[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P