EPA’s Voluntary Methane Challenge and Natural Gas STAR Programs

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form 5900-502 Service Providers Form and Instruction	New
Form 5900-412 EPA's Voluntary Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program Form and Instruction	Modified
MC_OF_TechnicalDocument_ICR VERSION 2021.docx Supplementary Document	2021-07-01
MC_BMP_TechnicalDocument_ICR VERSION 2021.docx Supplementary Document	2021-07-01
2547ss02.docx Supporting Statement A	2021-07-01

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
248166	Service Providers Form and Instruction	New
231108	EPA's Voluntary Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2060-0722	ICR Reference No: 202107-2060-005
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201804-2060-003
Agency/Subagency: EPA/OAR	Agency Tracking No: 2547.02
Title: EPA’s Voluntary Methane Challenge and Natural Gas STAR Programs
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 07/02/2021

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	08/31/2021
Responses	140	61
Time Burden (Hours)	4,859	3,184
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: The Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program is a voluntary program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that provides an innovative voluntary mechanism through which oil and natural gas companies can make specific, ambitious commitments to reduce methane emissions. This Program is an integral part of the EPAs ongoing commitment to address methane emissions and global climate change, and was developed through extensive stakeholder engagement and support from companies and trade organizations in the oil and gas industry. Methane is the primary component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas. The Program works to encourage oil and natural gas companies to go above and beyond existing regulatory action and make meaningful and transparent commitments to yield significant methane emissions reductions in a quick, flexible, cost-effective way. Transparency in comprehensively tracking company commitments through the non-confidential data reported by Methane Challenge partners is a key feature of the Program, and enables partners to highlight emissions reductions achieved through voluntary action taken. Implementation of the Methane Challenge Programs two commitment options, the Best Management Practice Commitment and the ONE Future Emissions Intensity Commitment, improves operational efficiency, saves partner companies money, and enhances the protection of the environment.

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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:
	86 FR 5186	01/19/2021
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	86 FR 35085	07/01/2021
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
EPA's Voluntary Natural Gas STAR Methane Challenge Program	5900-411, 5900-434, 5900-413, 5900-435, 5900-412, 5900-412, 5900-410, 5900-99, 5900-102, 5900-104, 5900-95, 5900-105	Partnership Agreement for Best Management Practice ,   Partnership Agreement for Best Management Practice ,   Partnership Agreement ONE Future Emissions Intensit ,   Best Management Practice Reporting Form ,   Historical Action Fact Sheet ,   ONE Future Reporting Form ,   Implementation Plan ,   Annual Report - Distribution Segment ,   Annual Report - Gathering and Processing Segment ,   Annual Report - Production Segment ,   Annual Report - Transmission Segment ,   Program Partnership Agreement
Service Providers	5900-502	Service Provider Directory Contact Information Form

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	140	61	0	107	-28	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	4,859	3,184	0	2,751	-1,076	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The change (increase) is attributed to several factors: the addition of the Natural Gas STAR program (which was previously included in ICR 1736.08) to this ICR as well as an increase in the number of Methane Challenge partners submitting annual reports as the program fully rolled out following its creation in the previous ICR. Also, the Service Provider Directory was introduced for the first time in the last renewal of the Natural Gas STAR ICR. In merging the two ICRs, this information collection is being added to Methane Challenge. It is worth noting that the burden for this IC has decreased since the last Natural Gas STAR ICR as the Programs expected a large number of vendors to sign up when the directory first launched. Now that the directory is established, EPA anticipates fewer respondents per year.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $31,710

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

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     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? No

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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: 07/02/2021

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