[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 103 (Wednesday, May 29, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37419-37420]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-13347]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7219-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Evaluations of Innovative Pilot Project 
Innovations

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 the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB): Evaluations of Innovative Pilot Project Innovations, 
EPA ICR 1993.01. The ICR describes the nature of the information 
collection and its expected burden and cost; where appropriate, it 
includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 28, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1993.01, to the 
following addresses: Susan Auby, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 
Collection Strategies Division (Mail Code 2822T), 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; and to Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), 
Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 
20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the ICR contact Susan 
Auby at EPA by phone at (202) 566-1672, by E-mail at 
[email protected], or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 1993.01. For technical questions about the 
ICR contact Eric Marsh in EPA's Office of Environmental Policy 
Innovation at (202) 260-2782.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Evaluations of Innovative Pilot Project Innovations, EPA ICR 
No. 1993.01. This is a new collection.
    Abstract: In 1995 the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began to 
solicit innovative pilot projects in response to a challenge to 
transform the environmental regulatory system to better meet the needs 
of a rapidly changing society while maintaining the nation's commitment 
to protect human health and safeguard the natural environment. Through 
site-specific agreements with project sponsors, EPA is gathering data 
and project experience that will help the Agency redesign current 
approaches to public health and environmental protection. Through these 
projects, sponsors--private facilities, multiple facilities, industry 
sectors, Federal facilities, communities, universities, Tribes and 
States--can implement innovative strategies that produce superior 
environmental performance, provide flexibility, cost savings, paperwork 
reduction or other benefits to sponsors, and promote greater 
accountability to stakeholders.
    In September 2002, EPA would like to begin in-depth evaluations of 
different innovative pilot project innovations in order to determine 
which, if any, innovations have the potential for wider application. 
These innovations center around regulations, permitting, environmental 
information management, compliance and enforcement, environmental 
stewardship, and stakeholder involvement. From the identified 
innovations, EPA plans to evaluate a select set the Agency believes has 
potential for broader application. As more innovative pilot projects 
move into implementation and more innovations emerge, EPA plans to 
continue this same process of selecting a set of new innovations and 
then evaluating them.
    The evaluation of innovative pilot project innovations will serve a 
variety of purposes. First, by learning which innovations are working 
and which are not, EPA management can better discern which innovations 
can be applied on a wider-scale, which need further testing and 
refining before wide-scale adoption, and which should eventually be 
retired. Second, the evaluations will provide information to state, 
tribal, and local agencies attempting their own unique efforts to 
transform their regulatory systems. Third, they will inform industry 
representatives and the public, allowing them to play an active, 
creative role in finding solutions to environmental problems. Finally, 
the evaluations will help set the course for future EPA innovative 
environmental programs. As a start, EPA intends to begin evaluating 
permit innovations from projects that have been in implementation for 
at least a year.
    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 
Federal Register document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published on November 
22, 2000, (65 FR 70345); one comment was received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average three 
hours per response. 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: State, Local and Tribal Government, 
Individuals, Business or other for-profit organizations.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 600.
    Frequency of Response: Once.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 1,800.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $0.
    Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the 
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods 
for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of 
automated collection techniques to the addresses listed above. Please 
refer to EPA ICR No. 1993.01 in any correspondence.


[[Page 37420]]


    Dated: May 22, 2002.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 02-13347 Filed 5-28-02; 8:45 am]
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