[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 88 (Friday, May 5, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 26196-26198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-11283]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6600-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Continuing Collection; 
Comment Request; Hazardous Waste Specific Unit Requirements, and 
Special Waste Processes and Types

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 EPA is planning to submit the 
following or continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Hazardous Waste Specific Unit 
Requirements, and Special Waste Processes and Types, EPA ICR Number 
1572.04, OMB Control Number 2050-0050, expires June 30, 2000. 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 July 5, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Commenters must send an original and two copies of their 
comments referencing docket number F-2000-SUIP-FFFFF to: (1) If using 
regular US Postal Service mail: RCRA Docket Information Center, Office 
of Solid Waste (5305G), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
Headquarters (EPA, HQ), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 
20460-0002, or (2) if using special delivery, such as overnight express 
service: RCRA Docket Information Center (RIC), Crystal Gateway One, 
1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, First Floor, Arlington, VA 22202. 
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-2000-SUIP-FFFFF and must be submitted 
as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of 
encryption.
    Commenters should not submit electronically any confidential 
business information (CBI). 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, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20460-0002.
    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. The index and some supporting 
materials are available electronically. See the ``Supplementary 
Information'' section for information on accessing them.
    The ICR is available on the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/tsds/specific/index.htm>.
    The official record for this action will be kept in paper form. 
Accordingly, EPA will transfer all comments received electronically 
into paper form and place them in the official record, which will also 
include all comments submitted directly in writing. EPA responses to 
comments, whether the comments are written or electronic, will be in a 
notice in the Federal Register. EPA will not immediately reply to 
commenters electronically other than to seek clarification of 
electronic comments that may be garbled in transmission or during 
conversion to paper form, as discussed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact the 
RCRA Hotline at 800 424-9346 or TDD 800 553-7672 (hearing impaired). In 
the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, call 703 412-9810 or TDD 703 
412-3323. For more detailed information on specific aspects of this 
rulemaking, contact David Eberly, Office of Solid Waste (5303W), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, 
Washington, DC 20460-0002, by phone at 703-308-8645, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:   
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
owners and operators of hazardous waste treatment, storage, and 
disposal facilities.
    Title: Hazardous Waste Specific Unit Requirements, and Special 
Waste Processes and Types, EPA ICR Number 1572.04, OMB Control Number 
2050-0050, expiration date June 30, 2000.
    Abstract: Section 3004 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery 
Act (RCRA) of 1976, as amended, requires that the U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency develop standards for hazardous waste treatment, 
storage, and disposal facilities (TSDFs), as may be necessary, to 
protect human health and the environment. Section 3004, Subsections 
(1), (3), (4), (5), and (6) specify that these standards include, but 
not be limited to, the following requirements:
    (1) Maintaining records of all hazardous wastes identified or 
listed under this title which are treated, stored, or disposed of, *** 
and the manner in which such wastes were treated, stored, or disposed 
of;
    (3) Treatment, storage, or disposal of all such waste received by 
the unit pursuant to such operating methods, techniques, and practices 
as may be satisfactory to the Administrator;

[[Page 26197]]

    (4) The location, design, and construction of such hazardous waste 
treatment, disposal, or storage facilities;
    (5) Contingency plans for effective action to minimize 
unanticipated damage from any treatment, storage, or disposal of any 
such hazardous waste; and
    (6) The maintenance or operation of such facilities and requiring 
such additional qualifications as to ownership, continuity of 
operation, training for personnel, and financial responsibility as may 
be necessary or desirable.
    All of the collection requirements covered in this ICR have been 
published in 40 CFR parts 261, 264 and 265, subparts J through DD, and 
40 CFR part 266, subpart F. With each collection covered in this ICR, 
EPA is aiding the goal of complying with its statutory mandate under 
RCRA to develop standards for hazardous waste TSDFs, as may be 
necessary, to protect human health and the environment.
    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 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 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: EPA estimates that the total annual respondent 
cost for all activities covered in this ICR is $11,934,785. This cost 
includes annual labor, capital, and operation and maintenance (O&M) 
costs to be incurred by respondents affected by the information 
collection requirements covered in this ICR. EPA estimates an average 
hourly respondent labor cost (including overhead) of $90.00 for legal 
staff, $69.30 for managerial staff, $54.33 for technical staff, and 
$24.29 for clerical staff. As shown in the table, EPA estimates that, 
each year, a total of 3,187 units will be subject to the information 
collection requirements covered in this ICR. Of these 3,187 units, 375 
units are existing interim status units that will remain in the interim 
status universe, 100 units are interim status units that will enter the 
permitted universe, 2,688 units are existing permitted units, and 24 
units are new permitted units. The number of respondents varies 
depending upon the category of each unit and the required activity.
    This ICR is an exhaustive description of the total respondent 
burden for all activities related to specific unit requirements and 
special waste processes and types. From 1996 to 2000, total respondent 
hourly burden decreased by 42 percent and total respondent financial 
burden decreased by 37 percent. The burden decreased for a number of 
reasons. First, in revising this ICR, EPA significantly improved its 
estimated number of specific units in the interim status and permitted 
universes. In addition, labor rates were adjusted in this ICR. In the 
1996 ICR, EPA had overestimated the overhead factor and thus, the labor 
rates of the respondents conducting the activities covered in this ICR. 
In addition, EPA removed all federally owned or operated units from the 
respondent universe. Thus, EPA's estimates of the overall total 
respondent burden and cost has decreased. EPA believes that the burden 
and cost reflects a more comprehensive and, therefore, a more accurate 
portrait of the existing hourly and financial burden on the regulated 
community.
    For tank systems, the public reporting burden is estimated to 
average six hours per respondent per year. The record keeping burden is 
estimated to average 155 hours per respondent per year.
    For surface impoundments, the public reporting burden is estimated 
to average two hours per respondent per year. The record keeping burden 
is estimated to average 152 hours per respondent per year.
    For waste piles, there is no public reporting burden associated 
with the requirements covered in this ICR. The record keeping burden is 
estimated to average 20 hours per respondent per year.
    For land treatment units, the public reporting burden is estimated 
to average one hour per respondent per year. The record keeping burden 
is estimated to average one hour per respondent per year.
    For landfills, the public reporting burden is estimated to average 
seven hours per respondent per year. The record keeping burden is 
estimated to average 80 hours per respondent per year.
    For incinerators, the public reporting burden is estimated to 
average two hours per respondent per year. The record keeping burden is 
estimated to average three hours per respondent per year.
    For thermal treatment units, there is no public reporting or record 
keeping burden associated with the requirements covered in this ICR.
    For chemical, physical, and biological treatment units, there is no 
public reporting or record keeping burden associated with the 
requirements covered in this ICR.
    For drip pads, there is no public reporting or record keeping 
burden associated with the requirements covered in this ICR.
    For miscellaneous units, there is no public reporting or record 
keeping burden associated with the requirements covered in this ICR.
    For process vents, the public reporting burden is estimated to 
average ten hours per respondent per year. The record keeping burden is 
estimated to average 1,072 hours per respondent per year.
    For equipment leaks, the public reporting burden is estimated to 
average seven hours per respondent per year. The record keeping burden 
is estimated to average 83 hours per respondent per year.
    For containment buildings, the public reporting burden is estimated 
to average six hours per respondent per year. The record keeping burden 
is estimated to average 56 hours per respondent per year.
    For specific hazardous waste recovery and recycling units, there is 
no public reporting burden associated with these requirements. The 
record keeping burden is estimated to average four hours per respondent 
per year.
    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

[[Page 26198]]

information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of 
information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

    Dated: April 21, 2000.
Matthew Hale,
Acting Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 00-11283 Filed 5-4-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P