[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 53 (Monday, March 19, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15424-15427]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6707]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6953-5]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Minimum Monitoring Requirements for Direct and 
Indirect Discharging Mills in the Bleached Papergrade Kraft and Soda 
Subcategory and the Papergrade Sulfite Subcategory of the Pulp, Paper, 
and Paperboard Point Source Category

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 EPA is planning to submit the 
following proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Minimum Monitoring Requirements for 
Direct and Indirect Discharging Mills in the Bleached Papergrade Kraft 
and Soda Subcategory and the Papergrade Sulfite Subcategory of the 
Pulp, Paper, and Paperboard Point Source Category, EPA ICR No. 1878.01. 
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 May 18, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this notice in triplicate to Mr. Mark 
Perez, Office of Water, Engineering and Analysis Division (4303), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue N.W., 
Washington, DC 20460. In addition to submitting hard copies of the 
comments, the public may also send comments via e-mail to: 
[email protected]. Copies of the draft information collection request 
are available at http://www.epa.gov/OST/pulppaper or by contacting Mr. 
Perez.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Mark Perez by telephone at (202) 
260-2275, by facsimile at (202) 260-7185, or by e-mail at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those operations that chemically pulp wood fiber using kraft or soda 
methods to produce bleached papergrade pulp, paperboard, coarse paper, 
tissue paper, fine paper, and/or paperboard; and those operations that 
chemically pulp wood fiber using papergrade sulfite methods to produce 
pulp and/or paper.
    Title: Minimum Monitoring Requirements for Direct and Indirect 
Discharging Mills in the Bleached Papergrade Kraft and Soda Subcategory 
and the Papergrade Sulfite Subcategory of the Pulp, Paper, and 
Paperboard Point Source Category (EPA ICR No. 1878.01)
    Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) imposed minimum 
monitoring requirements on bleached papergrade kraft and soda and 
papergrade sulfite mills under 40 CFR part 430 as part of the effluent 
limitations guidelines and standards promulgated on April 15, 1998 (63 
FR 18504). This final rule is often referred

[[Page 15425]]

to as the ``Cluster Rules.'' The monitoring provisions, promulgated 
under the authorities of sections 301, 304, 307, 308, 402, and 501 of 
the Clean Water Act, require direct and indirect discharging bleached 
papergrade kraft and soda and papergrade sulfite mills (subparts B and 
E) to monitor their effluent for certain pollutants, namely adsorbable 
organic halides (AOX), 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), 
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran (TCDF), chloroform, and 12 chlorinated 
phenolics at specified frequencies. These minimum monitoring 
requirements are in addition to the current monitoring requirements 
specified in 40 CFR part 122 for direct discharging mills (under the 
existing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES)/Sewage 
Sludge Monitoring Discharge Monitoring Report (DMR) ICR (OMB 2040-
0004)), and in 40 CFR part 403 for indirect dischargers (under the 
National Pretreatment Program ICR (OMB 2040-0009)). Under NPDES program 
regulations, codified at 40 CFR parts 122 through 125, permitted 
municipal and non-municipal point source dischargers are required to 
collect and analyze wastewater samples or have the analyses performed 
by an outside laboratory and report the results to the permitting 
authority (EPA or an authorized NPDES State) using Discharge Monitoring 
Reports (DMRs), a pre-printed form used to report pollutant discharge 
information. Under the National Pretreatment program, codified at 40 
CFR part 403, industrial users subject to pretreatment standards are 
required to collect and analyze wastewater samples or have the analyses 
performed by an outside laboratory and report the results to the 
pretreatment control authority (EPA or a local or State authorized 
authority) using Periodic Compliance Reports (PCRs).
    With approval of this ICR, the permitting and pretreatment control 
authority must require applicable facilities subject to subparts B or E 
to monitor certain pollutants at specified frequencies. See 40 CFR 
430.02. Under 40 CFR 122.41(e)(4), the discharger must then report 
these monitoring results to the permitting or pretreatment control 
authority. EPA expects that the permitting or pretreatment control 
authority will use the data from these forms to assess permittee 
compliance and, for mills enrolled in the Voluntary Advanced Technology 
Incentives Program (VATIP), to assess the mill's progress towards 
achieving the ultimate VATIP Tier limits beyond baseline Best Available 
Technology Economically Achievable (BAT).
    It is the agency's intention for this ICR to cover the minimum 
monitoring requirements for direct discharging mills set forth in 40 
CFR 430.02 until these requirements can be subsumed under the NPDES/
Sewage Sludge Monitoring DMR ICR (OMB 2040-0004) and for indirect 
discharging mills until these requirements can be subsumed under the 
renewal of the National Pretreatment Program ICR (OMB 2040-0009). This 
ICR serves to clarify and augment the burden already identified in the 
National Pretreatment Program ICR incurred by indirect dischargers for 
compliance with minimum monitoring requirements.
    These additional minimum monitoring requirements and corresponding 
additional reporting requirements are necessary to demonstrate 
compliance with the effluent limitations guidelines and standards 
promulgated at 40 CFR part 430, subparts B and E, particularly 
considering the degree of change that is expected to occur to pulping 
and bleaching processes as the Cluster Rules are implemented. For those 
mills that choose to enroll in the VATIP, EPA has established 
alternative monitoring requirements that ultimately reduce the 
monitoring burden when mills have achieved baseline BAT levels and have 
committed to reduce pollutant levels beyond baseline. See 40 CFR 
430.02(c)-(e).
    In establishing the minimum monitoring frequencies for the 
regulated pollutants, EPA has struck a balance between: (1) The cost of 
the monitoring regimen, and (2) the need to ensure that sufficient data 
are consistently available to permitting and pretreatment control 
authorities to provide an adequate basis to verify compliance with the 
effluent limitations and standards. Permitting and pretreatment control 
authorities need to have an adequate basis to verify compliance with 
the effluent limitations and standards, given the environmental 
significance of these pollutants that are highly toxic and 
bioaccumulative, and the generation of which is variable as available 
data clearly demonstrate. This monitoring regimen also ensures 
sufficient data are available to the mill so that the mill may quickly 
become aware of and react to releases that may be harmful to the 
environment. EPA does not anticipate that mills will be required to 
submit any confidential business information (CBI) or trade secrets as 
part of this ICR.
    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: 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.
    The following paragraphs summarize the burden estimate imposed on 
respondents, including mills, local governments, States, and EPA. 
Supporting details can be found in section 6 and appendix A in the 
supporting statement for this ICR.
(a) Industry Burden Estimates
    The following discussion describes the information collection 
requirements associated with the monitoring requirements promulgated at 
40 CFR 430.02. These minimum monitoring requirements, in turn, would 
trigger additional reporting and recordkeeping obligations under 40 CFR 
part 122. These requirements apply to approximately 94 direct and 
indirect discharging papergrade kraft, soda, and sulfite mills. EPA 
estimated the total burden and costs associated with sampling, 
reporting and recordkeeping

[[Page 15426]]

required by 40 CFR 430.02, including capital costs for installing 
bleach plant effluent flow monitoring stations and O&M (analytical) 
costs for mills to send their collected samples to outside laboratories 
for analysis. These estimates do not reflect the reduced burden 
associated with the VATIP program, because mills are not required to 
enroll in the program; EPA thus assumes for this ICR that all mills 
will be subject to the baseline minimum monitoring frequencies.
    Minimum monitoring requirements for non-Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) 
bleaching fiber lines are as follows:

AOX--daily
chloroform--weekly
TCDD/TCDF--monthly
12 chlorinated phenolics--monthly

    EPA did not specify limitations for exclusively TCF facilities, see 
40 CFR 430.24(a)(2), and thus did not specify minimum monitoring 
frequencies for those dischargers. Mills enrolled in the Voluntary 
Advanced Technology Incentives Program (VATIP) may be eligible for 
reduced minimum monitoring frequencies. See 40 CFR 430.02(c),(d), and 
(e).
    The duration of the minimum monitoring requirements for non-Totally 
Chlorine Free (TCF) direct discharging facilities is five years, 
commencing on the date the applicable limitations or standards are 
first included in the discharger's NPDES permit.
    Under current NPDES permitting regulations, permittees must report 
all monitoring results to the permitting authority using DMRs. 
Submission of such reports shall be at the frequency established by the 
NPDES permit authority not less than once per year. See 40 CFR 
122.44(i)(2). For the purposes of this ICR, EPA assumed that DMRs are 
submitted monthly to the NPDES permit authority in order to express the 
full potential reporting and recordkeeping costs associated with the 
minimum monitoring requirements for subparts B and E mills. The 
permittee is required to retain ongoing monitoring records and reports 
for at least three years. See 40 CFR 122.41(j)(2).
    The duration of the minimum monitoring requirements for non-Totally 
Chlorine Free (TCF) indirect discharging facilities is until April 17, 
2006.
    Under current general pretreatment regulations, permittees must 
report all monitoring results to the permitting authority using PCRs. 
Submission of such reports shall be at the frequency established by the 
pretreatment control authority not less than twice per year. See 40 CFR 
122.44(i)(2) and section 430.12(b),(d),(e),(g). For the purposes of 
this ICR, EPA assumed that PCRs are submitted monthly to the 
pretreatment control authority in order to express the full potential 
reporting and recordkeeping costs associated with the minimum 
monitoring requirements for subpart B and E mills. The permittee is 
required to retain ongoing monitoring records and reports for at least 
three years. See 40 CFR 403.12(o)(2).
    Based on the assumptions listed above, EPA estimates of the total 
annual respondent burden associated with these monitoring, reporting 
and recordkeeping requirements are summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.--Summary of annual Burden Estimate for Compliance Monitoring by
                     Affected Subpart B and E Mills
                        [approximaately 94 mills]
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                                                   Labor     Cost  (2000
               Burden and costs                    (hurs)      dollars)
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Sampling......................................       35,830    1,035,850
Analytica Cost................................  ...........   12,587,240
Reporting.....................................          773       44,000
Recordkeeping.................................          255       14,520
Capital Costs (Annualized)....................  ...........    6,414,910
    Total.....................................       36,858   20,096,520
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On a per-facility basis, mills are anticipated to incur an average 
of 400 hours per year for sampling, reporting and recordkeeping for 
monthly DMRs or PCRs for an average of annual cost of $213,790, 
including capital and O&M costs.
(b) State and Agency Burden Estimates
    NPDES-authorized States are estimated to incur 533 burden hours for 
processing and analyzing monitoring data captured in submitted DMRs and 
for follow-up activities associated with 20 percent of all DMRs 
submitted. This hourly burden translates to an estimated $18,010 
annually for these activities.
    Local pretreatment control authorities are estimated to incur 72 
burden hours for processing and analyzing monitoring data captured in 
submitted PCRs and for follow-up activities associated with 20 percent 
of all PCRs submitted. This hourly burden translates to an estimated 
$2,220 annually for these activities. State pretreatment approval 
authorities are estimated to incur 24 burden hours per year for support 
of local follow-up activities at a cost of $810.
    EPA burden is estimated to be 286 hours per year for support of 
State follow-up activities as well as acting as the NPDES permit 
authority for 10 mills where the States are not authorized NPDES 
authorities at a cost of $9,660. Table 2 summarizes the burden 
estimates for respondents (industry and State governments) and the 
agency.

                  Table 2.--Summary of Estimated Annual Respondent and Agency Burden and Costs
                                                 (2000 Dollars)
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                                                                                                   Total annual
                                     Number of      Total hours     Total labor        Total         O&M costs
            Category                respondents      per year     cost  per year    annualized      (analytical
                                                                                   capital costs      costs)
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Respondents--Subpart B and E                  94          36,858      $1,094,370      $6,414,910     $12,587,240
 mills..........................
Respondents--State NPDES                      33             629          21,040               0               0
 authorities....................
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      Total Respondents.........             127          37,487       1,115,410       6,414,910      12,587,240
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Agency..........................  ..............             286           9,660               0               0
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[[Page 15427]]

    Dated: March 2, 2001
Geoffrey H. Grubbs, Director,
Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. 01-6707 Filed 3-16-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P