[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 57 (Friday, March 23, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16223-16224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-7282]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6957-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Compliance Assistance Surveys for the Marina, Metal 
Finishing, Construction Site, and Salvage Yard Sectors

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 proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Compliance Assistance Surveys for the 
Marina, Metal Finishing, Construction Site, and Salvage Yard Sectors, 
[EPA ICR Number 2021.01]. This information request has no prior OMB 
Control Number. 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 22, 2001.

ADDRESSES: To request a copy of the information collection request, 
explanatory information and related forms, contact Ms. Lynn Vendinello, 
at (202) 564-7066, and refer to EPA ICR No. 2021.01. Comments may be 
mailed to Ms. Lynn Vendinello, U.S. EPA (2222A), 401 M St. SW, 
Washington, D.C. 20460. Comments may also be submitted electronically 
to [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Lynn Vendinello at (202) 564-7066, 
facsimile (202) 564-0031, [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities potentially 
affected by this action are the following:
     Marinas located in EPA Region I states: Connecticut, 
Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont;
     Facilities in the Metal Finishing Sector (covered by SIC 
347) located in the vicinity of Detroit, MI and Philadelphia, PA.;
     Facilities in the Construction Site Sector (covered by SIC 
15-17) located nationally; and
     Facilities in the Salvage Yard Sector (covered by SIC 
5015, 5093) located nationally.
    Title: Compliance Assistance Surveys for the Marina, Metal 
Finishing, Construction Site, and Salvage Yard Sectors; EPA ICR No. 
2021.01
    Abstract: EPA Region I and the Office of Compliance (OC) within the 
Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) are planning to 
conduct a performance baseline survey and follow-up survey for the 
Marina sector, and a performance snapshot for the Metal Finishing 
sector. In addition, OC is interested in conducting a baseline 
performance survey and compliance assistance needs assessment for 
either the Construction Site or Salvage Yard sectors and is seeking 
comment on which of the two sectors is in need of compliance 
assistance. There are three main purposes for these compliance 
assistance surveys:
     To collect actual cost and hour burden estimates per 
respondent and response rates for information collected through mailed 
survey instruments versus a site visit survey approach. Site visit 
surveys are believed to require more respondent time but should result 
in an excellent response rate and more accurate data when compared to a 
mailed survey. OC would like to test this hypothesis by conducting 
parallel mailed and site visit surveys to two or more industry sectors.
     To determine a baseline level of regulatory awareness and 
compliance from which to measure the success of the Agency's compliance 
outreach efforts for reporting under the Government Performance and 
Results Act (GPRA). For key sectors for which EPA is planning to 
initiate compliance assistance, a baseline level of compliance and 
regulatory awareness is needed from which to measure future progress.
     To identify those topical areas of poor regulatory 
compliance or regulatory confusion for each sector studied so that 
compliance outreach resources can be targeted to those issues.
    EPA Region I is planning a Clean Marinas Initiative. The activities 
planned under this initiative are designed to provide marinas with 
basic regulatory information and to encourage ``beyond compliance'' 
behaviors through the dissemination of a wide variety of tools. EPA 
Region I would like to conduct a statistically valid voluntary mail 
survey and site-visit survey of a sample of the approximate 1,200 
marinas in the Region. These surveys will be used to (1) determine what 
compliance outreach tools are useful and (2) get a better sense of the 
compliance challenges faced by this sector. The results of the survey 
will be used to establish a performance baseline at the start of this 
initiative. A follow-up survey will then be conducted to determine 
progress against the baseline.
    EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance has adopted a 
sector approach for many of its compliance assistance activities. The 
metal finishing industry is an example of a sector for which EPA has 
focused many of its compliance assistance activities. There is 
considerable debate as to the extent of environmental releases, 
environmental impacts associated with these releases, compliance rates, 
the need for additional compliance assistance, and the effectiveness of 
compliance assistance tools developed for this industry. OECA would 
like to conduct a statistically valid voluntary mail survey and site-
visit survey of a sample of metal finishing facilities in two 
geographical areas to determine a performance snapshot of this sector 
which reflects current facility performance with respect to key federal 
regulations. The surveys will be conducted as a voluntary blind sample

[[Page 16224]]

(i.e., the facilities' identity will be unknown to the Agency and the 
facilities will participate voluntarily). The results of the survey 
will provide OECA with information on compliance assistance topics 
applicable to this sector and information from which to measure the 
success of OECA's compliance assistance programs for Government 
Performance and Results Act (GPRA) reporting purposes.
    OECA is evaluating the need for compliance assistance for two 
additional sectors: construction sites and salvage yards. OECA 
identified these sectors based on anecdotal information from states and 
EPA regions; however, sufficient data are not available in EPA's 
databases to evaluate the current state of compliance in these sectors. 
Therefore, OECA is interested in determining:
     The level of regulatory awareness in each sector;
     Areas of noncompliance and root causes of noncompliance; 
and
     The need for compliance assistance tools for each sector 
and the tools that would be most accessible and useful.
    OECA is soliciting comment whether to conduct a statistically valid 
voluntary mail survey and site-visit survey of a sample of facilities 
in one of these sectors using the same approach as described above for 
the metal finishing and marina sectors. Since the population for 
construction sites and salvage yards is not known, OECA will conduct 
double stage cluster sampling.
    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: The baseline surveys being requested are one time 
information collections. The public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average:
     1 hour per respondent for the mailed surveys in each 
sector; and
     4 hours per respondent for the site visit surveys in each 
sector.
    Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, and 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: 400 Marinas in EPA Region I (200 
random marinas will be sampled for the mailed survey, 100 random 
facilities for the site-visit survey, 100 random facilities for the 
follow-up survey); 300 facilities in the metal finishing sector located 
in the vicinity of Detroit, MI and Philadelphia, PA (200 random 
facilities will be sampled for the mailed survey, 100 random facilities 
for the site-visit survey); 300 facilities in the construction site or 
salvage yard sector located nationally (200 random facilities will be 
sampled for the mailed survey, 100 random facilities for the site-visit 
survey).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 300 Marinas in EPA Region I 
(assuming a 50% response rate to the mailed survey, a 100% response 
rate for the site-visit survey and a 100% response rate for the follow-
up survey,where we are assuming the more conservative approach that the 
follow-ups will be on-site visits); 200 facilities in the metal 
finishing sector (assuming a 50% response rate to the mailed survey and 
a 100% response rate for the site-visit survey); 200 facilities in the 
construction site or salvage yard sector (assuming a 50% response rate 
to the mailed survey and a 100% response rate for the site-visit 
survey).
    Frequency of Response: Once (although we will be surveying the same 
sector more than once, the random sample of facilities surveyed will be 
different. There is a slight chance that a facility could be in both 
samples but we assume that that isn't likely to occur.)
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 1,900 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $131,670.

    Dated: March 14, 2001.
Michael M. Stahl,
Office Director, Office of Compliance.
[FR Doc. 01-7282 Filed 3-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-U