[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 113 (Thursday, June 12, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32110-32111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-15367]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5838-9]


Toxic Chemicals; PCBs; Submission of ICR No. 1012 to OMB; 
Information Collection Activities

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of submission to OMB.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) entitled: PCB Disposal Permitting Regulation (EPA ICR No. 
1012.06; OMB Control No. 2070-0011) has been forwarded to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval pursuant to the OMB 
procedures in 5 CFR 1320.12. The ICR, which is abstracted below, 
describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated 
cost and burden.
    The Agency is requesting that OMB renew for 3 years the existing 
approval for this ICR, which is scheduled to expire on June 30, 1997. A 
Federal Register notice announcing the Agency's intent to seek the 
renewal of this ICR and the 60-day public comment opportunity, 
requesting comments on the Agency's intent to renew the ICR and on the 
ICR contents, was issued on November 12, 1996 (61 FR 58065). EPA did 
not receive any comments during the comment period.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before July 14, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 
260-2740, and refer to EPA ICR No. 1012.06 and OMB Control No. 2070-
0011.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1012.06 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0011, to the following addresses: Ms. Sandy Farmer, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regulatory Information Division 
(Mailcode: 2137), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460.
    And to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th 
Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Review Requested: This is a request to renew a currently approved 
information collection pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12.
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1012.06; OMB Control No. 2070-0011.
    Current Expiration Date: Current OMB approval expires on June 30, 
1997.
    Title: PCB Disposal Permitting Regulation.
    Abstract: Section 6(e) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
bans polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from the environment and directs 
the Administrator of EPA to promulgate rules to, among other things, 
prescribe methods for the disposal of PCBs. EPA promulgated rules in 
1978 and 1979 that

[[Page 32111]]

address disposal requirements. These provisions require owners of 
alternate disposal technologies, incinerators and chemical waste 
landfills to submit permit applications to and obtain approvals from 
EPA. Additionally, EPA prescribes technical and operational criteria 
that these facilities must meet to qualify for consideration by the 
Agency. EPA may include in an approval any other requirements or 
provisions that are necessary to ensure the operation of the facility 
will not present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the 
environment.
    To meet its statutory obligations, EPA must obtain sufficient 
information to conclude that the operation of a disposal facility does 
not result in an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the 
environment. EPA requests only the information that the Agency needs to 
reach a decision to grant or deny an applicant's request for a disposal 
approval. EPA uses the information submitted by each permit applicant 
to determine if the applications meet the technical and operational 
criteria for a disposal facility and to make a finding that the 
operation of the facility will not result in an unreasonable risk of 
injury to health or the environment.
    Responses to the collection of information are required in order 
for respondents to obtain or retain benefits (see 40 CFR parts 761.60, 
761.70 and 761.75). Respondents may claim all or part of a notice 
confidential. EPA will disclose information that is covered by a claim 
of confidentiality only to the extent permitted by, and in accordance 
with, the procedures in TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average approximately 334 
hours per response for an estimated 32 respondents. These estimates 
include 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.
    No person is 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 displayed in 40 CFR Part 9.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Operators of PCB disposal 
facilities.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 32.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 10,688 hours.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Changes in Burden Estimates: There is a reduction of 6,232 hours in 
the total estimated respondent burden as compared with that identified 
in the Information Collection Request (ICR) most recently approved by 
OMB, from 16,920 hours currently to an estimated 10,688 hours. The 
prior ICR assumed an equal number of applications to conduct research 
and development (R&D) in PCB disposal as applications for commercial 
disposal of PCBs. However, based on experience gained since the last 
ICR, EPA's revised calculations now account for the fact that EPA 
receives twice as many R&D applications as commercial applications. The 
average burden for R&D applications is only 60 hours, versus 880 hours 
for commercial applications.
    According to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12, EPA has 
submitted this ICR to OMB for review and approval. Any comments related 
to the renewal of this ICR should be submitted as described above.

    Dated: June 9, 1997.
Richard T. Westlund,
Acting Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 97-15367 Filed 6-11-97; 8:45 am]
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