[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 35172]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-17034]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5849-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request

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 the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Notification of Episodic 
Releases of Oil and Hazardous Substances, OMB Control Number 2050-0046, 
expiring 6/30/97. The ICR describes the nature of the information 
collection and its expected burden and cost; where appropriate it 
includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 30, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CALL: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 260-
2740, and refer to EPA ICR No. 1049.08.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Notification of Episodic Releases of Oil and Hazardous 
Substances, (OMB Control Number: 2050-0046; EPA ICR No. 1049.08) 
expiring 6/30/97. This ICR requests an extension of a currently 
approved collection.
    Abstract: This ICR addresses the reporting and recordkeeping 
activities required to comply with the release notification 
requirements for hazardous substances and oil specified in section 
103(a) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), as amended, and section 311 of the 
Clean Water Act (CWA). These reporting requirements are codified at 40 
CFR parts 110, 117, and 302, and require the person in charge of a 
facility or vessel to immediately notify the National Response Center 
(NRC) of hazardous substance releases into the environment and oil 
discharges into U.S. waters. The regulated community is expected to:

Gather necessary release data, such as the time, quantity, and source 
of the release;
Brief the facility manager;
Consult with the environmental compliance expert;
Report the release to the NRC using a toll-free telephone number, a 
facsimile number, or a telex number; and
Keep a log of release data such as the time, date, and circumstances of 
the release.

(This information is expected, but not required under the regulation).
    There are no recordkeeping requirements specified under CERCLA 
section 103(a), CWA section 311, or their implementing regulations. The 
person in charge of the facility or vessel, however, may elect to 
maintain a log detailing the time, date, and circumstances associated 
with the reported release. The purpose of maintaining a log of reported 
releases is to track correspondence with response authorities and to 
document compliance with release notification requirements under CERCLA 
and CWA. Because the respondent will probably perform this activity, 
burden and cost estimates associated with recordkeeping are included in 
this ICR.
    None of the information to be gathered for this collection is 
believed to be confidential. 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 February 26, 1997 (62 FR 8722). No comments were received.
    Burden Statement:
    The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average 4.1 hours per 
response. 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: Facilities or vessels which 
accidently release hazardous substances.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 29,204.
    Frequency of Response: One-time telephone call to the NRC in the 
event of an episodic release.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 119,737 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: 0.
    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. 1049.08 and OMB Control No. 2050-0046 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: June 23, 1997.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 97-17034 Filed 6-27-97; 8:45 am]
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