[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 186 (Thursday, September 25, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50367-50368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-25360]


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FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION


Notice of Public Information Collection(s) Submitted to OMB for 
Review and Approval

September 19, 1997.
SUMMARY: The Federal Communications Commission, as part of its 
continuing effort to reduce paperwork burden invites the general public 
and other Federal agencies to take this opportunity to comment on the 
following information collection(s), as required by the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-13. An agency may not conduct or 
sponsor a collection of information unless it displays a currently 
valid control number. No person shall be subject to any penalty for 
failing to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) that does not display a valid control 
number. Comments are requested concerning (a) whether the proposed 
collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of 
the functions of the Commission, including whether the information 
shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the Commission's 
burden estimate; (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity 
of the information collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of 
the collection of information on the respondents, including the use of 
automated collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted on or before October 27, 
1997. If you anticipate that you will be submitting comments, but find 
it difficult to do so within the period of

[[Page 50368]]

time allowed by this notice, you should advise the contact listed below 
as soon as possible.

ADDRESSES: Direct all comments to Judy Boley, Federal Communications 
Commission, Room 234, 1919 M St. NW., Washington, DC 20554 or via 
internet to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information or copies 
of the information collection(s) contact Judy Boley at 202-418-0214 or 
via internet at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Note: The Commission is submitting this information collection 
to the Office of Management and Budget under the emergency 
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. OMB approval is 
requested by October 12, 1997.

    OMB Approval Number: 3060-0004.
    Title: Guidelines for Evaluating the Environmental Effects of 
Radiofrequency Radiation (Second Memorandum Opinion and Order, ET 
Docket No. 93-62).
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Individuals or households; business or other for-
profit; not-for-profit institutions; and state, local or tribal 
government.
    Number of Respondents: 126,108.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 1.77 hours (avg.). The estimated time 
per response varies with the number of transmitters considered, e.g., a 
site with a single transmitter might require one hour to determine 
compliance, while a site with many co-located transmitters may require 
considerably more time.
    Cost to Respondents: The estimated cost to respondents to perform 
the environmental evaluations per service varies. For example, complex 
situations that require a consulting engineer @ $100 per hour may 
require additional time to perform an evaluation; portable devices 
authorized under Part 2 of the rules require a specific absorption rate 
of RF energy test with an average cost of approximately $5,000 per 
test; and other applicants will use OET Bulletin #65 to perform 
environmental evaluations, and will no financial burden associated with 
the evaluation.
    Total Annual Burden: 223,376 hours.
    Needs and Uses: This revised information collection is a result of 
responsibility placed on the FCC by the National Environmental Policy 
Act (NEPA) of 1969. NEPA requires that each federal agency evaluate the 
impact of ``major actions significantly effecting the quality of the 
human environment.'' It is the FCC's opinion that this is the most 
efficient and reasonable method of complying with NEPA with regard to 
the environmental issue of radio frequency radiation from FCC-regulated 
transmitters. The Commission will require applicants to perform an 
environmental evaluation with respect to radio frequency 
electromagnetic fields. Applicants are required to consider 
contributions from other transmitters within the vicinity of their 
facility in order to assess the cumulative exposure. Accordingly, to 
correctly determine compliance with the Commission's exposure limits, 
an applicant must locate, determine ownership, and gather technical 
information for all contributing transmitters. Applicants are generally 
required, as part of the authorization and licensing process, to 
indicate compliance with the Commission environmental rules. Supporting 
information may be requested and reviewed by the Commission's 
engineers, attorneys, and paraprofessional staff to determine whether 
the environmental evaluation is sufficiently complete and in accordance 
with the Commission's rules.

    OMB Approval Number: 3060-0213.
    Title: Section 73.3525, Agreements for removing application 
conflicts.
    Type of Review: Revision of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Business or other for-profit and not-for-profit 
institutions.
    Number of Respondents: 38.
    Estimated Time Per Response: 8 hours.
    Cost to Respondents: $60,800.
    Total Annual Burden: 39 hours (1 hour per respondent, 8 hours per 
attorney which includes 1 hour consultation time with respondent). The 
8 hours attorney time is reflected in the cost estimate not the total 
annual burden hours.)
    Needs and Uses: Section 73.3525 requires applicants for a 
construction permit for a broadcast station to obtain approval from the 
FCC to withdraw, dismiss or amend its application when that application 
is in conflict with another application pending before the FCC. In the 
event that the proposed withdrawal of a conflicting application would 
unduly impede achievement of a fair, efficient and equitable 
distribution of radio service, the FCC must issue an order providing 
further opportunity to apply for the facilities specified in the 
application(s) withdrawn. Upon release of this order, Section 
73.3525(b) requires that the party proposing withdrawal of its 
application give notice in a daily newspaper of general circulation 
published in the community in which the proposed station would have 
been located. This notice must be published twice a week for two 
consecutive weeks within the three-week period immediately following 
release of the FCC's order. Additionally, within 7 days of the last of 
publication of the notice, the applicant proposing to withdraw shall 
file with the FCC a statement giving the dates on which the notice was 
published, the text of the notice, and the name and location of the 
newspaper in which the notice appeared. The data in the request for 
approval is used by FCC staff to assure that the agreement is in 
compliance with its rules and regulations and Section 311 of the 
Communications Act of 1934, as amended. The newspaper publication gives 
interested parties an opportunity to apply for the facilities specified 
in the withdrawn application(s).

Federal Communications Commission.
Shirley S. Suggs,
Chief, Publications Branch.
[FR Doc. 97-25360 Filed 9-24-97; 8:45 am]
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