[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 191 (Tuesday, October 2, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50182-50183]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-24600]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7071-4]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Institutional Controls Tracking Systems and Costs 
Survey

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): Institutional Controls Tracking Systems 
and Costs Survey EPA ICR No. 2043.01. 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 December 3, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments submitted by regular U.S. Postal Service mail 
should be sent to: Docket Coordinator, Superfund Docket Office, Mail 
Code 5201G, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Building, 
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20460. To ensure proper 
receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket control 
identifier IC-SURVEY in the subject line on the first page of your 
comments. Comments may also be submitted electronically or in person. 
Please follow the detailed instructions for these submission methods. 
Interested persons may obtain a copy of the ICR without charge from 
Michael E. Bellot at the Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, 5/7 
Accelerated Response Section (5202G), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., 
Washington, DC 20460, telephone (703) 603-8905, e-mail 
[email protected], or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr/icr.htm and refer to EPA ICR No. 2043.01.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael E. Bellot, telephone (703) 
603-8905 or e-mail [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
State, Tribal, or local government agencies or organizations that 
maintain tracking systems, databases, or other information systems that 
as their primary purpose or incidentally collect and/or track 
information pertaining to the selection, planning, design, 
implementation, oversight, monitoring, and/or enforcement of 
institutional controls at sites or facilities under their jurisdiction.
    Title: Institutional Controls Tracking Systems and Costs Survey EPA 
ICR No. 2043.01.
    Abstract: The Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR) is 
currently researching the development of a system for tracking 
institutional controls at Superfund sites. Institutional controls are 
non-engineered site measures such as administrative and/or

[[Page 50183]]

legal controls that minimize the potential for exposure to 
contamination by limiting land or resource use and/or protect the 
integrity of a remedy. Institutional controls are employed at sites 
where remedies are not yet in place, are ongoing, and/or leave 
contaminant residuals on site that do not allow for unlimited use and 
unrestricted exposure. Proper implementation, monitoring, and 
enforcement of institutional controls at these sites is critical to 
EPA's core mission of protecting human health and the environment. 
Although many of these institutional control mechanisms are necessary 
parts of the remedy, they are often implemented, monitored, and/or 
enforced by States, Tribes and/or local governments.
    OERR is proposing to complete a study that includes: (1) Conducting 
research into the types of institutional controls tracking systems that 
are currently in use and evaluating their relative strengths and 
weaknesses; (2) developing a focused list of data collection points and 
definitions; (3) developing and piloting a process for the collection 
of data to be used to estimate data availability and the cost and time 
required for data acquisition; (4) developing a data entry process; and 
(5) researching the feasibility of data sharing and/or linking Federal, 
State, Tribal and/or local institutional control tracking into a web-
based system. In a second phase of this study, OERR is planning to 
develop the tracking system, establish data linkages, and populate the 
database. It is anticipated that information on institutional controls 
eventually will be available to a variety of interested stakeholders 
over the EPA web page.
    This proposed ICR specifies information necessary to determine what 
types of institutional controls tracking systems are currently in use; 
their purpose, scope, and structure; the kinds of data they track; 
their data entry, quality assurance, administration, and access 
features; data querying capabilities; compatibility with a future EPA 
system; development, population, and operating costs; and lessons 
learned from developing, implementing, and operating these systems.
    EPA estimates that approximately 52 States, 10 Tribes, and no more 
than 200 local agencies (planning, zoning, and real estate recording 
offices) will be surveyed.
    If approved by OMB, respondents will have 60 days from receipt of 
the survey to submit their responses.
    In addition to the survey, this proposed ICR includes EPA requests 
for clarifications, questions and updates to the survey, and agency 
visits. Clarifications and updates will only be necessary if EPA has 
follow-up questions regarding responses or if EPA requires more 
information to understand a tracking system. Up to 50 agencies may be 
required to submit more detailed descriptions. EPA proposes to visit up 
to 20 agencies to evaluate institutional controls tracking systems.
    Responding to the survey is entirely voluntary. 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 is soliciting 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; collect, validate, and 
verify information, process and maintain information, and disclosing 
and providing information; search data sources; complete and review the 
collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the 
information.
    The average annual burden imposed by the survey and other 
information collection efforts are approximated using the following 
assumptions:
     Approximately half the agencies surveyed will not have an 
institutional controls tracking system. It is assumed that no more than 
30 minutes would be required for these respondents. Each respondent 
will respond to the survey once. If the response rate is 100 percent, 
the estimated burden is 66 hours (131 respondents x 0.5 hours).
     Approximately half the remaining agencies will have a 
rudimentary tracking system or registry. It is assumed that six hours 
will be required to research and complete the survey and that follow-up 
contact will take no more than six hours. Each respondent will respond 
to the survey once. If the response rate is 100 percent, the estimated 
burden is 792 hours (66 respondents x 12 hours).
     No more than approximately 65 entities will have full 
systems. It is anticipated that 16 hours will be required to research 
and complete the survey and eight hours to follow up. Each respondent 
will respond to the survey once. If the response rate is 100 percent, 
the estimated burden is 1,560 hours (65 respondents x 24 hours).
     None of the respondents will incur new capital, start-up, 
operation, maintenance, or purchase of services costs in responding to 
the survey as the ICR seeks information only about existing activities 
and practices and does not require respondents to undertake new 
information collection or tracking tasks.
     The estimated average annual hour burden is 10 hours.

    Dated: September 24, 2001.
Elaine F. Davies,
Acting Director, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Office of 
Solid Waste and Emergency Response.
[FR Doc. 01-24600 Filed 10-1-01; 8:45 am]
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