[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] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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