[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 105 (Wednesday, May 31, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34690-34694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-13560]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6707-4]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Implementation of the Oil Pollution Act Facility 
Response Plan Requirements

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 continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Implementation of the Oil Pollution Act 
Facility Response Plan Requirements, EPA ICR No. 1630.03, OMB Control 
No. 2050-0135, expiring August 22, 2000. Before submitting the ICR to 
OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific 
aspects of the proposed information collection.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before July 31, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Materials relevant to this ICR may be inspected by visiting 
the Public (Superfund) Docket, located at 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway 
(ground floor), Arlington, Virginia 22202. The docket number for this 
notice is SPCC-12. The telephone number for the Public Docket is (703) 
603-9232. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying docket material. 
Comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection 
notice should be addressed to the Public Docket. The mailing address 
is: Superfund Docket, U.S. EPA, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Davis, (703) 603-8823. 
Facsimile number: (703) 603-9116. Electronic address: 
[email protected]. Note that questions, but not comments, will be 
accepted electronically. As noted above, comments should be sent to the 
Public Docket.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Affected Entities

    The owner or operator of a facility that is required to have a 
spill prevention control and countermeasure (SPCC) plan under the Oil 
Pollution Prevention regulation (40 CFR part 112) and that could cause 
``substantial harm'' to the environment must prepare and submit to EPA 
a facility response plan. The criteria for a ``substantial harm'' 
facility include oil transfers over water and a total storage capacity 
over 42,000 gallons; or total oil storage capacity over one million 
gallons and insufficient secondary containment, proximity to sensitive 
environments, proximity to drinking water supplies, or recent large 
spills; or other factors considered by the Regional Administrator. (See 
40 CFR 112.20(b)(1) and (f) for further information about the criteria 
for ``substantial harm.'')
    The specific private industry sectors subject to this action 
include, but are not limited to: (1) Petroleum Bulk Stations and 
Terminals (NAICS 42271); (2) Electric Power Generation, Transmission, 
and Distribution (NAICS 2211); (3) Gasoline Stations/Automotive Rental 
and Leasing (NAICS 4471/5321); (4) Heating Oil Dealers (NAICS 454311); 
(5) Transportation, Pipelines, and Marinas (NAICS 482-486/488112-48819/
4883/48849/492/71393); (6) Grain and Oilseed Milling (NAICS 3112); (7) 
Manufacturing (NAICS 31-33); (8) Warehousing and Storage (NAICS 493); 
(9) Crude Petroleum and Natural Gas Extraction (211111); (10) Mining 
and Heavy Construction (NAICS 2121/2123/213114/213116/234); (11) 
Schools (NAICS 6111-6113); (12) Hospitals (622-623); (13) Crop and 
Animal Production (NAICS 111-112); and (14) Other Commercial Facilities 
(miscellaneous).

Title

    Implementation of the Oil Pollution Act Facility Response Plan

[[Page 34691]]

Requirements, OMB Control Number: 2050-0135. EPA Control Number: 
1630.03. Expiration Date: August 22, 2000.

Abstract

    The authority for EPA's facility response plan requirements is 
derived from section 311 of the Clean Water Act, as amended by the Oil 
Pollution Act of 1990. EPA's regulation is codified at 40 CFR 112.20. 
Facility response plans enhance EPA's ability to protect navigable 
waters and sensitive environments from oil discharges, help ensure that 
human health and safety are protected in the vicinity of the facility, 
and reduce the cost of spills to the regulated community and society. 
EPA is working to finalize proposed revisions to the rule to 
differentiate between animal fats and vegetable oils and other oils (64 
FR 17227-17267, April 8, 1999).

Response Plan Certification

    Under section 112.20(e), the owner or operator of a facility that 
does not meet the ``substantial harm'' criteria in section 112.20(f)(1) 
must complete and maintain at the facility the certification form 
contained in Appendix C to part 112.

Response Plan Development

    Under section 112.20(a) or (b), the owner or operator of a facility 
that meets the ``substantial harm'' criteria in section 112.20(f)(1) 
must prepare and submit to the EPA Regional Administrator a facility 
response plan (FRP) following section 112.20(h). Such a facility may be 
a newly constructed facility or may be an existing facility that meets 
paragraph (f)(1) as a result of a planned change (paragraph 
(a)(2)(iii)) or an unplanned change (paragraph (a)(2)(iv)) in facility 
characteristics. Under paragraph (c), the owner or operator may be 
required to amend the FRP.

Response Plan Maintenance

    Under section 112.20(g), the owner or operator must periodically 
review the FRP to ensure consistency with the National Oil and 
Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan and Area Contingency 
Plans. Under section 112.20(d), the facility owner or operator must 
revise and resubmit revised portions of the FRP after material changes 
at the facility. FRP changes that do not result in a material change in 
response capabilities shall be provided to the Regional Administrator 
as they occur. Periodic drills and exercises are required to test the 
effectiveness of the FRP.

Recordkeeping

    Under section 112.20(e), an owner or operator who determines that 
the requirements do not apply must certify and retain a record of this 
determination. An owner or operator who is subject to the requirements 
must keep the FRP at the facility (section 112.20(a)), keep updates to 
the FRP (section 112.20(d)(1) and (2)), and log activities such as 
discharge prevention meetings, response training, and drills and 
exercises (section 112.20(h)(8)(iv)).

Purpose of Data Collection

    A facility-specific response plan will help an owner or operator 
identify the necessary resources to respond to an oil spill in a timely 
manner. If implemented effectively, the FRP will reduce the impact and 
severity of oil spills and may prevent spills because of the 
identification of risks at the facility. Although the owner or operator 
is the primary data user, EPA also uses the data in certain situations 
to ensure that facilities comply with the regulation and to help 
allocate response resources. State and local governments may use the 
data, which are not generally available elsewhere and can greatly 
assist local emergency preparedness planning efforts.
    EPA reviews submitted FRPs and must approve FRPs for those 
facilities whose discharges may cause ``significant and substantial 
harm'' to the environment in order to ensure that facilities believed 
to pose the highest risk have planned for adequate resources and 
procedures to respond to a spill. (See 40 CFR 112.20(f)(3) for further 
information about the criteria for ``significant and substantial 
harm.'')

Burden Statement

    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or disclose or 
provide the information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the 
time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install, and 
utilize technology and systems to collect, validate, and verify 
information, process and maintain information, and disclose and provide 
information; adjust methods to comply with any new requirements and 
instructions; 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.
    This notice provides the Agency's estimated burden to facilities to 
perform the required actions. The burden to regulated facilities is 
estimated in terms of the labor cost and time (hours) spent by facility 
personnel to review the rule, determine if plan preparation is 
required, and, if necessary, prepare and maintain FRPs. The Agency 
developed the burden hour estimates for facilities based on 
consultations with engineers familiar with Oil Pollution Prevention 
compliance and with EPA Regional staff involved directly with the 
implementation of the program. The burden hours calculated for each 
action are taken from the current ICR, and EPA anticipates using these 
burden hour estimates in the ICR renewal. Costs are from the current 
ICR, and the Agency-calculated labor wage rates are in 1996 dollars. In 
the supporting statement for the ICR renewal, EPA will update these 
rates for the different labor categories to reflect current wage rates.
    In 1999, EPA submitted an Information Correction Worksheet to OMB 
to reflect an Agency policy change in how contractor costs are 
estimated. EPA expects that many facilities will use contractors to 
complete activities associated with FRP preparation and maintenance. 
Rather than including these contractor costs as part of operation and 
maintenance costs as the Agency has done in the past, the worksheet 
converts these contractor costs to burden hours to reflect this policy 
change. The approach for estimating contractor costs used in the 1999 
worksheet will also be used in the ICR renewal.
    Currently, approximately 5,500 existing facilities are assumed to 
be regulated under the FRP requirements. The owner or operator of each 
new facility that is regulated under SPCC requirements in 40 CFR part 
112 must read the FRP provisions in section 112.20 to determine whether 
or not the facility fits the criteria for ``substantial harm.'' EPA 
expects 4,355 new SPCC-regulated facilities to make this determination 
annually. Of those facilities, approximately 65 of them will fit the 
criteria for ``substantial harm'' and be required to submit an FRP. 
These estimates for existing and new facilities were made for the final 
year of the current ICR, August 1999 to August 2000. Based on 
assumptions in the current ICR, a one percent annual growth in the 
number of SPCC-regulated facilities and a 1.5 percent annual growth in 
the number of FRP-regulated facilities are expected.
    In the current ICR and in the ICR renewal, facilities are 
categorized according to size and type of facility operations. EPA's 
small, medium, and large size categories are based on the volume of oil 
storage capacity at each facility. Facilities fall into three

[[Page 34692]]

additional categories based on how oil is used at the facility: 
consumption of oil as a raw material or end-use product (storage/
consumption); marketing and distribution of oil as a wholesale or 
retail good (storage/distribution); or pumping oil from the ground as 
part of exploration or production activities (production).
    An estimate of the number of existing FRP-regulated facilities in 
2000 is shown in Exhibit 1. Exhibit 2 shows the number of new 
facilities expected to complete an FRP each year.

                       Exhibit 1.--Number of Existing Facilities Maintaining FRPS in 2000
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                                                                          Facility size
                   Model facility category                   ---------------------------------------    Total
                                                                 Small        Medium       Large
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Storage/Consumption.........................................            0          160        1,973        2,133
Storage/Distribution........................................            0          565        2,617        3,182
Production..................................................            0          215  ...........          215
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
    Total...................................................            0          940        4,590        5,530
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                              Exhibit 2.--Estimated Annual Number of New Facilities
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                                                                          Facility type
                   Model facility category                   ---------------------------------------    Total
                                                                 Small        Medium       Large
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Storage/Consumption.........................................            0            2           23           25
Storage/Distribution........................................            0            7           31           38
Production..................................................            0            2  ...........            2
                                                             ---------------------------------------------------
    Total...................................................            0           11           54           65
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Unit Burden Hour and Cost Estimates

    In calculating the burden on all facilities subject to the FRP 
requirements, EPA uses a model-facility approach to characterize the 
diverse nature of regulated facilities. Facilities are categorized 
according to size and type of facility operations, based on the 
methodology used in the current ICR. The facility cost estimates for 
each category of activities, based on the Employment Cost Index (ECI) 
in terms of 1996 dollars, are: $58.61 for management, $40.17 for 
technical, $18.32 for clerical, $33.33 for foreman, and $22.22 for 
labor. In the supporting document for the current ICR, the Agency 
recognized that these wage rates may underestimate the actual wages 
received by some facility personnel but overestimate the actual wage 
rate received by other facility personnel. These costs will be updated 
in the supporting statement for the ICR renewal.
    Exhibit 3 provides EPA's estimate of the per-facility (``unit'') 
burden hours and costs for personnel to read the regulation, make a 
determination of whether the FRP requirements apply to the facility, 
and complete a certification form as necessary. Most regulated 
facilities already have made this one-time determination.

                          Exhibit 3.--Unit Burden Hours and Costs to Read Rule, Make Determination, and Complete Certification
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                                                                                 Burden hours                                       Cost
                                                           ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Type of facility                         Management    Technical     Clerical    Total unit                              Total unit
                                                               ($58.61)      ($40.17)     ($18.32)      burden       Capital        O&M          cost
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Small.....................................................           0.25            0            0          0.25            0            0          $15
Medium....................................................           1               0          0.5          1.5             0            0           68
Large.....................................................           2               4          0.5          6.5             0            0          287
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    Exhibits 4 and 5 provide EPA's estimate of the unit burden hours 
and costs required to become familiar with the rule, and prepare an 
FRP, respectively. The number of small facilities expected to be 
required to prepare a facility response plan is assumed to be 
negligible. Initial preparation of an FRP is a one-time event for the 
owner or operator of a facility. The burden and cost described in 
Exhibits 4 and 5 would apply to facilities who have not previously 
submitted FRPs because they are new or recently identified as being 
``substantial harm'' facilities.

[[Page 34693]]



      Exhibit 4.--Estimated First-Year Unit Burden Hours and Costs for Facilities Required To Prepare Facility Response Plans: Rule Familiarization
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                                                                                      Burden hours                                       Cost
                                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                     Type of Facility                                                                                 Total                       Total
                                                            Managerial   Technical   Clerical   Foreman     Labor      unit    Capital    O&M      unit
                                                             ($58.61)    ($40.17)    ($18.32)   ($33.33)   ($22.22)   burden                       cost
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Storage/Consumption:
    Small................................................            0           0          0          0          0        0         0        0        0
    Medium...............................................            3           6          1          0          0       10         0        0    $ 435
    Large................................................            4           8          1          0          0       13         0        0      574
Storage/Distribution:
    Small................................................            0           0          0          0          0        0         0        0        0
    Medium...............................................            6           3          1          0          0       10         0        0      490
    Large................................................            4           8          1          0          0       13         0        0      574
Production:
    Small................................................            0           0          0          0          0        0         0        0        0
    Medium...............................................            3           6          1          0          0       10         0        0      435
    Large................................................  ...........  ..........  .........  .........  .........  .......  ........  .......  .......
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        Exhibit 5.--Estimated First-Year Unit Burden Hours and Costs for Facilities Required To Prepare Facility Response Plans: FRP Preparation
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                                                                                Burden hours                                            Cost
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Type of facility                                                                                   Total                          Total
                                                  Managerial     Technical     Clerical     Foreman     Labor       unit     Capital     O&M      unit
                                                   ($58.61)      ($40.17)      ($18.32)     ($33.33)   ($22.22)    burden                         cost
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Storage/Consumption:
    Small......................................          0             0              0            0          0       0             0        0         0
    Medium.....................................         30.25         82.5           16.5         10         16     155.25        245        0    $6,323
    Large......................................         53.75        156.25          32.0         22         64     328           452        0    12,620
Storage/Distribution:
    Small......................................          0             0              0            0          0       0             0        0         0
    Medium.....................................         34.75         92.5           17.5         10         16     170.75        250        0     7,012
    Large......................................         60.75        191.25          33.0         22         64     371           463        0    14,466
Production:
    Small......................................          0             0              0            0          0       0             0        0         0
    Medium.....................................         23.25         73.5           12.5         10         16     135.25        240        0     5,473
    Large......................................  ............  ............  ............  .........  .........  .........  .........  .......  ........
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Exhibit 6 provides EPA's estimate of the unit burden hours and 
costs required to maintain an FRP (i.e., subsequent year burdens 
following initial year plan preparation burden). FRP maintenance 
includes activities such as completing records, conducting exercises, 
and reviewing and updating the FRP as necessary. The regulation does 
not contain significant recordkeeping requirements, but the estimated 
burden hours for clerical labor may include some recordkeeping 
activities. The estimates in Exhibit 6 apply to existing facilities 
with response plans.

                                Exhibit 6.--Estimated Unit Burden Hours and Costs for Maintaining Facility Response Plans
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                                                                                  Burden hours                                           Cost
                                                   -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Type of facility                                                                                     Total                       Total
                                                     Managerial     Technical    Clerical     Foreman      Labor      unit     Capital    O&M      unit
                                                      ($58.61)      ($40.17)     ($18.32)    ($33.33)    ($22.22)    burden                        cost
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Storage/Consumption:
    Small.........................................           0             0             0           0           0         0         0        0        0
    Medium........................................           7.5          18.5           2          10          16        54         0        0   $1,908
    Large.........................................          15.0          45.0           8          22          64       154         0        0    4,989
Storage/Distribution:
    Small.........................................           0             0             0           0           0         0         0        0        0
    Medium........................................           7.5          19.5           2          10          16        55         0        0    1,948
    Large.........................................          17.0          58.0          10          22          64       171         0        0    5,665
Production:
    Small.........................................           0             0             0           0           0         0         0        0        0
    Medium........................................           7.5          18.5           2          10          16        54         0        0    1,908
    Large.........................................  ............  ............  ..........  ..........  ..........  ........  ........  .......  .......
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[[Page 34694]]

Total Annual Expected Facility Burden and Cost

    The total annual burden and cost for all existing facilities and 
all new facilities are shown in Exhibit 7. The current ICR that was 
submitted to the Office of Management and Budget includes similar 
burden and cost estimates for the first year of the current ICR, 
however the annual burdens presented in this notice are calculated 
based on the third and final year of the current ICR. Approximately 
9,900 facilities are required to perform activities in the final year 
of the current ICR. Of these, over 4,300 new facilities will incur a 
combined burden of 2,600 hours and $130,000 to become familiar with the 
rule and determine that they are not required to prepare such plans. 
Each year approximately 65 new facilities will determine that they are 
required to prepare such plans and will incur a combined burden of 
21,000 hours and $850,000 to do so. Approximately 5,500 existing 
facilities are required to maintain existing plans and will incur an 
annual combined burden of about 800,000 hours and $26,000,000 to do so.

                              Exhibit 7.--Total Estimated Annual Burden Hours and Costs for All New and Existing Facilities
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                                                                               Burden hours                                            Cost
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Type of facility                  Managerial     Technical    Clerical    Foreman     Labor      Total
                                                   ($58.61)      ($40.17)     ($18.32)    ($33.33)   ($22.22)    burden    Capital    O&M       Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Existing Facilities:
    Small......................................             0           0             0          0          0          0         0        0            0
    Medium.....................................         7,050      17,955.0     1,880.0      9,400     15,040     51,325         0        0   $1,817,325
    Large......................................        74,084     240,571.0    41,954.0    100,980    293,760    751,349         0        0   24,671,998
New Facilities that are Preparing FRPs:
    Small......................................             0           0             0          0          0          0         0        0            0
    Medium.....................................        404.25       1,004.5       191.5        110        176   1,886.25     2,720        0       77,860
    Large......................................       3,335.5       9,954.5     1,813.0      1,188      3,456     19,747    24,749        0      769,771
New Facilities that are not Preparing FRPs:
    Small......................................           868           0             0          0          0        868         0        0       54,345
    Medium.....................................           805           0         402.5          0          0    1,207.5         0        0       55,360
    Large......................................           156         312.0        39.0          0          0        507         0        0       22,469
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    As part of the Agency's efforts to reduce the overall paperwork 
burden on regulated facilities, EPA solicits comments on how the Agency 
could best reduce the total paperwork burden hours for this rule while 
maintaining an effective level of environmental protection. EPA also 
solicits public 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 
technological collection techniques.
    No person is 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 displayed at 40 CFR part 9. 
Send comments regarding these matters, or any other aspects of the 
information collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, 
to the address listed under ADDRESSES near the top of this document.

    Dated: May 23, 2000.
Stephen D. Luftig,
Director, Office of Emergency and Remedial, Response.
[FR Doc. 00-13560 Filed 5-30-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P