2046ss12

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII) (Renewal)

1. Identification of the Information Collection

1(a) Title of the Information Collection

NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII) (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 2046.11, OMB Control Number 2060-0542.

1(b) Short Characterization/Abstract

The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII) were proposed on July 3, 2002; and promulgated on December 19, 2003. These regulations apply to existing facilities and new facilities that are mercury cell chlor-alkali plants as part of a major source of hazardous air pollutant (HAP) emissions or part of an area source of HAP emissions. A major source of HAP is one that has the potential to emit 10 tons or more of any HAP or 25 tons or more of total HAP per year; an area source is one with a potential to emit less than this. New facilities include those that commenced construction, modification, or reconstruction after the date of proposal. This information is being collected to assure compliance with 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII.

In general, all NESHAP standards require initial notifications, performance tests, and periodic reports by the owners/operators of the affected facilities. They are also required to maintain records of the occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the operation of an affected facility, or any period during which the monitoring system is inoperative. These notifications, reports, and records are essential in determining compliance, and are required of all affected facilities subject to NESHAP.

Any owner/operator subject to the provisions of this part shall maintain a file of these measurements and retain the file for at least 5 years following the date of such measurements, maintenance reports, and records. All reports required to be submitted electronically are submitted through the EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX), using the Compliance and Emissions Data Reporting Interface (CEDRI), where the delegated state or local authority can review them. If there is no such delegated authority, the EPA’s regional offices can review them.  All other reports are sent to the delegated state or local authority. If there is no such delegated authority, the reports are sent directly to the EPA’s regional offices. The use of the term "Designated Administrator" throughout this document refers to the U.S. EPA or a delegated authority such as a state agency. The term "Administrator" alone refers to the U.S. EPA Administrator. 

The chlorine production source category is divided into two subcategories: (1) mercury cell chlor-alkali plants; and (2) chlorine production plants that do not rely upon mercury cells for chlorine production (e.g., diaphragm cell chlor-alkali plants, membrane cell chlor-alkali plants). This Information Collection Request (ICR) only addresses the mercury cell chlor-alkali subcategory.

There is currently 1 mercury cell chlor-alkali facility subject to the requirements of 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII.¹ This facility is owned and operated by a privately-owned, for-profit business and is a part of the chlorine production industry. We assume that the facility will respond to EPA inquiries.

The burden to the “Affected Public” may be found below in Table 1: Annual Respondent Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII) (Renewal). The burden to the “Federal Government” is attributed entirely to work performed by either Federal employees or government contractors and may be found below in Table 2: Average Annual EPA Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII) (Renewal).

Based on our consultations with industry representatives, there is an average of one affected facility at each plant site and each plant site has only one respondent (i.e., the owner/operator of the plant site).

Over the next three years, only one respondent per year will be subject to these standards, and no additional respondents per year will become subject to these same standards.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approved the currently-active ICR without any “Terms of Clearance.”

2. Need for and Use of the Collection

2(a) Need/Authority for the Collection

The EPA is charged under Section 112 of the Clean Air Act, as amended, to establish standards of performance for each category or subcategory of major sources and area sources of hazardous air pollutants. These standards are applicable to new or existing sources of hazardous air pollutants and shall require the maximum degree of emission reduction. In addition, section 114(a) states that the Administrator may require any owner/operator subject to any requirement of this Act to:

(A) Establish and maintain such records; (B) make such reports; (C) install, use, and maintain such monitoring equipment, and use such audit procedures, or methods; (D) sample such emissions (in accordance with such procedures or methods, at such locations, at such intervals, during such periods, and in such manner as the Administrator shall prescribe); (E) keep records on control equipment parameters, production variables or other indirect data when direct monitoring of emissions is impractical; (F) submit compliance certifications in accordance with Section 114(a)(3); and (G) provide such other information as the Administrator may reasonably require.

In the Administrator's judgment, mercury emissions from mercury cell chlor-alkali plants either cause or contribute to air pollution that may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health and/or welfare. Therefore, the NESHAP were promulgated for this source category at 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII.

2(b) Practical Utility/Users of the Data

The recordkeeping and reporting requirements in these standards ensure compliance with the applicable regulations which were promulgated in accordance with the Clean Air Act. The collected information is also used for targeting inspections and as evidence in legal proceedings.

Performance tests are required in order to determine an affected facility’s initial capability to comply with these emission standards. Continuous emission monitors are used to ensure compliance with these same standards at all times. During the performance test a record of the operating parameters under which compliance was achieved may be recorded and used to determine compliance in place of a continuous emission monitor.

The notifications required in these standards are used to inform the Agency or delegated authority when a source becomes subject to the requirements of these regulations. The reviewing authority may then inspect the source to check if the pollution control devices are properly installed and operated, leaks are being detected and repaired, and that these standards are being met. The performance test may also be observed.

The required semiannual reports are used to determine periods of excess emissions, identify problems at the facility, verify operation/maintenance procedures, and for compliance determinations.

Additionally, the EPA is requiring electronic reporting for certain notifications or reports. The EPA is requiring owners or operators of affected sources to submit electronic copies of initial notifications required in 40 CFR 63.9(b) and notifications of a change in information for major source to area source reclassification required in 40 CFR 63.9(j) through the EPA's Central Data Exchange (CDX), using the Compliance and Emissions Data Reporting Interface (CEDRI). For the notifications required in 40 CFR 63.9(b) and 63.9(j), owners and operators would be required to upload a portable document format (PDF) file of the required notifications.

3. Non-duplication, Consultations, and Other Collection Criteria

The requested recordkeeping and reporting are required under 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII.

3(a) Non-duplication

For reports required to be submitted electronically, the information is sent through the EPA's CDX, using CEDRI, where the appropriate EPA regional office can review it, as well as for state and local agencies that have been delegated authority. If a state or local agency has adopted under its own authority its own standards for reporting or data collection, adherence to those non-Federal requirements does not constitute duplication. 

For all other reports, if the subject standards have not been delegated, the information is sent directly to the appropriate EPA regional office. Otherwise, the information is sent directly to the delegated state or local agency. If a state or local agency has adopted its own standards to implement the Federal standards, a copy of the report submitted to the state or local agency can be sent to the Administrator in lieu of the report required by the Federal standards. Therefore, duplication does not exist. 

3(b) Public Notice Required Prior to ICR Submission to OMB

An announcement of a public comment period for the renewal of this ICR was published in the Federal Register (86 FR 19256) on April 13, 2021. No comments were received on the burden published in the Federal Register for this renewal.

3(c) Consultations

The Agency has consulted industry experts and internal data sources to project the number of affected facilities and industry growth over the next three years. The primary source of information as reported by industry, in compliance with the recordkeeping and reporting provisions in these standards, is the Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS). ICIS is EPA’s database for the collection, maintenance, and retrieval of compliance data for industrial and government-owned facilities. The growth rate for the industry is based on our consultations with the Agency’s internal industry experts, a search of the 2017 National Emissions Inventory (NEI), title V permit information, conversations with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and conversations with facility representatives of Westlake Chemical. This data was gathered during the Residual Risk and Technology Review for 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII. Only one respondent will be subject to these standards over the three-year period covered by this ICR.

Industry trade association and other interested parties were provided an opportunity to comment on the burden associated with these standards as they were being developed and these standards have been reviewed previously to determine the minimum information needed for compliance purposes. In developing this ICR, we contacted both the American Chemistry Council, at (202) 249-7000, and Westlake Chemical, at (304) 455-2200.

It is our policy to respond after a thorough review of comments received since the last ICR renewal, as well as to those submitted in response to the first Federal Register notice. In this case, representatives of Westlake Chemical responded to our request and provided updated burden estimates for time required to familiarize with the rule, review, update, and recordkeeping for startup, shutdown, and malfunction plans, measurement of cell room mercury vapor level, vent mercury monitoring, and inspections, but it also stated that the EPA’s estimates of burden for complying with the regulations were reasonable. We have not yet incorporated the updated burden estimates in this renewal, but are reviewing these same estimates for consideration in a future rulemaking effort.

3(d) Effects of Less-Frequent Collection

Less-frequent information collection would decrease the margin of assurance that facilities are continuing to meet these standards. Requirements for information gathering and recordkeeping are useful techniques to ensure that good operation and maintenance practices are applied and emission limitations are met. If the information required by these standards was collected less-frequently, the proper operation and maintenance of control equipment and the possibility of detecting violations would be less likely.

3(e) General Guidelines

These reporting or recordkeeping requirements do not violate any of the regulations promulgated by OMB under 5 CFR Part 1320, Section 1320.5.

These standards require the respondents to maintain all records, including reports and notifications for at least five years. This is consistent with the General Provisions as applied to these standards. The EPA believes that the five-year records retention requirement is consistent with the Part 70 permit program and the five-year statute of limitations on which the permit program is based. The retention of records for five years allows EPA to establish the compliance history of a source, any pattern of non-compliance and to determine the appropriate level of enforcement action. The EPA has found that the most flagrant violators have violations extending beyond five years. In addition, EPA would be prevented from pursuing the violators due to either the destruction or nonexistence of essential records.

3(f) Confidentiality

Any information submitted to the Agency for which a claim of confidentiality is made will be safeguarded according to the Agency policies set forth in Title 40, chapter 1, part 2, subpart B - Confidentiality of Business Information (CBI) (see 40 CFR 2; 41 FR 36902, September 1, 1976; amended by 43 FR 40000, September 8, 1978; 43 FR 42251, September 20, 1978; 44 FR 17674, March 23, 1979).

3(g) Sensitive Questions

The reporting or recordkeeping requirements in these standards do not include sensitive questions.

4. The Respondents and the Information Requested

4(a) Respondents/SIC Codes

The respondents to the recordkeeping and reporting requirements are mercury cell chlor-alkali plants. The United States Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) code for the respondents affected by these standards is SIC 2812, “Alkalis and Chlorine,” which corresponds to the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 325180, “Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing” for mercury cell chlor-alkali plants.

4(b) Information Requested

(i) Data Items

In this ICR, all the data that are recorded or reported is required by the NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII).

A source must make the following reports:

Notifications
Initial startup or conversion of minor source to major source	§63.9(b), §63.8252(b)
Application for construction or reconstruction	§63.9(b), §63.8252(c)
Request for extension of compliance	§63.9(c)
Subject to special compliance requirements	§63.9(d)
Performance tests	§63.7(b), §63.7(c), §63.9(e), §63.8252(d)
Performance evaluation of continuous monitoring systems	§63.8(e), §63.8(f)
Continuous monitoring systems dates of operation	§63.9(g)
Initial compliance	§63.8252(e)
Compliance status	§63.9(h), §63.8252(e)

Reports
Report of performance evaluations	§63.7(g), §63.10(d)(2)
Immediate startup, shutdown and malfunction reports	§63.8254(c), §63.10(d)(5)
Semiannual reports	§§63.8254(a), (b), (d)

A source must keep the following records:

Recordkeeping
Notifications and reports	§63.8256(a), §63.10(b)(2)(xiv)
Maintain records of monitoring data, monitoring system calibration checks, occurrence and duration of periods where the monitoring system is malfunctioning or inoperative and system operations	§63.8256(a), §63.8256(b), §63.8258
Work practice standards	§63.8256(c)
Periodic monitoring option	§63.8256(d)

Electronic Reporting

Some of the respondents are using monitoring equipment that automatically records parameter data. Although personnel at the affected facility must still evaluate the data, internal automation has significantly reduced the burden associated with monitoring and recordkeeping at a plant site.

This rule was recently amended to include electronic reporting provisions at 85 FR 73854 on November 19, 2020. Respondents are required to submit electronic copies of notifications and certain reports, including initial notifications required in 40 CFR 63.9(b) and notifications of a change in information for major source to area source reclassification required in 40 CFR 63.9(j), through EPA’s Compliance and Emissions Data Reporting Interface (CEDRI), which can be accessed through the EPA’s Central Data Exchange (CDX) (https://cdx.epa.gov/). The notification is an upload of their currently required notification in a PDF file. For purposes of this ICR, it is assumed that there is no additional burden associated with the proposed requirement for respondents to submit the notifications electronically.

Electronic copies of records may also be maintained in order to satisfy Federal recordkeeping requirements. For additional information on the Paperwork Reduction Act requirements for CEDRI and ERT for this rule, see: https://www.epa.gov/electronic-reporting-air-emissions/paperwork-reduction-act-pra-cedri-and-ert.

(ii) Respondent Activities

Respondent Activities

Familiarization with the regulatory requirements.

Install, calibrate, maintain, and operate a mercury CEMS or CMS for temperature, pH, or for liquid flow rate for the control device.

Perform initial performance test, Reference Method 1 or 1A, 2, 2A, 2C, or 2D, 3, 3A, or 3B, 4, 101 or 101A, 102, and 301 tests, and repeat performance tests if necessary.

Write the notifications and reports listed above.

Enter information required to be recorded above.

Submit the required reports developing, acquiring, installing, and utilizing technology and systems for collecting, validating, and verifying information.

Develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for processing and maintaining information.

Develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for disclosing and providing information.

Train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information.

Transmit, or otherwise disclose the information.

5. The Information Collected: Agency Activities, Collection Methodology, and Information Management

5(a) Agency Activities

The EPA conducts the following activities in connection with the acquisition, analysis, storage, and distribution of the required information:

Agency Activities

Review notifications and reports, including performance test reports, and excess emissions reports, required to be submitted by industry.

Audit facility records.

Input, analyze, and maintain data in the Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) and ICIS.

5(b) Collection Methodology and Management

Following notification of startup, the reviewing authority could inspect the source to determine whether the pollution control devices are properly installed and operated. Performance test reports are used by the Agency to discern a source’s initial capability to comply with the emission standards and note the operating conditions under which compliance was achieved. Data and records maintained by the respondents are tabulated and published for use in compliance and enforcement programs. The semiannual reports are used for problem identification, as a check on source operation and maintenance, and for compliance determinations.

Information contained in the reports is reported by state and local governments in the ICIS Air database, which is operated and maintained by EPA's Office of Compliance. ICIS is EPA’s database for the collection, maintenance, and retrieval of compliance data for industrial and government-owned facilities. The EPA uses ICIS for tracking air pollution compliance and enforcement by local and state regulatory agencies, EPA’s regional offices, and EPA headquarters. The EPA and its delegated Authorities can edit, store, retrieve and analyze the data.

The records required by this regulation must be retained by the owner/operator for five years.

5(c) Small Entity Flexibility

There are no small entities (i.e., small businesses) affected by this regulation. However, the impact on small entities (i.e., small businesses) was taken into consideration during the development of the regulation. Due to technical considerations involving the process operations and the types of control equipment employed, the recordkeeping and reporting requirements are the same for both small and large entities. The Agency considers these to be the minimum requirements needed to ensure compliance and, therefore, cannot reduce them further for small entities. To the extent that larger businesses can use economies of scale to reduce their burden, the overall burden will be reduced.

5(d) Collection Schedule

The specific frequency for each information collection activity within this request is shown at the end of this document in Table 1: Annual Respondent Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII) (Renewal).

6. Estimating the Burden and Cost of the Collection

Table 1 documents the computation of individual burdens for the recordkeeping and reporting requirements applicable to the industry for the subpart included in this ICR. The individual burdens are expressed under standardized headings believed to be consistent with the concept of ‘Burden’ under the Paperwork Reduction Act. Where appropriate, specific tasks and major assumptions have been identified. Responses to this information collection are mandatory.

The Agency may neither conduct nor sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB Control Number.

6(a) Estimating Respondent Burden

The average annual burden to industry over the next three years from these recordkeeping and reporting requirements is estimated to be 1,880 hours (Total Labor Hours from Table 1 below). These hours are based on Agency studies and background documents from the development of the regulation, Agency knowledge and experience with the NESHAP program, the previously-approved ICR, and any comments received.

6(b) Estimating Respondent Costs

(i) Estimating Labor Costs

This ICR uses the following labor rates:

Managerial $149.84 ($71.35 + 110%)

Technical $122.66 ($58.41 + 110%)

Clerical $60.88 ($28.99 + 110%)

These rates are from the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2020, “Table 2. Civilian Workers, by occupational and industry group.” The rates are from column 1, “Total compensation.” The rates have been increased by 110 percent to account for the benefit packages available to those employed by private industry.

(ii) Estimating Capital/Startup and Operation and Maintenance Costs

The type of industry costs associated with the information collection activities in the subject standard are both labor costs which are addressed elsewhere in this ICR and the costs associated with continuous monitoring. The capital/startup costs are one-time costs when a facility becomes subject to the regulation. The annual operation and maintenance costs are the ongoing costs to maintain the monitors and other costs such as photocopying and postage.

(iii) Capital/Startup vs. Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Costs

Capital/Startup vs. Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Costs
(A) Continuous Monitoring Device	(B) Capital/Startup Cost for One Respondent a	(C) Number of New Respondents	(D) Total Capital/Startup Cost, (B X C)	(E) Annual O&M Costs for One Respondent	(F) Number of Respondents with O&M	(G) Total O&M, (E X F)
Mercury Concentration CMS	$17,000	0	$0	$7,300	1	$7,300
Cell Room Mercury Monitoring System	$56,000	0	$0	$900	1	$900
Totals a			$0			$8,200

^a Totals have been rounded to 3 significant figures. Figures may not add exactly due to rounding.

There are no total capital/startup costs for this ICR. This is the total of column D in the above table.

The total operation and maintenance (O&M) costs for this ICR are $8,200. This is the total of column G.

The average annual cost for capital/startup and operation and maintenance costs to industry over the next three years of the ICR is estimated to be $8,200. These are recordkeeping costs.

6(c) Estimating Agency Burden and Cost

The only costs to the Agency are those costs associated with analysis of the reported information. The EPA's overall compliance and enforcement program includes activities such as the examination of records maintained by the respondents, periodic inspection of sources of emissions, and the publication and distribution of collected information.

The average annual Agency cost during the three years of the ICR is estimated to be $1,380.

This cost is based on the average hourly labor rate as follows:

Managerial $69.04 (GS-13, Step 5, $43.15 + 60%)

Technical $51.23 (GS-12, Step 1, $32.02 + 60%)

Clerical $27.73 (GS-6, Step 3, $17.33 + 60%)

These rates are from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), 2021 General Schedule, which excludes locality rates of pay. The rates have been increased by 60 percent to account for the benefit packages available to government employees. Details upon which this estimate is based appear at the end of this document in Table 2: Average Annual EPA Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII) (Renewal).

6(d) Estimating the Respondent Universe and Total Burden and Costs

Based on our research for this ICR, on average over the next three years, one existing respondent will be subject to these standards. It is estimated that no additional respondents per year will become subject to these same standards. The overall average number of respondents, as shown in the table below, is 1 per year.

The number of respondents is calculated using the following table that addresses the three years covered by this ICR:

Number of Respondents
	Respondents That Submit Reports		Respondents That Do Not Submit Any Reports
Year	(A) Number of New Respondents a	(B) Number of Existing Respondents	(C) Number of Existing Respondents that keep records but do not submit reports	(D) Number of Existing Respondents That Are Also New Respondents	(E) Number of Respondents (E=A+B+C-D)
1	0	1	0	0	1
2	0	1	0	0	1
3	0	1	0	0	1
Average	0	1	0	0	1

^a New respondents include sources with constructed, reconstructed and modified affected facilities.

Column D is subtracted to avoid double-counting respondents. As shown above, the average Number of Respondents over the three-year period of this ICR is 1.

The total number of annual responses per year is calculated using the following table:

Total Annual Responses
(A) Information Collection Activity	(B) Number of Respondents	(C) Number of Responses	(D) Number of Existing Respondents That Keep Records But Do Not Submit Reports	(E) Total Annual Responses E=(BxC)+D
Notifications	0	0	0	0
Startup, shutdown, and malfunction	0	0	0	0
Compliance report (semiannual)	1	2	0	2
			Total	2

The number of Total Annual Responses is 2.

The total annual labor costs are $223,000. Details regarding these estimates may be found at the end of this document in Table 1: Annual Respondent Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII) (Renewal).

6(e) Bottom Line Burden Hours and Cost Tables

The detailed bottom line burden hours and cost calculations for the respondents and the Agency are shown in Tables 1 and 2 at the end of this document, respectively, and summarized below.

(i) Respondent Tally

The total annual labor hours are 1,880 hours. Details regarding these estimates may be found below in Table 1: Annual Respondent Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII) (Renewal).

We assume that burdens for managerial tasks take 5% of the time required for technical tasks because the typical tasks for managers are to review and approve reports. Clerical burdens are assumed to take 10% of the time required for technical tasks because the typical duties of clerical staff are to proofread the reports, make copies and maintain records.

Furthermore, the annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 940 hours per response.

The total annual capital/startup and O&M costs to the regulated entity are $8,200. The cost calculations are detailed in Section 6(b)(iii), Capital/Startup vs. Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Costs.

(ii) The Agency Tally

The average annual Agency burden and cost over next three years is estimated to be 28 labor hours at a cost of $1,380; see below in Table 2: Average Annual EPA Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII) (Renewal).

We assume that burdens for managerial tasks take 5% of the time required for technical tasks because the typical tasks for managers are to review and approve reports. Clerical burdens are assumed to take 10% of the time required for technical tasks because the typical duties of clerical staff are to proofread the reports, make copies, and maintain records.

6(f) Reasons for Change in Burden

There is a decrease in burden from the most recently approved ICR as currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved Burdens. This is due to a decrease in the number of sources subject to the rule. Data gathered by EPA in the development of the proposed Residual Risk and Technology Review for 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII (86 FR 1362, January 8, 2021) indicates that there is only one source subject to this rule. The regulations have been revised in the past three years to add electronic reporting requirements, but it is assumed that there is no additional burden associated with the requirements, which consist of an upload of a currently required notification in portable document format (PDF). There is no change in capital/startup costs, as there is no change in the number of new facilities, which remains at zero. Due to the decrease in the number of facilities subject to the rule, total O&M costs have decreased from the previous ICR. There is a slight increase in labor costs on a per respondent basis, which is wholly due to the use of updated labor rates. This ICR uses labor rates from the September 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics report to calculate respondent burden costs.

6(g) Burden Statement

The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 940 hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating, and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

An agency may neither conduct nor sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Numbers for EPA regulations are listed at 40 CFR Part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.

To comment on the Agency's need for this information, the accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including the use of automated collection techniques, EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0118. An electronic version of the public docket is available at http://www.regulations.gov/ which may be used to obtain a copy of the draft collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are available electronically. When in the system, select “search,” then key in the docket ID number identified in this document. The documents are also available for public viewing at the Enforcement and Compliance Docket and Information Center in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. Due to COVID-19 precautions, entry to the Reading Room is available by appointment only. Please contact personnel in the Reading Room to schedule an appointment. The telephone number for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the docket center is (202) 566-1752. Also, you can send comments to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA. Please include the EPA Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OAR-2021-0118 and OMB Control Number 2060-0542 in any correspondence.

Part B of the Supporting Statement

This part is not applicable because no statistical methods were used in collecting this information.

Table 1: Annual Respondent Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII) (Renewal)

Burden Item	(A) Technical person-hours per occurrence	(B) No. of occurrences per respondent per year	(C) Technical person-hours per respondent per year (C=AxB)	(D) Respondents per year a	(E) Technical hours per year (E=CxD)	(F) Management hours per year (F=Ex0.05)	(G) Clerical hours per year (G=Ex0.10)	(H) Total cost per year ($) b
1. Familiarize with regulatory requirements c	32	1	32	1	32	1.6	3.2	$4,360.32
2. Reporting requirements
a. Initial notifications d	6	1	6	0	0	0	0	$0
b. Notification of intent to conduct a performance test d	3	1	3	0	0	0	0	$0
c. Notification of compliance status d	16	1	16	0	0	0	0	$0
d. Startup, shutdown, and malfunction	16	0	0	0	0	0	0	$0
e. Semiannual compliance reports e	16	2	32	1	32	1.6	3.2	$4,360.32
Subtotal for Reporting Requirements					74			$8,721
3. Recordkeeping requirements
a. Familiarize with regulatory requirements c	See 1.
b. Prepare startup/shutdown/ malfunction plan d	32	1	32	0	0	0	0	$0
c. Prepare washdown plan d	16	1	16	0	0	0	0	$0
d. Prepare site-specific monitoring plan d	32	1	32	0	0	0	0	$0
e. Record date/time of washdowns f	0.1	365	37	1	37	1.8	3.7	$4,973.49
f. Measure cell room mercury vapor level and record data f	0.5	365	183	1	183	9.1	18	$24,867.45
g. Monitor vent mercury concentration and record CMS data, daily averages, and deviations f	0.5	365	183	1	183	9.1	18	$24,867.45
h. Perform vent mercury concentration CMS inspections and calibration checks and record results	8	2	16	1	16	0.8	1.6	$2,180.16
i. Perform twice daily inspections (for vessels and process equipment problems, hydrogen and/or mercury vapor leaks at decomposers and hydrogen piping up to the hydrogen header) and record information g	0.75	730	548	1	548	27	55	$74,602.35
j. Inspect cell room floors for cracks, spalling, or other deficiencies and record information h	2	12	24	1	24	1.2	2.4	$3,270.24
k. Inspect pillars and beams for cracks, spalling, and other deficiencies and record information	8	2	16	1	16	0.8	1.6	$2,180.16
l. Perform daily cell room inspections (for caustic leaks in caustic system equipment and piping, liquid mercury spills or accumulations on floors and surfaces, for liquid mercury leaks from vessels, piping, and equipment in liquid mercury service) and record information f	1.25	365	456	1	456	23	46	$62,168.63
m. Inspect equipment and piping in the hydrogen system from the header to the last control device for hydrogen and/or mercury vapor leaks and record information on these leaks	4	4	16	1	16	0.8	1.6	$2,180.16
n. Record information on handling and storage of mercury-containing waste f	0.25	365	91.3	1	91.3	4.6	9.1	$12,433.73
o. Record the mass of virgin mercury added to cells i	0.25	2	0.5	1	0.5	0.025	0.05	$68.13
Subtotal for Recordkeeping Requirements					1,804			$213,792
TOTAL LABOR BURDEN AND COSTS (rounded) j					1,880			$223,000
TOTAL CAPITAL AND O&M COST (rounded) j								$8,200
GRAND TOTAL (rounded) j								$231,000
Assumptions:
a We have assumed that there is 1 respondent subject to the rule, with no new sources expected over the next three-years of this ICR.
b This ICR uses the following labor rates: Technical $122.66 ($58.41 + 110%); Managerial $149.84 ($71.35 + 110%); and Clerical $60.88 ($28.99+ 110%). These rates are from the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, September 2020, “Table 2. Civilian Workers, by occupational and industry group.” The rates are from column 1, “Total compensation.” The rates have been increased by 110 percent to account for the benefit packages available to those employed by private industry. This ICR assumes that Managerial hours are 5 percent of Technical hours, and Clerical hours are 10 percent of Technical hours.
c We assume all respondents will have to familiarize themselves with regulatory requirements each year.
d We assume that this is a one-time only activity for new facilities.
e We have assumed that it will take each respondent 16 hours to two times per year to complete semiannual compliance reports.
f We have assume that information should be recorded 365 days per year.
g We have assumed that inspections should be performed two times per day for a total of 730 times per year.
h We have assumed that inspections should be done and recorded once per month.
i We have assumed that it will take 0.25 hours two times per year to record information.
j Totals have been rounded to 3 significant figures. Figures may not add exactly due to rounding.

Table 2: Average Annual EPA Burden and Cost – NESHAP for Mercury Cell Chlor-Alkali Plants (40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII) (Renewal)

Burden Item	(A) Technical person-hours per occurrence		(B) No. of occurrences per respondent per year		(C) Technical person-hours per respondent per year (C=AxB)		(D) Respondents per year a		(E) Technical hours per year (E=CxD)		(F) Management hours per year (F=Ex0.05)		(G) Clerical hours per year (G=Ex0.10)		(H) Total cost per year ($) b
a. Review Initial Notification c	4		1		4		0		0		0		0		$0
b. Review Notification of intent to conduct a performance test c	4		3		12		0		0		0		0		$0
c. Observe performance tests c	16		3		48		0		0		0		0		$0
d. Review Notification of Compliance Status (including site-specific monitoring plans and operation & maintenance plans) c	32		1		32		0		0		0		0		$0
e. Review performance test reports c	8		1		8		0		0		0		0		$0
f. Review semiannual compliance reports d	12		2		24		1		24		1.2		2.4		$1,378.92
TOTAL (rounded) e									28						$1,380
Assumptions:
a We have assumed that there is 1 respondent subject to the rule, with no new sources expected over the next three-years of this ICR.
b This cost is based on the average hourly labor rate as follows: Technical $51.23 (GS-12, Step 1, $32.02 + 60%); Managerial $69.04 (GS-13, Step 5, $43.15 + 60%); and Clerical $27.73 (GS-6, Step 3, $17.73 + 60%). This ICR assumes that Managerial hours are 5 percent of Technical hours, and Clerical hours are 10 percent of Technical hours. These rates are from the OPM, 2021 General Schedule, which excludes locality rates of pay. The rates have been increased by 60 percent to account for the benefit packages available to government employees.
c We assume that this is a one-time only cost.
d We assume that it will take 12 hours two times per year to review the semiannual compliance reports.
e Totals have been rounded to 3 significant figures. Figures may not add exactly due to rounding.

1 EPA’s estimate of 1 facility subject to this rule is based on the Agency’s search of the 2017 National Emissions Inventory (NEI), title V permit information, conversations with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection, and conversations with facility representatives of Westlake Chemical. This data was gathered during the Residual Risk and Technology Review for 40 CFR Part 63, Subpart IIIII. The proposed RTR is available on the Federal Register website (https://www.federalregister.gov/) at 86 FR 1362, published on January 8, 2021.

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