[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 44 (Friday, March 6, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11233-11234]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-5853]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5974-8]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request; National Oil and Hazardous Substances
Pollution Contingency Plan
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3051
et seq.), this document announces that the following Information
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: National Oil and Hazardous
Substances Pollution Contingency Plan, OMB No. 2050-0096, expiring 4/
30/98. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and
its expected burden and cost; where appropriate, it includes the actual
data collection instruments.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 6, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Contact Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 260-2740, by E-mail at
[email protected], or download off the Internet at http://
www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPAC ICR No. 1463.04.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency
Plan (OMB Control No. 2050-0096; EPA ICR No. 1463.04) expiring 4/30/98.
This request seeks extension of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,
and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA or Superfund; 42 U.S.C. 9601 et seq.)
as amended, establishes broad authority to undertake removal and
remedial actions in response to releases or threats of releases of
hazardous substances and certain pollutants and contaminants into the
environment. The NCP sets forth requirements for carrying out the
response authorities established under CERCLA. In addition, the
Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 requires EPA to
determine and report to Congress on its effectiveness, including
community involvement activities.
For states, this ICR addresses the record keeping and reporting
provisions of the NCP that affect those states that voluntarily
participate in the remedial phase of the Superfund program. Remedial
responses under the Superfund program fall into the pre-remedial phase
(during which the extent of site contamination is assessed) and the
remedial phase (during which investigations are conducted to identify
and characterize contaminants present and to determine viable remedies
for a site, the remedy is chosen and the cleanup or construction is
completed). The NCP includes the following reporting and record keeping
provisions for the remedial phase of the Superfund program:
(1) States that voluntarily take the lead in remedial activities at
Superfund sites must conduct the activities in a manner consistent with
CERCLA (40 CFR 300.515(a)). Therefore, at a state-led site, the state
must: develop a Remedial Investigation/Feasibility Study (RI/FS);
prepare a Proposed Plan; issue a Record of Decision (ROD); complete
community interviews; prepare a Community Involvement Plan (CIP), and
provide information to the public; and
(2) States must identify and communicate potential state applicable
or relevant and appropriate requirements (ARARs) at all Superfund sites
within the state (40 CFR 300.400(g)).
In addition, this ICR addresses the record keeping and reporting
provisions of the NCP that affect communities voluntarily providing
their concerns to the lead agency about the Superfund process. This ICR
also addresses the record keeping and reporting provisions imposed on
communities when those communities provide feedback on community
involvement activities tied to GPRA. Community involvement related to
NCP requirements and GPRA reporting may occur during all phases of the
Superfund process including, pre-remedial, remedial removal (short-term
response actions), and operation and maintenance (which may include
such activities as ground water and air monitoring, inspection and
maintenance of the treatment equipment remaining on site, and
maintenance of any security measures or institutional controls)
Specifically, members of the community surrounding a Superfund site may
participate in community interviews (40 CFR 300.23(c)) conducted by EPA
in order to prepare a CIP or serve on Technical Assistance Grant
groups, as provided for in Superfund Amendments and Reauthorization Act
(SARA) of 1986, as well as in Community Advisory Groups (CAG), as
provided for in the Superfund Administrative Reforms. Community groups
focused on the technical assistance provided through the Technical
Outreach Services for communities (TOSC) program may also participate.
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 control numbers for EPA's
regulations are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15. The
Federal Register document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d) which
solicited comments on this collection of information was published on
December 1, 1997; no comments were received.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and record keeping
burden for a state agency for this collection of information is
estimated to average 1108 hours per response. The annual public
reporting and record keeping burden for a community group for this
collection of information is estimated to average 33 hours per
response. 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
[[Page 11234]]
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: State environmental agency and
community groups.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 806.
Frequency of Response: As required.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 113,490 hours.
Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: 0.
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. 1463.04 and OMB Control No. 2050-0096 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, 25 17th Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20503.
Dated: March 2, 1998.
Joseph Retzer, Director,
Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 98-5853 Filed 3-5-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-M