[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 179 (Wednesday, September 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49565-49566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24838]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6161-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Evaluation of Jobs Through Recycling Grant 
Projects

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 
et seq.), this notice announces that the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Evaluation of Jobs Through 
Recycling Grant Projects, ICR Number 1865.01. 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 October 16, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY: 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. 1865.01. Alternatively, download off the Jobs Through Recycling 
Web site at http://www.epa.gov/jtr/seconds/program/program.htm.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Evaluation of Jobs Through Recycling Grant Projects, ICR 
Number 1865.01. This is a new collection.
    Abstract: EPA launched the Jobs Through Recycling (JTR) initiative 
in 1994 to help facilitate the growth of the recycling industry and 
thereby increase the environmental and economic benefits created by 
recycling. The industry includes businesses involved in collecting, 
processing, manufacturing, and selling products made from recovered 
materials. With JTR, EPA intended to help state and tribal agencies 
build a support infrastructure of economic development activities which 
create jobs, increase capital invested in the recycling industry, 
create new recycling capacity, and increase the amount of secondary 
materials actually used.
    To assess the success of the JTR grant projects, EPA designed a 
methodology to evaluate the results, accomplishments, and lessons 
learned from each JTR grant. The first step in the methodology is to 
review grant workplans, progress and final reports, and grant products. 
The second step is to interview the grantees as well as one project 
partner and one business assisted by each grantee. To facilitate the 
evaluation, EPA developed an interview guide with a standard set of 
questions for grantees, project partners, and assisted businesses. The 
interview guide will enable EPA to collect both qualitative and 
quantitative information on the accomplishments of the JTR grantees 
through either phone or onsite interviews. Grantees, for example, are 
asked to describe the lessons learned and challenges overcome in 
implementing and managing their projects as well as the results, such 
as the number of jobs created, amount of capital invested, volume of 
new capacity created, and volume of secondary materials actually used. 
EPA pilot tested the evaluation process and the discussion guide with 
six 1994 JTR grants. All participation in JTR project evaluation 
interviews is voluntary.

[[Page 49566]]

    The purpose of the ICR is to allow EPA to continue its evaluation 
of JTR grant projects by measuring the success of the remaining 1994 
grant projects as well as the grants awarded in 1995, 1996, and 1997. 
The information compiled during these interviews will be disseminated 
to current and future program participants as well as other recycling 
market development professionals, so that others can replicate project 
successes and avoid past mistakes. In addition, EPA will use the 
information gathered to help identify opportunities to improve the 
overall JTR program and ensure its continued growth and success. 
Finally, the evaluation will assist EPA in complying with the 
Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), by measuring 
progress towards the goals and objectives detailed in the EPA Strategic 
Plan.
    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 Notice required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published on 6/2/98 (63 
FR 29988); no comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 6 
hours per response from JTR grantees and 2.25 hours per response from 
project partners and assisted businesses. 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: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are JTR grantees, which include state, multistate, and 
tribal organizations that have received grant funding through JTR. Also 
affected are project partners (including state and local agencies) and 
selected businesses assisted by JTR grantees.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 35.
    Frequency of Response: One-time only.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 122.5 hours.
    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. 1865.01 in any correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OP 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: September 9, 1998.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 98-24838 Filed 9-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P