[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 111 (Monday, June 10, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39716-39717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-14484]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7226-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; RCRA Expanded Public Participation

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) for review and approval: RCRA Expanded Public 
Participation, OMB Control Number 2050-0149, expiration date: May 31, 
2002. 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 July 10, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1688.04 and OMB 
Control No. 2050-0149, 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. 1688.04. For technical 
questions about the ICR contact Toshia King at 703-308-7033 in the 
Office of Solid Waste.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: RCRA Expanded Public Participation (OMB Control No. 2050-
0149; EPA ICR No. 1688.04) expiring May 31, 2002. This is a request for 
extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Section 7004(b) of RCRA gives EPA broad authority to 
provide for, encourage, and assist public participation in the 
development, revision, implementation, and enforcement of any 
regulation,

[[Page 39717]]

guideline, information, or program under RCRA. In addition, the statute 
specifies certain public notices (i.e., radio, newspaper, and a letter 
to relevant agencies) that EPA must provide before issuing any RCRA 
permit. The statute also establishes a process by which the public can 
dispute a permit and request a public hearing to discuss it. EPA 
carries out much of its RCRA public involvement at 40 CFR parts 124 and 
270.
    In 1995, EPA expanded the public participation requirements under 
the RCRA program by promulgating the RCRA Expanded Public Participation 
Rule (60 FR 63417; December 11, 1995). The rule responded to calls by 
the Administration and stakeholders (e.g., States and private citizens) 
to provide earlier and better public participation in EPA's permitting 
programs, including procedures for more timely information sharing. In 
particular, the rule requires earlier public involvement in the 
permitting process (e.g., pre-application meetings), expanded public 
notice for significant events (e.g., notices of upcoming trial burns), 
and more opportunities for the exchange of permitting information 
(e.g., information repository).
    The required activities and information are needed to help assure 
timely and effective public participation in the permitting process. 
The requirements are intended to provide equal access to information to 
all stakeholders in the permitting process: The permitting agency, the 
permit applicant, and the community where a facility is located. Some 
facilities may be required to develop information repositories to allow 
for expanded public participation and access to detailed facility 
information as part of the permitting process.
    EPA sought to reduce the reporting frequency to the minimum that is 
necessary to ensure compliance with the rule. It would not be possible 
to collect this information less frequently and still assure that the 
requirements of permit and public involvement regulations are met by 
owners or operators. The reporting frequency is essential to assure 
that any changes in the trial burn plans or in the anticipated permit 
application contents are made known to EPA and to the public. 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 January 22, 2002 (67 FR 
2878); no comments were received. Burden Statement: The annual public 
reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information 
is estimated to average 91 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: Facility owners or operators 
applying for an initial RCRA Part B permit or a Part B permit renewal.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 33.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 3,005 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $4.
    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. 1688.04 and OMB Control No. 2050-0149 in any 
correspondence.

    Dated: May 29, 2002.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 02-14484 Filed 6-7-02; 8:45 am]
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