[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 17, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 66274-66275]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-31970]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5666-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know 
Act (EPCRA) Emergency Planning and Release Notification Requirements 
(EPCRA Sections 302, 303, 304)

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 following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Emergency Planning and 
Release Notification Requirements (EPCRA sections 302, 303, 304), OMB 
#2050-0092, EPA ICR #1395.03, expiring 01/31/97. The ICR describes the 
nature of the information collection and its expected burden and cost; 
where appropriate, it includes the actual data collection instrument.


[[Page 66275]]


DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 16, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CALL: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 260-
2740, and refer to EPA ICR No. 1395.03.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Emergency Planning and Release Notification Requirements 
(EPCRA sections 302, 303, 304), (OMB #2050-0092, EPA ICR #1395.03) 
expiring 01/31/97. This is an extension of a currently approved ICR.
    Abstract: EPCRA established broad emergency planning and facility 
reporting requirements. Section 302 (40 CFR 355.30) requires facilities 
where an extremely hazardous substance (EHS) is present in an amount at 
or in excess of the threshold planning quantity (TPQ) to notify the 
State Emergency Response Commission (SERC) by May 17, 1987. This 
activity has been completed; the section 302 costs and burden hours for 
this ICR, therefore, reflect only the estimate of cost and burden 
incurred by facilities newly regulated during years 1996 through 1999.
    Section 303 (40 CFR 355.30) requires local emergency planning 
committees (LEPCs) to prepare local emergency plans. Facilities subject 
to section 302 are required to provide information for the development 
and implementation of these local emergency plans.
    Section 304 (40 CFR 355.40) requires facilities to report to SERCs 
and LEPCs releases of EHSs and hazardous substances in excess of 
reportable quantities established by EPA. In addition, these facilities 
must provide written follow-up information on the release, its impacts, 
and any actions taken in response to the release.
    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 and 48 CFR Chapter 15. The 
Federal Register Notice required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published on September 
30, 1996 (61 FR 51107). One comment was received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20.75 
hours per response for newly regulated facilities and 11.5 hours for 
existing facilities. 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Business or other for profit; State, 
Local or Tribal Governments.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 106,400.
    Frequency of Response: one per year.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 965,982 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $21,363,000.
    Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the 
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods 
for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please 
refer to EPA ICR No. 1395.03 and OMB Control No. 2050-0092 in any 
correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OPPE Regulatory 
Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460
      and

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: December 11, 1996.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 96-31970 Filed 12-16-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P