[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 134 (Thursday, July 14, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-17007]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: July 14, 1994]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5010-6]

 

Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature 
of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; where 
appropriate, it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATE: . Comments must be submitted on or before August 15, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 260-2740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response

    Title: Continuous Release Reporting under the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) of 
1980 (EPA ICR # 1445.03; OMB # 2050-0086). This ICR requests renewal of 
the existing clearance.
    Abstract: CERCLA 103(f)(2) provides relief from the peroccurrence 
notification requirements of section 103(a) for hazardous substance 
releases that are ``continuous'' and ``stable in quantity and rate,'' 
provided that such releases are reported annually, or at such time as 
there is any statistically significant increase in the quantity of the 
release. Under the continuous release reporting regulation (CRRR), 
developed by EPA's Emergency Response Division in the Office of Solid 
Waste and Emergency Response, the term ``continuous'' includes routine, 
anticipated, intermittent releases, in addition to releases that are 
continuous without interruption. Similarly, the CRRR considers a 
release to be ``stable in quantity and rate'' if it is predictable and 
regular in quantity and rate of release.
    The information collected under the CRRR is used to evaluate the 
acute and chronic effects of a continuous release in order to determine 
if a response action is necessary to prevent or mitigate any adverse 
effects. Any hazardous substance release that equals or exceeds its RQ 
warrants a timely evaluation of its source, emission rate, and chemical 
form, the proximity of sensitive populations or ecosystems, and the 
ambient conditions, to ensure the protection of human health, welfare, 
and the environment. The information is also used by State and local 
government authorities for emergency planning and response purposes.
    To report a ``continuous'' release, the regulated community is 
expected to perform the following activities: (1) One or more initial 
phone calls to the National Response Center (NRC); (2) an initial 
written report to the EPA Region; (3) a follow-up written report to the 
EPA Region one year after the submission of the initial written report; 
(4) notification to the EPA Region of any changes in release 
information previously submitted; (5) the immediate notification of any 
statistically significant increase (SSI) in quantity of release to the 
NRC; (6) comply with EPA-mandated response activities; (7) and keep 
records on the release, including documentation of the annual 
evaluation. Activities (4), (5), and (6) are conditional activities 
expected to be necessary for only a fraction of the continuous releases 
reported each year.
    Burden Statement: The estimated public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to require 10.8 hours per 
report, an average of 47.4 hours per affected facility. This estimate 
includes time for determining if the hazardous substance release 
qualifies for reporting under the continuous release final rule, 
gathering and maintaining the required information, completing and 
reviewing the telephone and written reports, and maintaining records.
    Respondents: Any facility subject to the hazardous substance 
notification requirements of CERCLA section 103(a).
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 1,700 affected facilities
    Estimated No. of Responses Per Respondent: 4.4
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 80,600 hours
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion, when ``continuous'' releases 
meet the criteria of CERCLA 103(f)(2).
    Send comments regarding the burden estimate, or any other aspect of 
this information collection, including suggestions for reducing the 
burden, to:

Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Information Policy 
Branch (Mail Code: 2136), 401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460;

      and

Jonathan Gledhill, Office of Management and Budget, Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, 725 17th Street NW., Washington, DC 
20530.

    Dated: June 27, 1994.
Paul Lapsley,
Director, Regulatory Management Division.
[FR Doc. 94-17007 Filed 7-13-94; 8:45 am]
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