[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 8 (Monday, January 13, 1997)] [Notices] [Pages 1750-1752] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 97-746] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-5675-8] Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Reporting Requirements Under EPA's Voluntary WasteWi$e Program AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- [[Page 1751]] SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Reporting Requirements Under EPA's WasteWi$e Program (OMB Control No. 2050-0139; EPA ICR No. 1698). This is a request for extension of a currently approved information collection. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 14, 1997. ADDRESSES: Commenters must send an original and two copies of their comments referencing docket number F-96-WWIP-FFFFF to: RCRA Docket Information Center, Office of Solid Waste (5305G), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA, HQ), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. Hand deliveries of comments should be made to the Arlington, VA, address listed below. Comments may also be submitted electronically by sending electronic mail through the Internet to: rcra- [email protected]. Comments in electronic format should also be identified by the docket number F-96-WWIP-FFFFF. All electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Public comments and supporting materials are available for viewing in the RCRA Information Center (RIC), located at Crystal Gateway I, First Floor, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. The RIC is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. To review docket materials, it is recommended that the public 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 $0.15/page. The official record for this action will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, EPA will transfer all comments received electronically into paper form and place them in the official record, which will also include all comments submitted directly in writing. The official record is the paper record maintained at the address in ADDRESSES at the beginning of this document. EPA responses to comments, whether the comments are written or electronic, will be in a notice in the Federal Register or in a response to comments document placed in the official record. EPA will not immediately reply to commenters electronically other than to seek clarification of electronic comments that may be garbled in transmission or during conversion to paper form, as discussed above. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lynda Wynn at 401 M St., SW, (5306W), Washington DC 20460, or at 703-308-7273, FAX 703-308-8686, [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Reporting Requirements Under EPA's Voluntary WasteWi$e Program (OMB No. 2050-0139. EPA ICR No. 1698). Expiring May 31, 1997. Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are those businesses, institutions, and government agencies that sign up to participate in EPA's WasteWi$e program. Abstract: EPA's voluntary WasteWi$e program encourages businesses and other organizations to reduce solid waste through waste prevention, recycling, and the purchase or manufacture of recycled products. WasteWi$e participants include partners, which commit to implementing waste reduction activities of their choice, and endorsers which promote the WasteWi$e program and waste reduction to their members. Endorsers, which are typically trade associations or other membership-based associations, submit only a one-page form, the Endorser Registration Form. This form identifies the organization, the principal contact, and the activities to which the Endorser commits. Partners fill out three forms as follows. The Partner Registration Form identifies the organization and the facilities that will participate in WasteWi$e, and requires the signature of a senior official that can commit the organization to the program. Each partner develops its own waste reduction goals and submits a one-page Goals Identification Form to EPA each year. Partners also report annually on the progress made toward achieving these goals in the Annual Reporting Form, estimating amounts of waste prevented and recyclables collected, and describing buy- recycled activities. The EPA WasteWi$e program uses the submitted information to (1) identify and recognize outstanding waste reduction achievements by individual organizations, (2) compile aggregate results that indicate overall accomplishments of WasteWi$e partners, (3) identify cost- effective waste reduction strategies to share with other organizations, and (4) identify topics on which to develop assistance and information efforts. The EPA would 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. 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. Burden Statement: The respondent burden for this collection is estimated to average 24 hours per response for the Endorser Registration Form; 10 hours per response for the Partner Registration Form; 40 hours per response for the first year's Goals Identification Form; 20 hours per response for each subsequent year's Goals Identification Form; and 55.5 hours per response for the Annual Reporting Form. This results in an estimated one-time respondent burden of 24 hours for Endorsers, and an annual Partner respondent burden of 105.5 hours in the first year and 75.5 hours each subsequent year. The estimated number of respondents is 200 in year 1; 300 in year 2; and 400 in year 3. Estimated total annual burden on respondents is 28,500 hours in year 1; 29,850 hours in year 2; and 37,650 hours in year 3. Burden estimates include 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 [[Page 1752]] 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: December 27, 1996. Michael Shapiro, Director, Office of Solid Waste. [FR Doc. 97-746 Filed 1-10-97; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P