[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 93 (Friday, May 14, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26407-26408]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-12245]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6342-8]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Continuing Collection; 
Comment Request; Notification of Regulated Waste Activity and RCRA 
Hazardous Waste Permit Application and Modification, Part A

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 document announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following continuing Information Collection Requests (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Notification of Regulated Waste 
Activity, EPA ICR #261.12, OMB No. 2050-0028, expires on October 31, 
1999 and RCRA Hazardous Waste Permit Application and Modification, Part 
A, EPA ICR #262.08, OMB No. 2050-0034, expires on October 31, 1999. 
Before submitting the ICRs to OMB for review and approval, EPA is 
soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information 
collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 13, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Commenters must send an original and two copies of their 
comments referencing docket number F-1999-RWIP-FFFFF to: RCRA Docket 
Information Center, Office of Solid Waste (5305G), U. S. Environmental 
Protection Agency Headquarters (EPA, HQ) 401 M Street, SW, Washington, 
D.C. 20460. Hand deliveries of comments should be made to the 
Arlington, VA address below. Comments may also be submitted 
electronically through the Internet to : [email protected]. 
Comments in electronic format should also be identified by the docket 
number F-1999-RWIP-FFFFF. All electronic comments must be submitted as 
an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption.
    Commenters should not submit any confidential business information 
(CBI) electronically. An original and two copies of CBI must be 
submitted under separate cover to: RCRA CBI Document Control Officer, 
Office of Solid Waste (5305W), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, 
D.C. 20460.
    Public comments and supporting materials are available for viewing 
in the RCRA Information Center (RIC), located at Crystal Gateway I, 
First Floor, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. The RIC is 
open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal 
holidays. To review docket materials, it is recommended that the public 
make an appointment by calling (703) 603-9230. The public may copy a 
maximum of 100 pages from any regulatory docket at no charge. 
Additional copies cost $0.15/page. This document and the supporting 
documents that detail the Notification of Regulated Waste Activity and 
RCRA Permit Application and Modification, Part A ICRs are also 
electronically available. See the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section for 
information on accessing them.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Michael by mail at the Office of 
Solid Waste (5303W), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
Street, SW, Washington, D.C. 20460, by phone at (703) 308-8610, or by 
Internet e-mail at: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Internet Availability

    Today's document and the supporting documents that detail the 
Notification of Regulated Waste Activity and RCRA Hazardous Waste 
Permit Application and Modification, Part A ICRs are available on the 
Internet. Follow these instructions to access this information 
electronically:

WWWURL:http//www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/notify/index.htm
FTP:ftp.epa.gov
Login: anonymous
Password: your Internet e-mail address
Path:/pub/epaoswer

    Note: The official record for this action will be kept in paper 
form and maintained at the address in the ADDRESSES section above.

    Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
generators, transporters and owners and operators of hazardous waste 
management facilities.
    Title: Notification of Regulated Waste Activity, EPA CR 
#261.12, OMB No. 2050-0028, expires on October 31, 1999 and 
RCRA Hazardous Waste Permit Application and Modification, Part A, EPA 
ICR #262.08, OMB No. 2050-0034, expires on October 31, 1999.
    Abstract: Section 3010 of Subtitle C of RCRA, as amended, requires 
any person who generates or transports regulated waste or who owns or 
operates a facility for the treatment, storage, or disposal (TSD) of 
regulated waste to notify EPA of their activities, including the 
location and general description of activities and the regulated wastes 
handled. Section 3005 of Subtitle C of RCRA requires TSDs to obtain a 
permit. To obtain the permit, the TSD must submit an application 
describing the facility's operation. There are two parts to the RCRA 
permit application--Part A and Part B. Part A defines the processes to 
be used for treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous wastes: the 
design capacity of such processes: and the specific hazardous wastes to 
be handled at the facility.
    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 
Agency today begins an effort to examine the notification and Part A 
permit application forms and consider options for reducing their burden 
and increasing the usefulness of the information these forms collect. 
The Agency would appreciate any information on the users of this 
information, how they use this information, how the information could 
be improved, and how the burden for these forms can be reduced.
    Therefore, the EPA would like to solicit comments to:

[[Page 26408]]

    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used;
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    Burden Statement: The estimated average burden for renewing the 
existing notification ICR is 4.25 hours per respondent for initial 
notifications and 2.10 hours per respondent for subsequent 
notifications. This estimates for the notification ICR includes all 
aspects of the information collection including time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering data, and 
completing and reviewing the form.
    The estimated average burden for renewing the existing Part A ICR 
is approximately 27 hours per respondent for submitting a new Part A 
permit application and approximately 14 hours for submitting a revised 
Part A permit application. The burden estimates for the Part A ICR 
includes time for reading the regulations, preparing and submitting 
initial and revised Part A permit applications, preparing and 
submitting justifications for changes and preparing and submitting 
subpart H compliance demonstrations.
    EPA estimates that the number of respondents per year for 
notifications is 31,125 (16,174 initial notifications and 14,951 
subsequent notifications). For Part A permit applications, EPA 
estimates that the number of respondents per year is 10 for new Part A 
permit applications and 49 for Part A revisions. For these ICRs, 
collection occurs one-time per respondent, unless regulations are 
revised and promulgated. Timing of the submission of the notification 
and the Part A permit application forms are variable depending on the 
status of the respondent and the timing of the promulgation of the 
regulations. The estimated total annual burden on respondents for 
initial and subsequent notifications is 100,137 hours and the estimated 
total annual burden on respondents for new and revised Part A permit 
applications is 945 hours. These estimates of total annual burden 
reflect a decrease in burden of 30% for notifications and 31% for Part 
A permit applications when compared with the previously approved ICR 
(1996).
    The Part A permit application form also reflects a change in 
reporting of Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) codes, applicable 
only to the United States, to North America Industry Classification 
System (NAICS) codes, applicable throughout North America. The NAICS 
codes have been established as the new Federal standard, superceding 
the SIC codes. They are being adopted by the U.S. EPA for the purpose 
of the (1) collection, and (2) promotion of uniformity and 
comparability in the presentation of statistical and economic 
information describing the economy. The Agency anticipates no increase 
or decrease in burden related to the change.
    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.

    Dated: May 7, 1999.
Elizabeth A. Cotsworth,
Acting Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 99-12245 Filed 5-13-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P