[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 42 (Thursday, March 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11305-11306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-5042]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6545-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Performance Track Program--Environmental Achievement 
Track

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 proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Performance Track Program--
Environmental Achievement Track, EPA ICR 1949.01. Before submitting the 
ICR 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 May 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Roberta White (2129), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, S.W., 
Washington D.C. 20460. Interested persons may obtain a copy of the ICR 
without charge by contacting Roberta White at (202) 260-5616

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ken Munis, (202) 260-9560. Fax number: 
(202) 401-3998



SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which voluntarily choose to participate in the EPA Performance 
Track.
    Title: Performance Track Program-- Environmental Achievement Track, 
EPA ICR 1949.01
    Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency is developing a 
national Performance Track Program to reward and motivate top 
environmental performance. The Performance Track program is the outcome 
of the July, 1999 report, ``Aiming for Excellence: Actions to Encourage 
Stewardship and Accelerate Environmental Progress.'' In this report, 
the Agency committed to developing a Performance Track Program to 
encourage good environmental performers to continue striving to improve 
their environmental performance.
    The Performance Track is a two-tiered, voluntary program designed 
to promote leadership in environmental protection through the use of 
Environmental Management Systems (EMS), Pollution Prevention Programs, 
and public reporting. Qualifying program participants will benefit from 
a variety of incentives, including, but not limited to, public 
recognition, reduced monitoring and reporting, and operational 
flexibility. EPA will announce and begin to solicit applications for 
level one of the Performance Track, the Environmental Achievement 
Track, in June of 2000. Level two, the Environmental Stewardship Track, 
will be announced in May of 2001.
    Participation in the Performance Track program is voluntary. To be 
considered for acceptance into the program, applicants for the 
Environmental Achievement Track will be asked to submit information 
documenting their Environmental Managements System (EMS), history of 
compliance with EPA regulations, commitment to continuous environmental 
performance improvement, and commitment to public outreach and 
performance reporting. EPA will review the applications and notify the 
applicant within a specified time frame whether they qualify for the 
program. Upon acceptance to the Environmental Achievement Track, 
participants will be required to make environmental performance reports 
accessible to the public.
    The EPA would like to solicit comments to: (i) Evaluate whether the 
proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper 
performance of the functions of the agency, including

[[Page 11306]]

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: 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.
    EPA estimates that approximately 250 facilities may voluntarily 
apply to the Performance Track annually. EPA further estimates that 200 
facilities will be selected to participate in the Environmental 
Achievement Track (Tier 1). The Agency estimates that the burden 
required by this action for facilities will range from 120 hours to 270 
hours. The best estimate burden is 230 hours. Facilities that have 
operational environmental management systems in place and currently 
share some environmental performance information with the public will 
experience burden at the lower end of the range. Other facilities may 
require more burden to demonstrate how they meet the entry criteria.
    The following table summarizes the estimate burden for the 
Environmental Achievement Tier.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Facility        Facility        Number of     Total burden    Total burden
                                   burden hours     burden cost     facilities         hours           cost
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Application.....................              40          $1,070             250          10,000        $270,000
Compliance Demonstration........              80           2,375             200          15,550         475,000
EMS Documentation and Reporting.              40           1,110             200           8,100         220,000
Continuous Performance                        40           1,060             200           7,500         210,000
 Demonstration..................
Reporting & Public Outreach.....              30             860             200           6,400         175,000
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.....................             230           6,475  ..............          47,550       1,340,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: February 25, 2000.
Daniel J. Fiorino,
Acting Director Office of Policy/Office of Policy Development.
[FR Doc. 00-5042 Filed 3-1-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6050-50-P