorocarbons and others) was phased
out in the United States. The phaseout excludes exemptions for
essential uses, critical uses of methyl bromide, quarantine and
pre-shipment uses of methyl bromide, previously used material, and
material that will be transformed or destroyed. There are also use
restrictions and reduction schedules leading to the eventual
phaseout of class II controlled substances, with exemptions for
previously used material and material that will be transformed or
destroyed.
This ICR requires the use of
electronic reporting for certain reporting forms. In addition to
the quantifiable cost savings, the EPA believes that this rule
results in other benefits. For example, electronic reporting allows
for faster review and transmission of submissions to the EPA. For
reports containing CBI, electronic reporting also improves security
and transmission of CBI data to the EPA. Additionally, all
information submitted electronically is linked to the ODSTS, which
facilitates document management efforts. This allows companies to
manage past and future submissions easier. Even accounting for the
one-time burden associated with the transition to electronic
reporting (i.e., CDX registration), the electronic reporting
results in overall burden reduction for respondents. Similarly, the
estimated Agency burden hours and labor costs have also decreased
even when the annual CDX O&M costs are taken into account. For
the production, import, and export of HCFCs, there was a decrease
in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the burden
currently approved by OMB. The reason for the decrease in burden
hours is the prohibition of production and import of HCFC-22 and
HCFC-142b by 2020, and the prohibition of exports of HCFCs to
Article 5 countries as per 40 CFR 82.16 to phase out HCFCs in a
stepwise reduction consistent with the CAA. The EPA estimates there
to be a 27 percent decrease in respondent activities for imports,
exports, trades, and requests for additional consumption allowances
as a result of these prohibitions in 2020. For methyl bromide
critical users, there was a decrease in the total estimated
respondent burden hours compared with the burden currently approved
by OMB primarily due to a decrease in the number of applicants, end
users, and distributors of methyl bromide since the last ICR for
CUE. For the petitions process and for the new certification to
import for destruction there was a decrease in the total estimated
respondent burden. This reduction is a result of the reduction in
reporting requirements for imports for destruction relative to the
petition process. Specifically, the number of reporting elements
for importers for destruction has been reduced from 13 to 8. The
EPA assumes this will result in a reduction in burden hours per
response. In addition, the EPA assumes that the number of responses
per respondent will decrease by one as a result of the exemption of
halon 1211 used in aircraft bottles from the petition process.
Similarly, the estimated Agency burden hours and labor costs have
also decreased as a result of the reduction in reporting
requirements for petitions.
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 5900-137 Reporting for the Production, Import, Export, Destruction, Transhipment, and Feedstock Use of Ozone-Depleting Substances
1432ss36.docx
Reporting for the Production, Import, Export, Destruction, Transhipment, and Feedstock Use of Ozone-Depleting Substances