[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15423-15424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6705]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6953-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities Up for Renewal; Comment 
Request; Underground Storage Tanks: Technical and Financial 
Requirements, and State Program Approval Procedures

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) for review and approval: ``Underground 
Storage Tanks, Technical and Financial Requirements, and State Program 
Approval Procedures,'' EPA ICR Number 1360.06; OMB Control Number 2050-
0068. This ICR will replace EPA ICR Number 1360.05, which expires on 
September 30, 2001. 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 18, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Commenters should send an original and two copies of their 
comments referencing docket number UST 9-2 to: OUST Docket, c/o RCRA 
Docket Information Center, Office of Solid Waste (5305G), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460. Hand deliveries of comments should be made to 
OUST Docket c/o RCRA Docket Information Center, Crystal Gateway One, 
First Floor, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA 22202. 
Comments may also be submitted electronically by sending electronic 
mail through the Internet to: [email protected]. Comments in 
electronic form should also be identified by the docket number (UST 9-
2). All electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding 
the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
    Copies of the draft ICR, supporting materials, and public comments 
are available for viewing in the RCRA Information Center (RIC), located 
at the Arlington, VA address listed above. 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 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. The official record 
is the paper record maintained at the address in ADDRESSES stated 
above.
    EPA responses to comments, whether the comments are written or 
electronic, will be in a notice in the Federal Register or in a 
response to comments document placed in the official record for this 
action. 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: Sammy Ng; Office of Underground 
Storage Tanks, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW, Washington DC 20460, (703) 603-7166, 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those facilities that own and operate Underground Storage Tanks (USTs) 
and those states that implement the UST programs.
    Title: ``Underground Storage Tanks, Technical and Financial 
Requirements and State Program Approval Procedures,'' EPA ICR Number 
1360.06, OMB Control Number 2050-0068. This ICR will replace EPA ICR 
Number 1360.05, which expires on September 30, 2001. This is a request 
for extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 
(RCRA), as amended, requires that the EPA develop standards for UST 
systems as may be necessary to protect human health and the 
environment, and procedures for approving State programs in lieu of the 
Federal program. EPA promulgated technical and financial requirements 
for owners and operators of USTs at 40 CFR Part 280, and State program 
approval procedures at 40 CFR Part 281. This ICR is a comprehensive 
presentation of all information collection requirements contained at 40 
CFR parts 280 and 281.
    The data collected for new and existing UST system operations and 
financial requirements are used by the owners and operators and/or EPA 
or the implementing agency to monitor results of testing, inspections, 
and operations of UST systems, as well as to demonstrate compliance 
with regulations. EPA believes strongly that if the minimum 
requirements specified under the regulations are not met, neither the 
facilities nor EPA can ensure that UST systems are being managed in a 
manner protective of human health and the environment.
    EPA uses State program applications to determine whether to approve 
a State program. Before granting approval, EPA must determine that 
programs will be no less stringent than the Federal program and contain 
adequate enforcement mechanisms.
    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.
    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: This ICR is a comprehensive description of the 
total respondent burden for all information collection activities 
related to the UST program. EPA has revised its respondent

[[Page 15424]]

universe and burden estimates based on updated data from the Office of 
Underground Storage Tanks (OUST), and State and industry sources. 
Because of these revisions, the total annual hourly burden to 
respondents has decreased from the current ICR (6.25 million hours per 
year) by approximately 0.22 million hours annually to 6.03 million 
hours.
    In modifying hourly respondent labor costs and technical and 
financial burden estimates under this ICR, EPA ensured that all 
respondent activities were covered by the ICR, including the 
development and gathering of information, not only information 
reporting and recordkeeping. EPA also conducted consultations with 
trade associations and contractors. Based on these consultations, EPA 
increased the labor burden associated with many activities associated 
with the use and management of USTs, adjusted the labor rates for 
facilities and contractors, and added capital and operation and 
maintenance (O&M) costs to various activities covered in the ICR. EPA 
believes that the revised burden reflects a more comprehensive and, 
therefore, more accurate portrait of the existing burden on the 
regulated community.
    For State program approval procedures, this ICR estimates that the 
annual respondent burden will decrease slightly over the previous ICR. 
This decrease has resulted, in part, from the smaller number of States 
that are expected to apply for State Program Approval (SPA). (The 
current ICR estimated that four States would apply for program approval 
each year, while this ICR estimates that three States will submit State 
program materials each year). In addition, EPA revised its burden 
estimates based on several years of program experience and on input 
from State program officials. EPA believes that these changes resulted 
in a more accurate reflection of the burden placed on the State 
programs by the SPA process.
    EPA estimates that the total annual respondent burden for all 
activities covered by this proposed ICR is 6.03 million hours. The 
total estimated annual financial burden is approximately $666.19 
million ($302.62 million in labor costs, $57.13 million in capital/
startup costs, and $306.43 million in O&M costs). The Agency estimates 
that the average total annual number of respondents will be 261,865 and 
the frequency of their response will depend upon the individual 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    Based on this analysis, the public reporting burden for UST 
facilities is estimated to average 12.37 hours per respondent per year. 
This estimate includes time for preparing and submitting notices, 
preparing and submitting demonstrations and applications, reporting 
releases, gathering information, and preparing and submitting reports. 
The recordkeeping burden for UST facilities is estimated to average 
11.90 hours per respondent per year. This estimate includes time for 
gathering information and for developing and maintaining records.
    For States applying for program approval, the reporting burden is 
estimated to average 255.30 hours per respondent per year. This 
estimate includes time for preparing and submitting an application and 
associated information. The recordkeeping burden is estimated to be 
47.00 hours per respondent per year. This estimate includes time for 
maintaining application files.
    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.

    Dated: March 9, 2001.
Cliff Rothenstein,
Director, Office of Underground Storage Tanks.
[FR Doc. 01-6705 Filed 3-16-01; 8:45 am]
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