[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 55 (Thursday, March 21, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13139-13140]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6849]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7161-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Up for Renewal: EPA Worker Protection Standard for 
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, EPA ICR #1426.06, 
OMB Control #2050-0105, Expiration 7/31/2002

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 continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): EPA Worker Protection Standard for 
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, EPA ICR #1426.06, 
OMB Control #2050-0105, Expiration 7/31/2002. 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 15, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (5305G), U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20460.
    Remit comments to Sella M. Burchette, US EPA/ERTC, 2890 Woodbridge 
Avenue, Building 18, MS101, Edison, NJ 08837-3679.
    To obtain a copy at no charge, please contact Sella Burchette at 
(732) 321-6726/FAX: (732) 321-6724/or electronically at 
[email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sella M. Burchette, (732) 321-6726/
FAX: (732) 321-6724/or electronically at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those State and local employees engaged in hazardous waste operations 
and emergency response in the 27 States that do not have Occupational 
Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) approved State plans.
    Title: EPA Worker Protection Standard for Hazardous Waste Operation 
and Emergency Response, OMB Control #2050-0105, EPA ICR #1426.06, 
Expiration 7/31/02. This is a request for renewal of a currently 
approved collection.
    Abstract: Section 126(f) of the Superfund Amendments and 
Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) requires EPA to set worker 
protection standards for State and local employees engaged in hazardous 
waste operations and emergency response in the 27 States that do not 
have Occupational Safety and Health Administration approved State 
plans. The EPA coverage, required to identical to the OSHA standards, 
extends to three categories of employees: those engaged in clean-ups at 
uncontrolled hazardous waste sites, including corrective actions at 
Treatment, Storage and Disposal (TSD) facilities regulated under the 
Resource Conservation and recovery Act (RCRA); employees working at 
routine hazardous waste operations at RCRA TSD facilities, and 
employees involved in emergency response operations without regard to 
location. This ICR renews to existing mandatory record keeping 
collection of ongoing activities including monitoring of any potential 
employee exposure at uncontrolled hazardous waste site, maintaining 
records of employee training, refresher training, medical exams and 
reviewing emergency response plans. 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 annual recordkeeping burden for this 
collection is estimated to average 10.46 hours per site or event. The 
estimated number of respondents is approximated at 100 RCRA TSD 
facilities or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites: 23,900 State and 
local police departments, fire departments or hazardous materials 
teams. The estimated total burden hours on respondents: 255,427. The 
frequency of collection: continuous maintenance of records. Burden 
means to total time, effort, and 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

[[Page 13140]]

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.
    Remit comments regarding these matters, or any other aspect of the 
information collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, 
to the address listed above.

    Dated: March 5, 2002.
Elaine F. Davies,
Acting Office Director, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response.
[FR Doc. 02-6849 Filed 3-20-02; 8:45 am]
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