[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 159 (Wednesday, August 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44918-44919]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-21426]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6424-5]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
review; Comment Request; 1999 EPCRA Implementation Status Questionnaire 
for State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs), Local Emergency 
Planning Committees (LEPCs) and California Certified Unified Program 
Agencies (CUPAs)

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 the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: 1999 EPCRA Implementation 
Status Questionnaire for State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs), 
Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs), and California Certified 
Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs), EPA ICR No. 1905.01. 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 September 17, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 
260-2740, by email at [email protected], or download a copy of the 
ICR off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR 
No.1905.01.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: 1999 EPCRA Implementation Status 
Questionnaire for State Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs), Local 
Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs) and California Certified Unified 
Program Agencies (CUPAs), EPA ICR No. 1905.01. This is a new 
collection.
    Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency, Region IX, proposes 
to conduct a Regional survey of State

[[Page 44919]]

Emergency Response Commissions (SERCs), Local Emergency Planning 
Committees (LEPCs) and California Certified Unified Program Agencies 
(CUPAs). The information collected in this survey will be used to 
assess the general progress, status, and activity level of SERCs, LEPCs 
and CUPAs. The information will also be used by Region IX staff to have 
a better understanding of their Region's actual implementation of 
EPCRA.
    The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 
(EPCRA) introduced a fundamental change in the regulation of chemical 
facilities and the prevention of and preparedness for chemical 
accidents. This law seeks to improve emergency preparedness and reduce 
the risk of chemical accidents by providing information to citizens 
about the chemicals in their community. EPCRA is premised on the 
concept that the more informed local citizens are about chemical 
hazards in their communities the more involved they will be in 
prevention and preparedness activities. For this ``informational 
regulation'' to be effective, the public must receive accurate and 
reliable information, which is easy to understand and practical to use. 
EPCRA sought to create partnerships between all levels of government, 
the public and the regulated community to identify, prevent, plan, 
prepare and respond to hazardous material risks in our communities, and 
the purpose of this survey is to obtain input from these organizations 
to improve Region IX's EPCRA program.
    The primary goals of this research are to: (1) track the progress 
of SERCs, LEPCs and CUPAs by updating baseline data on a series of key 
performance indicators; and (2) probe current SERC, LEPC and CUPA 
practices and preferences regarding several important sets of issues--
particularly including communications with local citizens, proactive 
accident prevention efforts, and the effectiveness of selected Region 
IX products and services. Region IX wants to improve customer service 
and meet the changing needs of hazardous material prevention and 
emergency response planning, which are influenced by new electronic 
capabilities and a rapidly expanding knowledge base of environmental 
issues.
    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 5/14/99 
(FRL-6341-7). No comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average one 
and a half hour 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 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: SERCs, LEPCs, CUPAs.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 190.
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 285 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital and Operating and Maintenance 
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.1905.01 in any correspondence):

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of 
Policy, 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: August 12, 1999.
Richard T. Westlund,
Acting Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 99-21426 Filed 8-17-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P