[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 58 (Thursday, March 26, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14703-14704]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-7934]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5986-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for 
Universal Waste

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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[[Page 14704]]

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
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: Universal Waste Handlers and 
Destination Facilities Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements, EPA 
ICR Number 1597.03, OMB Control Number 2050-0145, current expiration 
date 5/31/98. The ICR describes the nature of the information 
collection and its expected burden and cost; where appropriate, it 
includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 27, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 
260-2740, by email at [email protected], or download off the 
Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 1597.03.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Information Collection Request Number 1597.03: Universal 
Waste Handlers and Destination Facilities, Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Requirements (OMB Control No. 2050-0145; EPA ICR No. 1597.03.) expiring 
5/31/98. This is a request for extension of a currently approved 
collection.
    Abstract: EPA promulgated the Universal Waste standards at 40 CFR 
part 273. The Universal Waste standards govern the collection and 
management of widely generated wastes known as universal wastes. EPA 
has identified hazardous waste batteries, certain hazardous waste 
pesticides, and hazardous waste thermostats as universal wastes. Other 
wastes may be added to the universal waste Federal program if EPA 
determines such regulation is appropriate. The regulations allow 
universal waste handlers to manage universal wastes under a reduced set 
of regulatory requirements. Destination facilities, on the other hand, 
(i.e., those facilities accepting universal waste for treatment, 
recycling, or disposal) remain subject to all applicable standards 
under 40 CFR parts 264 or 265.
    The universal waste regulations at part 273 were promulgated by EPA 
under the authority of subtitle C in RCRA. This information collection 
targets the collection of information for the following reporting or 
recordkeeping requirements: notification, labeling and marking, 
storage-time limitations, off-site shipments, tracking universal waste 
shipments, and petitions to include other waste categories at the 
federal level.
    It is necessary for EPA to collect universal waste information to 
ensure that universal waste is collected and managed in a manner that 
is protective of human health and the environment. EPA requires, among 
other things, large quantity handlers of universal waste (LQHUWs) to 
notify the Agency of their universal waste management activities so 
that EPA can obtain general information on these handlers, and so that 
it can facilitate enforcement of the regulations at part 273. In 
addition, EPA requires universal waste handlers to record the date on 
which they begin storing universal waste on-site to ensure that such 
accumulation is performed responsibly. EPA also requires certain 
universal waste handlers to track receipt of universal waste shipments 
as well as shipments sent off-site to ensure that universal waste is 
properly treated, recycled, and disposed. Finally, the submission of 
petitions in support of regulating other wastes or waste categories 
under part 273 helps EPA (1) to compile information on these wastes, 
and (2) to determine whether regulation as a universal waste is 
appropriate. 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 Chapter 15. The 
Federal Register document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published on 11/28/97 
(62 FR 63329); one comment was received.
    Burden Statement: The average public recordkeeping burden for 
SQHUWs under this collection of information is estimated to range from 
1.12 hours to 1.62 hours per year. This estimate includes time for 
reading the regulations, labeling universal waste, and maintaining 
records demonstrating the length of storage. There is no associated 
reporting burden for SQHUWs. The reporting burden for LQHUWs is 
estimated to range from 0 hours to 2.41 hours per year. This estimate 
includes time for notifying EPA of universal waste management, and 
preparing and submitting notices of rejected or illegal universal waste 
shipments. The recordkeeping burden for LQHUWs under this collection of 
information is estimated to range from 5.82 hours to 6.82 hours per 
year. This estimate includes time for reading the regulations, labeling 
universal waste, maintaining records demonstrating the length of 
storage, and maintaining records of universal waste received and sent. 
The reporting burden for destination facilities is estimated to range 
from 0 hours to 2.41 hours. This estimate includes time for preparing 
and submitting notices of rejected or illegal universal waste 
shipments. The recordkeeping burden for destination facilities is 
estimated to be 115.37 hours per year. This estimate includes time for 
reading the regulations and maintaining records of universal waste 
received.
    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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Waste handlers of certain hazardous 
waste (i.e., batteries, pesticides and mercury-containing thermostats), 
and destination facilities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 79,510.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 122,674 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $1,456.15.
    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. 1597.03 and OMB Control No. 2050-0145 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, 725 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: March 20, 1998.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 98-7934 Filed 3-25-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P