[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 156 (Wednesday, August 13, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 43326-43327]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21378]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5874-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review, Comment Request; Continuous Release Reporting Regulation (CRRR) 
Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and 
Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA)

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

[[Page 43327]]

(OMB) for review and approval: Continuous Release Reporting Regulation 
(CRRR) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, 
and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), OMB control number 2050-0086, EPA 
ICR Number 1445, expiring September 30, 1997. 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 September 12, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CALL: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 260-
2740, and refer to EPA ICR No. 1445.04.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Title: Continuous Release Reporting Regulation (CRRR) under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
of 1980 (CERCLA), (OMB Control Number: 2050-0086; EPA ICR No. 1445) 
expiring 9/30/97. This ICR requests an extension of a currently 
approved collection.
    Abstract: This ICR addresses the reporting and recordkeeping 
activities required to comply with the continuous release reporting 
regulation (CRRR; 40 CFR 302.8) specified in section 103(f)(2) of 
CERCLA. The CRRR was developed as a reporting burden reduction 
regulation; the CRRR provides relief from the per-occurrence 
notification requirements of CERCLA section 103(a) for hazardous 
substance releases that are ``continuous,'' ``stable in quantity and 
rate,'' and for which notification has been given ``for a period 
sufficient to establish the continuity, quantity, and regularity'' of 
the release. Notification of qualifying releases must be provided 
``annually, or at such time as there is any statistically significant 
increase'' in the quantity of the release. The information collection 
requirements of the CRRR are necessary to determine if response actions 
are needed to control or mitigate any potential adverse effects 
associated with a reported hazardous substance release. The CRRR 
requires five types of notification activities:
     One or more initial telephone calls to the National 
Response Center (NRC);
     An initial written report to the EPA Region;
     A follow-up written report to the EPA Region one year 
after submission of the initial written report;
     Notification to the EPA Region of any changes in release 
information previously submitted (including either a change in 
composition, source, or quantity, or another type of change); and
     Immediate notification of any statistically significant 
increase (SSI) in the quantity or the release to the NRC.
    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 May 14, 
1997 (62 FR 26500). No comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated as follows: A 
respondent is assumed to file one continuous release report per release 
and to experience a change in the release (e.g., a change in facility 
ownership or address) requiring submittal of a letter of changed 
information to the EPA Regions. The burden is estimated to average a 
total of 17.5 hours for the first year and 11.5 hours for each 
subsequent year for a typical release. First year burden hours are 
estimated as: 3 hours for providing initial telephone notification, 8 
hours for preparing the initial written report, 4 hours for 
recordkeeping, and 2.5 hours for reporting a change in the release. 
Subsequent year burden hours are estimated as: 5 hours for preparing a 
follow-up written report and conducting annual evaluations, 4 hours for 
recordkeeping, and 2.5 hours for reporting a change in the release. 
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: 2,342.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,342.
    Frequency of Response: Annual plus occasional changes.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 181,180.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost Burden: $159,000.
    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. 1445.04 and OMB Control No. 2050-0086 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: August 7, 1997.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 97-21378 Filed 8-11-97; 8:45 am]
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