[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 19 (Wednesday, January 29, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4282-4283]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-2191]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5681-7]


Agency Information Proposed Collection; Comment Request; National 
Request for Information (RFI) for Vendor Information System for 
Innovative Treatment Technologies (VISITT) and Vendor Field Analytical 
and Characterization Technologies System (Vendor FACTS)

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 the 
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): National Request for Information (RFI) 
for Vendor Information System for Innovative Treatment Technologies 
(VISITT) and Vendor Field Analytical and Characterization Technologies 
System (Vendor FACTS). The EPA ICR Number is 1583.02, OMB Control 
Number is 2050-0114 and current expiration date is July 31, 1997. 
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 by April 4, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Technology Innovation Office (5102G), Office of Solid Waste 
and Emergency Response, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
Street, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20460. Individuals interested in 
obtaining a copy of the ICR at no charge may send their requests to the 
above address or by calling (703) 603-9903.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Carl Ma by telephone at (703) 603-
9903, by telefax at (703) 603-9135, or by E-mail at 
``[email protected]''.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
technology vendors who are interested in the voluntary participation in 
EPA's databases on innovative technologies for the clean-up, 
characterization and monitoring of hazardous waste sites.
    Title: National Request for Information (RFI) for Vendor 
Information System for Innovative Treatment Technologies (VISITT) and 
Vendor Field Analytical and Characterization Technologies System 
(Vendor FACTS). The EPA ICR Number is 1583.02, OMB Control Number is 
2050-0114 and current expiration date is July 31, 1997.
    Abstract: As part of a broad effort to promote the routine 
consideration and use of more cost effective technologies by the Agency 
and others, the Technology Innovation Office created the VISITT and 
Vendor FACTS databases for the purpose of disseminating the latest 
information on technologies to clean-up, characterize, or monitor 
hazardous waste sites. Version 5.0 of VISITT contains information on 
346 technologies to remediate soil and groundwater contaminated with 
hazardous wastes. Version 2.0 of Vendor FACTS contains approximately 
129 technologies for field analytical and site characterization. These 
systems help technology vendors promote their technologies by providing 
readily available information to system users, such as site managers, 
on the options for site monitoring and clean-up. In addition, the 
systems provide a communication link between technology users and 
vendors. Each year, EPA invites vendors to participate in these 
databases on a voluntary basis and requests specific, non-confidential 
technology information for listing in the databases. EPA does not 
verify the accuracy of submitted data or claims made by vendors. 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. One of EPA's highest 
priorities has been to encourage the use of innovative technologies to 
speed-up the site remediation process and at the same time to reduce 
project costs. EPA is working toward these goals by providing the site 
managers with the necessary information to select the most applicable 
and cost-effective technology for their sites. In order to obtain such 
critical information, once every year, EPA invites vendors to 
participate in the databases by submitting or updating information on 
new technologies as they emerge or become commercially available. 
Originally, EPA based the burden hours estimates for individual 
respondents on two non-statistical pre-tests designed to minimize the 
burden of potential respondents. In the first pre-test, non-respondent 
technical experts completed the Vendor Information Form (VIF), and in 
the second pre-test, vendors who participated in the workgroup to 
develop the system were asked to estimate the time it would take to 
complete the VIF. Several vendors based their time estimates on actual 
time required to fill out the form. To improve its estimates of 
respondent burden, EPA conducted a small survey of actual respondents. 
The revised estimates are now 25 hours and 13 hours respectively for an 
original VIF submittal and an VIF update. EPA is further trying to 
minimize respondent burden by providing an option to fill out and 
submit the VIF electronically.
    Burden Statement: The following assumptions were made to estimate 
individual respondent burden:

--Participation in the databases is voluntary; therefore, some 
potential respondents will read the instructions for completing the 
VIF, and will choose not to respond.
--Participating new respondents will complete the entire VIF. EPA 
assumed that each new respondent will complete an average of two VIFs 
and current participants will submit two updated VIFs each year.

    First-time respondents will take a maximum of 50 hours to complete 
the form for two technologies (or 25 hours per technology). This value 
is consistent with the maximum values obtained from our respondent 
survey. Respondents updating two previously submitted forms will 
require a total of 26 hours. Estimates are the same for VISITT and 
Vendor FACTS respondents. Based on current trend, the Agency expects, 
on average, 120 new respondents and 300 current respondents providing 
updates each year for the next three years beginning in 1997. The 
hourly rates for management, technical, and clerical staff have been 
increased by 5% from previous year to bring them in line with current 
contractor hourly rates. For 1997, the values are $77 for management, 
$46 for technical staff, and $29 for clerical support. The Agency

[[Page 4283]]

assumes that rates will increase 5% each year thereafter due to 
inflation. 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.

    Dated: January 8, 1997.
Walter W. Kovalick, Jr.,
Director, Technology Innovation Office, Office of Solid Waste and 
Emergency Response.
[FR Doc. 97-2191 Filed 1-28-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P