[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 226 (Friday, November 25, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-28962]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: November 25, 1994]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5111-9]

 

Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 27, 1994.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response

    Title: National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency 
Plan (EPA ICR #1463.03; OMB #2050-0096). This ICR requests renewal of 
the existing clearance.
    Abstract: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, 
and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), and as amended in 1986, establishes 
broad Federal authority to undertake removal and remedial actions in 
response to releases or threats of releases of hazardous substances and 
certain pollutants and contaminants into the environment. The NCP 
establishes procedures for data collection, analysis, and reporting to 
be conducted during remedial and removal actions at Superfund sites.
    The Response Program is comprised of activities that fall into two 
phases: the pre-remedial phase, during which the extent of 
contamination at a site is assessed and those sites that represent the 
highest priority cleanup are identified; and the remedial phase, during 
which investigations are conducted to determine viable remedies for a 
site, a remedy is chosen and constructed, and the long-term operation 
and maintenance of the remedy is conducted.
    This information collection addresses only the reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements in the remedial phase of the response 
program under the current NCP.
    The remedial phase begins once a site plan is proposed for listing 
on the National Priorities List. A detailed project plan is developed, 
and a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility study (RI/FS) is begun. 
The RI/FS is a detailed site evaluation and analysis conducted to 
determine the alternatives to be used to clean up a site. A progress 
report summarizes the results, and a proposed plan is developed which 
identifies the preferred alternatives and informs the public about how 
to participate in the remedy selection process. The final action is 
selected based on the RI/FS and public comment, and is documented in a 
Record Decision (ROD). Remedial action begins following Agency signoff 
on the ROD.
    Burden Statement: The average annual reporting burden for a state 
government that has the lead at a Superfund site is estimated to be 
5,620 hours per site. This estimate includes time required to review 
instructions, search existing data sources gather and maintain the 
needed data, estimate the information required, and complete and review 
the collection of information. The average recordkeeping burden for a 
state government that has the lead at a Superfund site is estimated to 
be 620 hours per site.
    The reporting burden for community members is estimated to average 
330 hours per site. This reporting burden includes time required to 
attend public meetings, interviews, or other review activities. There 
is no recordkeeping burden for community members.
    States are not required to take on the role of the lead agency in 
remedial actions, and if they do accept the lead role in a Superfund 
financed action, they are reimbursed by the Fund for their work.
    Respondents: Any state which has the lead in remedial activities 
(in compliance with Federal standards at Superfund sites), and 
community members participating in the determination of remedial 
activities at a Superfund site.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 168 (8 state-lead sites, 160 
communities).
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Frequency of Collection: As needed to determine an optimal remedial 
action at a Superfund site.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 191,000 hours.
    Send comments regarding the burden estimate, or any other aspect of 
this information collection, including suggestions for reducing the 
burden, too:

Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Information Policy 
Branch (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: November 16, 1994.
Paul Lapsley,
Director, Regulatory Management Division.
[FR Doc. 94-28962 Filed 11-23-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M