[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 146 (Monday, July 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39448-39449]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19090]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5543-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities for Boilers and 
Industrial Furnaces

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 EPA is planning to submit a 
continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) to allow the Agency to continue to collect 
data for the information requirements for boilers and industrial 
furnaces burning hazardous waste. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for 
review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of 
the proposed information collections as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 27, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Commenters must send an original and two copies of their 
comments referencing docket number F-96-FBIP-FFFFF to: RCRA Docket 
Information Center, Office of Solid Waste (5305G), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency Headquarters (EPA, HQ), 401 M Street, SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. Deliveries of comments should be made to the 
Arlington, VA, address listed below. Comments may also be submitted 
electronically through the Internet to: RCRA-D[email protected]. 
Comments in electronic format should also be identified by the docket 
number F-96-FBIP-FFFFF. All electronic comments must be submitted as an 
ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption.
    Commenters should not submit electronically any Confidential 
Business Information (CBI). An original and two copies of CBI must be 
submitted under separate cover to: RCRA CBI Document Control Officer, 
Office of Solid Waste (5305W), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, 
DC 20460.
    Copies of the draft ICR and public comments and supporting 
materials are available for viewing in the RCRA Information Center 
(RIC), located at Crystal Gateway One, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, 
First Floor, Arlington, VA. The RIC is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. To review docket 
materials, the public must make an appointment by calling (703) 603-
9230. The public may copy a maximum of 100 pages from any regulatory 
docket at no charge. Additional copies cost $.15/page.
    The official record for this action will be kept in paper form. 
Accordingly, EPA will transfer all comments received electronically 
into paper form and place them in the official record, which will also 
include all comments submitted directly in writing. The official record 
is

[[Page 39449]]

the paper record maintained at the above address.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mary Jo Krolewski, Waste Treatment 
Branch (5302W), Office of Solid Waste, U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460, (703) 308-7754.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
owners/operators of boilers and industrial furnaces that burn hazardous 
waste.
    Title: Information Requirements For Boilers and Industrial.
     Furnaces: General Hazardous Waste Facility Standards, Specific 
Unit Requirements, and Part B Permit Application and Modification 
Requirements, EPA ICR #1361, OMB No. 2050-0073.
    Abstract: On February 21, 1991 and August 25, 1992, EPA expanded 
controls on hazardous waste combustion to regulate air emissions from 
the burning of hazardous waste in boilers and industrial furnaces 
(BIFs), which were previously unregulated. 40 CFR Part 266, Subpart H 
established standards for the burning of hazardous waste in BIFs under 
the authority of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). 40 
CFR 270.22 established Part B application information requirements for 
BIFs burning hazardous waste, and Sec. 270.66 established permit 
requirements for BIFs. Owners and operators of BIF facilities must 
comply with these regulations in addition to other regulations 
applicable to all hazardous waste facilities.
    EPA requires this mandatory information collection to demonstrate 
that facilities meet the necessary regulatory requirements and to 
ensure that the environment is adequately protected. Regulations 
covering BIFs and general hazardous waste facilities are promulgated 
under authority of RCRA sections 1006, 2002, 3001 through 3007, 3010, 
and 7004, as amended. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 
person is not required to respond to, a collection of information 
unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB 
control numbers for EPA's regulations are listed in 40 CFR Part 9.
    In fitting with our overall goal to significantly reduce paperwork 
burden, EPA, in its proposed rule, Revised Standards for Hazardous 
Waste Combustors (see 61 FR 17358), has made proposals that may result 
in future reductions to the recordkeeping and reporting burden for 
BIFs. The proposed rule revises Secs. 266.102(e)(10) and 266.103(k), 
requiring BIFs to maintain files of all information required by 
Secs. 266.102(e)(10) and 266.103(k) for a minimum of 5 years. This 
revision may result in reduced burden for BIFs because the current BIF 
regulation requires facilities to maintain information for the life of 
the facility. These recordkeeeping requirements would take affect 6 
months from the final publication of the final rule for Revised 
Standards for Hazardous Waste Combustors.
    In addition, EPA is proposing a comparable fuels exclusion (see 61 
FR 17459) that could affect the reporting and recordkeeping burden for 
BIFs. EPA is proposing a comparable fuel exclusion that will exclude 
from the definition of solid and hazardous waste materials those that 
meet enumerated specification levels for concentrations of toxic 
constituents and physical properties. EPA's goal is to develop a 
comparable fuel specification which is of use to the regulated 
community but assures that an excluded waste is similar in composition 
to commercially available fuel that is not regulated under RCRA when 
burned. One of the benefits that would result from promulgating this 
type of exemption is the reduction of unnecessary regulatory burden. As 
a result of the comparable fuels exclusion, EPA believes that the BIF 
universe regulated under RCRA will decrease because some BIFs are 
combusting a hazardous waste that would be classified as comparable 
fuels. Thus, combustors that are no longer regulated as BIFs will no 
longer have to comply with BIF reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements, which results in burden reduction. The comparable fuels 
exemption will take effect 6 months from the final publication of the 
Revised Standards for Hazardous Waste Combustors.
    EPA invites comment on the burden reduction provided by these 
modifications to the BIF requirements, as well as any other possible 
sources of burden reduction for BIFs. EPA would also like to solicit 
comments to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used;
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    Burden Statement: EPA estimates that the total annual respondent 
burden for all activities covered in this ICR is approximately 554,166 
hours. The Agency estimates the number of likely respondents to be 236 
and the frequency of their response will be on occasion, depending on 
the individual reporting or recordkeeping requirement.
    The average reporting and recordkeeping burden for facilities with 
new permitted BIF units are approximately 5,524 hours and 2,547 hours 
per year, respectively. The average reporting and recordkeeping burden 
for facilities with existing permitted BIF units are approximately 
4,736 hours and 2,545 hours per year, respectively. The average 
reporting and recordkeeping burden for facilities with existing interim 
status BIF units are approximately 756 hours and 2,767 hours per year, 
respectively. These estimates include time for complying with 
requirements associated with general facility standards, recordkeeping, 
contingency plan and emergency procedures, closure, financial 
assurance, and conditions applicable to all permits; specific unit 
requirements for BIFs; and requirements related to submittal of general 
and specific unit information in the Part B permit application, and 
Part B permit modification requirements.
    In addition, this burden estimate 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.

    Dated: July 18, 1996.
James Berlow,
Acting Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 96-19090 Filed 7-26-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P