[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 165 (Tuesday, August 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45247-45248]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22655]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5882-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; New York City Education Pilot Project.

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 proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): New York City Education Pilot Project, 
EPA ICR number 1817.01. 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 October 24, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Ginger Gotliffe (2224A), U.S. EPA, 401 M St., S.W., 
Washington D.C. 20460. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the ICR 
without charge by calling Ginger Gotliffe at (202) 564-7072.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ginger Gotliffe, (202) 564-7072. 
Facsimile number: (202) 564-0009.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities potentially 
affected by this action are Service Providers and printers in the New 
York City area. The Service Providers are comprised of trade 
associations and foundations, community groups, and State and Local 
government agencies that provide outreach, and education to printers in 
New York City. These various types of service groups provide different 
types of services, all of which may be needed by a printer. These 
services include training in technical, financial, pollution prevention 
and compliance areas, and community relations. They in turn will be 
asking the printers who request their services a set of questions. This 
is a voluntary program.
    Title: New York City Education Pilot Project, EPA ICR No. 1817.01.
    Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction 
with the other stakeholders of the Common Sense Initiative Printing 
Sector, is developing a pilot project to identify the most effective 
methods for encouraging printers to adopt pollution prevention 
methodology. The Common Sense Initiative is a Federal Advisory 
Committee made up of industry, environmental justice groups, 
environmental groups, labor, and Federal, State and local government 
representatives. The New York City Education Project is aimed at 
incorporating pollution prevention into everyday work practices of 
small printers. The goal of the project is to see how best to inform 
local printers about pollution prevention measures and build community 
understanding of pollution prevention techniques in local printing 
businesses. The project will identify the most effective methods of 
education and outreach. The project builds upon existing relationships 
with trade groups, community groups, and state and local governments to 
provide information about pollution prevention, environmental 
compliance, and cost reduction to small printers and about 
environmental benefits to the community. Education and outreach are 
critical elements of the workgroup's efforts.
    To achieve this goal, EPA and other CSI members will analyze: (1) 
what kinds (type, size) of printers ask for assistance, how printers 
seek out assistance, and from whom; (2) the types of assistance they 
request (seminars, handbooks, on-site assistance, etc.) and the subject 
areas they are interested in (pollution prevention, compliance, etc.); 
(3) how effective the technical assistance directory was in directing 
them to the assistance provider they needed; (4) which mix of 
providers, services, and referrals led to the adoption of pollution 
prevention opportunities; and (5) anecdotal information and results

[[Page 45248]]

achieved by the technical service providers and the community groups. 
Several of the above areas will require follow up information 
collection by service providers. This will also be voluntary on the 
part of the printers and service providers.
    To identify the most effective methods of outreach and education 
and assistance, EPA and CSI members will develop a survey tool for 
participating technical service providers, compliance assistance 
providers, and community groups. The survey will seek responses 
regarding how printers get their information, what they ask for, what 
information they need that is missing, and what mix of services 
promotes pollution prevention changes the most. Many of these questions 
are routinely asked by service providers for their own internal 
assessments. The CSI Printing Sector FACA hopes to make recommendations 
to EPA concerning the most effective outreach and education methods for 
promoting pollution prevention opportunities. This information will 
also be important for the service providers in planning their future 
resources for education and outreach.
    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 EPA is soliciting 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 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.
    Burden Statement: There are two different types of entities that 
will be burdened by this request. First are the service providers. 
There are 10 non-EPA technical service providers in NYC. There are also 
approximately 4 community service providers who will also be doing 
outreach and referrals for printers to technical service providers. 
Then there are the third party reporting entities, the printers, who 
will be requesting assistance. There will be three potential 
information collection points: (1) as part of the assistance provided 
to printers; (2) follow up calls concerning the assistance that was 
provided; and (3) more in-depth follow up for printers who have made 
operations changes due to the assistance.
    It is estimated that 105 printers will expend 30 minutes each 
responding to survey questions and an additional 16 printers will spend 
2 hours each responding to in depth interviews for a total of 84.5 
printer facility hours. The services providers will spend 209 hours to 
provide this information. 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: August 4, 1997.
Elaine Stanley,
Director, Office of Compliance.
[FR Doc. 97-22655 Filed 8-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P