[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