[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5512-5513]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-1345]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6933-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Impact of Formal Environmental Policy Statements on 
the Teaching, Research and Operations of Colleges and Universities

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): ``Impact of Formal Environmental Policy 
Statements on the Teaching, Research and Operations of Colleges and 
Universities''; EPA ICR #2013.01. 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 March 20, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Office of Enforcement and Compliance, EPA Region 10, 1200 
6th Ave. (MS OEC-164), Seattle, WA 98101. Interested persons may obtain 
a copy of the ICR without charge; to do so, see the following Further 
Information Contact section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Clark L. Gaulding; Academic Program 
Manager and Senior Policy Advisor; (206) 553-1849; fax (206) 553-7176. 
E-mail at [email protected]>

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
institutions providing college or university education leading to 
bachelors and graduate degrees.
    Title: ``Impact of Formal Environmental Policy Statements on the 
Teaching, Research and Operations of Colleges and Universities''; EPA 
ICR #2013.01.
    Abstract: Many universities and colleges have adopted formal 
statements of environmental policy, and more are being adopted all the 
time. This is probably good, but little is known about the impacts that 
these statements have on the actual behavior of our academic 
institutions. Do they make a difference, and, if so, how? Where's the 
evidence? Is articulated environmental policy a prophesy of future 
behavior at the schools that adopt them, or is it rhetoric, however 
well intended?
    This survey study is intended to develop some possible answers to 
these questions. Written surveys and selected follow-up interviews will 
be conducted on a representative number of the approximately 4,000 
campuses across the U.S. Part of the inquiry is statistical in nature; 
how many schools have a formal policy on the environment, and how many 
do not; does it make a difference whether the school is public or 
private, large or small, urban or rural? Does region make a difference? 
Of the schools with policies, when were they adopted and is there a 
trend? Finally, can anything be made of the numbers?
    Beyond the numbers, the survey, and especially the interviews, will 
focus on (1) substance and (2) impact. A random cross-section of 
written policy statements will be analyzed in comparative fashion to 
understand not only who wrote them, but what topics they literally 
address (especially,

[[Page 5513]]

teaching, research and operations) and what tone they impart 
(especially, how purely philosophical or action-oriented are they).
    The impact of articulated environmental policy on institutional 
behavior will be weighed in two ways. The institutions themselves will 
be asked to explain and document the impacts across the full range of 
university activities. In parallel, EPA data will be used to look at 
environmental compliance at schools both with and without written 
policy to see whether there is any inferential relationship. Response 
to the study will be voluntary, and results will be reported in 
statistical fashion rather than with reference to any particular 
school. The analytical information and conclusions resulting from this 
study will be useful to academic institutions as they consider their 
role and responsibility toward society with respect to the natural 
environment, and to EPA in its policy deliberations regarding its 
relationship with higher education as an important element of society.
    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: 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.
    There are two elements to this proposed study: a written survey 
questionnaire and a follow-up interview for a selected sub-set of those 
responding to the questionnaire. Using the burden definition above, it 
is estimated that the total hour burden for an institution to respond 
to the written survey questionnaire will be between five (5) and 
fifteen (15) hours depending on the size and organization of the 
respondent institution. The hour burden for an institution to 
participate in a follow-up interview is estimated not to exceed two (2) 
hours. It is not expected that any institution will incur any capital 
or recurring costs to participate in the study. Therefore, the dollar 
cost burden of participation will be directly related to the hour 
burden and the wage or salary rate of the individuals who handle the 
response at each institution.

    Dated: January 8, 2001.
Lauris Davies,
Director, Office of Enforcement and Compliance, Region 10.
[FR Doc. 01-1345 Filed 1-18-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P