[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 165 (Tuesday, August 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 45248-45249]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-22657]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5882-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Exports From and Imports to the United States Under 
the OECD Decision RCRA ICR No. 1647.01

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): ``Exports From and Imports To the 
United States Under the OECD Decision,'' EPA ICR Number 1647.01, OMB 
Control Number 2050-0143, which expires on January 31, 1998. 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 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Commenters must send an original and two copies of their 
comments referencing docket number F-97-EIIP-FFFFF to: RCRA Docket 
Information Center, Office of Solid Waste (5305G), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency Headquarters (EPA, HQ), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, 
DC 20460. Hand deliveries of comments should be made to the Arlington, 
VA, address listed below. Comments may also be submitted electronically 
by sending electronic mail through the Internet to: rcra-
[email protected]. Comments in electronic format should also be 
identified by the docket number F-97-EIIP-FFFFF. All electronic 
comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special 
characters and any form of encryption.
    Commenters should not submit electronically any confidential 
business information (CBI). An original and two copies of CBI must be 
submitted under separate cover to: RCRA CBI Document Control Officer, 
Office of Solid Waste (5305W), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, 
DC 20460.
    Public comments and supporting materials are available for viewing 
in the RCRA Information Center (RIC), located at Crystal Gateway I, 
First Floor, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. The RIC is 
open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal 
holidays. To review docket materials, it is recommended that the public 
make an appointment by calling (703) 603-9230. The public may copy a 
maximum of 100 pages from any regulatory docket at no charge. 
Additional copies cost $0.15/page. For information on accessing paper 
and/or electronic copies of the document, see the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The RCRA/Superfund Hotline, at (800) 
424-9346 (toll-free) or (703) 412-9810, in the Washington, DC 
metropolitan area. The TDD Hotline number is (800) 553-7672 (toll-free) 
or (703) 486-3323, locally. For specific information on this notice, 
contact Anna Tschursin at (703) 308-

[[Page 45249]]

8805, or e-mail: [email protected] or Haile Mariam at 
(703) 308-8439, or e-mail: [email protected], Office of 
Solid Waste (5304W), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which export hazardous waste from or import hazardous waste to 
the U.S.
    Title: Exports from and imports to the United States under the OECD 
Decision OMB Control Number 2050-0143; EPA ICR No. 1647.01, expiring 
01/31/98.
    Abstract: Authority to promulgate this rule is found in sections 
2002(a) and 3017(a)(2) and (f) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as 
amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and as amended 
by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments, 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.
    The OECD Decision is considered legally binding on the United 
States under Articles 5(a) and 6(2) of the OECD Convention, 12 U.S.T. 
1728. In addition, the OECD Decision and the rule implementing the OECD 
Decision (61 FR 16290-16316, April 12, 1996) ensure that exports and 
imports of recoverable hazardous waste between the U.S. and OECD member 
countries may proceed even though the U.S. is not yet a ``Party'' to 
the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of 
Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. The Office of Enforcement and 
Compliance Assurance, U.S. EPA, uses the information provided by each 
U.S. exporter and U.S. importer to determine compliance with the 
applicable OECD regulatory provisions. In addition, the information 
will be used to determine the number, origin, destination, and type of 
exports from and imports to the U.S. for tracking purposes and for 
reporting to the OECD. This information also will be used to assess the 
efficiency of the program.
    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 Ch. 15. In 
requesting to continue this information collection, the EPA would like 
to solicit 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 through 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: The U.S. exporter burden for this generic 
collection is estimated to average 8.74 hours per exporter. The U.S. 
importer burden for this generic collection is estimated to average 
5.83 hours per importer. These estimates include all aspects of the 
information collection including the time necessary to obtain and read 
the regulations and assess applicability, to complete a notification of 
intent to export hazardous waste, to complete the tracking document, 
sign and transmit copies of the tracking document, as well as the 
reduced response time (3 working days as compared to 30 days) to 
transmit a signed copy of a tracking document. 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.
    Estimated Number of Notification of Intent to Export: [437].
    Estimated Number of Notification of Intent to Import: [771].
    Estimated Total Annual Burden for US importer and US exporter 
respondents: [8,314] hours.
    The official record for this action will be kept in paper form. 
Accordingly, EPA will transfer all comments received electronically 
into paper form and place them in the official record, which will also 
include all comments submitted directly in writing. The official record 
is the paper record maintained at the address in ``ADDRESSES'' at the 
beginning of this document.

    Dated: August 15, 1997.
Elizabeth Cotsworth,
Acting Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 97-22657 Filed 8-25-97; 8:45 am]
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