[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 213 (Thursday, November 2, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 65857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-28168]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6895-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Request for Information for the Bioremediation 
Field Initiative Database System

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: Request for Information for 
the Bioremediation Field Initiative Database System, EPA ICR No. 
1672.03, OMB Control No. 2080-0048, expires November 30, 2000. 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 December 4, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1672.03 and OMB 
Control No. 2080-0048, to the following addresses: Sandy Farmer, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Collection Strategies Division (Mail 
Code 2822), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460; and 
to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, 
N.W., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the ICR contact Sandy 
Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 260-2740, by email at 
[email protected], or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 1672.03. For technical 
questions about the ICR contact Fran Kremer at 513-569-7346 or email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Request for Information for the Bioremediation Field 
Initiative Database System (OMB Control No. 2080-0048; EPA ICR No. 
1672.03) expiring November 30, 2000. This is a request for extension of 
a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: This is an ICR renewal for gathering information on the 
design, operation, and performance of biological treatment technologies 
from remediation experts and managers working at sites where biological 
treatment technologies are being tested or implemented. The authority 
for collecting information on innovative treatment technologies is 
described at section 311 of the Superfund Amendments and 
Reauthorization Act, section 8003 of the Resource Conservation and 
Recovery Act, section 7001 of the Oil Pollution Act, and section 10 of 
the Toxic Substance Control Act. Response to the collection of 
information is voluntary. The information will help the EPA to deploy 
innovative technologies more quickly at Superfund and other sites. 
Selected respondents are asked to complete and return, via mail, a two-
part questionnaire. The first part requests general site information, 
such as location, contacts, contaminants, and legislative authority 
under which the site is being remediated. The second part requests 
site-specific biotechnology information, such as the stage of the 
operation, wastes and media being treated, cleanup level goals, and the 
performance and cost of the treatment. Again, all responses are 
strictly voluntary. Following the initial questionnaire, respondents 
receive followup questionnaires on a semi-annual basis to update the 
information already provided.
    EPA compiles information from completed questionnaires into the 
Bioremediation Field Initiative computer database. EPA developed a 
software program called the Bioremediation in the Field Search System 
(BFSS) to search, view, and report information in the database. 
Recently, EPA re-engineered this software into a Web-enabled 
application, making the BFSS data available to the public for online 
searching.
    Each site in the database includes contact information for one or 
more individuals associated with the regulatory authority or 
application of bioremediation technology at the site. Remediation 
professionals may contact individuals with common site conditions to 
share information. Summary statistics may be drawn from the database to 
elucidate trends in bioremediation.
    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 March 15, 
2000 (65 FR 13962); no comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.0 
hour per response for update respondents and 5.0 hours per response for 
first-time respondents. 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: State/local governments, private 
companies, universities, and research centers.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 781.
    Frequency of Responses: Semi-annually and annually.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 1620.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, Operating/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. 1672.03 and OMB Control No. 2080-0048 in any 
correspondence.

    Dated: October 26, 2000.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 00-28168 Filed 11-1-00; 8:45 am]
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