[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 186 (Wednesday, September 25, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60236-60238]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24340]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7382-9]


Office of Environmental Information Contact Information Data 
Standard

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:  Notice of information availability and request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Notice of availability is hereby given for a 45-day public 
comment period on the Contact Information Data Standard. The draft 
standard consists of a list of data elements, definitions for these 
elements, notes, and explanatory preamble language. Also included in 
the Docket are a set of Frequently Asked Questions Concerning the 
Contact Information Data Standard. The draft standard was developed by 
the partnership efforts of States, Tribes, and U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency participating in the Environmental Data Standards 
Council (EDSC). The EDSC convened Action Teams consisting of 
representatives from EPA, and the States to develop the core set of 
data elements to facilitate the sharing of information regarding 
contact name, address, and communication information. The EPA and the 
EDSC invite comment on these standards from States, EPA, Tribes, 
database managers in the public and private sectors, and the general 
public with interest in development and use of data for which defines 
the who, where, and how in contacting a person or organization.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before November 12, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted electronically, by mail, by 
facsimile, or through hand delivery/courier. Follow the detailed 
instructions as provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Linda Spencer, OEI/OIC/CSTD, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue (MC 2822T), 
Washington, DC 20460, Phone: 202 566 1651, Fax: 202 566 1624, e-mail: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. General Information

A. How Can I Get Copies of This Document and Other Related Information?

1. Docket
    EPA has established an official public docket for this action under 
Docket ID No. OEI--2002-0007. The official public docket consists of 
the documents specifically referenced in this action, any public 
comments received, and other information related to this action. 
Although a part of the official docket, the public docket does not 
include Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. The official public docket 
is the collection of materials that is available for public viewing at 
the OEI Docket in the EPA Docket Center, (EPA/DC) EPA West, Room B102, 
1301 Constitution Ave., NW, Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center 
Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading 
Room is (202) 566-1742, and the telephone number for the OEI Docket is 
(202) 566-1752).
2. Electronic Access
    You may access this Federal Register document electronically 
through the EPA Internet under the ``Federal Register'' listings at 
http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.
    An electronic version of the public docket is available through 
EPA's electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets. You may 
use EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket/ to submit or view public 
comments, access the index listing of the contents of the official 
public docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that 
are available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,''

[[Page 60237]]

then key in the appropriate docket identification number.
    Certain types of information will not be placed in the EPA Dockets. 
Information claimed as CBI and other information whose disclosure is 
restricted by statute, which is not included in the official public 
docket, will not be available for public viewing in EPA's electronic 
public docket. EPA's policy is that copyrighted material will not be 
placed in EPA's electronic public docket but will be available only in 
printed, paper form in the official public docket. To the extent 
feasible, publicly available docket materials will be made available in 
EPA's electronic public docket. When a document is selected from the 
index list in EPA Dockets, the system will identify whether the 
document is available for viewing in EPA's electronic public docket. 
Although not all docket materials may be available electronically, you 
may still access any of the publicly available docket materials through 
the docket facility identified in Unit I.B. EPA intends to work towards 
providing electronic access to all of the publicly available docket 
materials through EPA's electronic public docket.
    For public commenters, it is important to note that EPA's policy is 
that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, 
will be made available for public viewing in EPA's electronic public 
docket as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment 
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment 
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that 
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EPA's 
electronic public docket. The entire printed comment, including the 
copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket.
    Public comments submitted on computer disks that are mailed or 
delivered to the docket will be transferred to EPA's electronic public 
docket. Public comments that are mailed or delivered to the Docket will 
be scanned and placed in EPA's electronic public docket. Where 
practical, physical objects will be photographed, and the photograph 
will be placed in EPA's electronic public docket along with a brief 
description written by the docket staff.
    For additional information about EPA's electronic public docket 
visit EPA Dockets online or see 67 FR 38102, May 31, 2002.

B. How and To Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    You may submit comments electronically, by mail, by facsimile, or 
through hand delivery/courier. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, 
identify the appropriate docket identification number in the subject 
line on the first page of your comment. Please ensure that your 
comments are submitted within the specified comment period. Comments 
received after the close of the comment period will be marked ``late.'' 
EPA is not required to consider these late comments. However, late 
comments may be considered if time permits.
1. Electronically
    If you submit an electronic comment as prescribed below, EPA 
recommends that you include your name, mailing address, and an e-mail 
address or other contact information in the body of your comment. Also 
include this contact information on the outside of any disk or CD ROM 
you submit, and in any cover letter accompanying the disk or CD ROM. 
This ensures that you can be identified as the submitter of the comment 
and allows EPA to contact you in case EPA cannot read your comment due 
to technical difficulties or needs further information on the substance 
of your comment. EPA's policy is that EPA will not edit your comment, 
and any identifying or contact information provided in the body of a 
comment will be included as part of the comment that is placed in the 
official public docket, and made available in EPA's electronic public 
docket. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties 
and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to 
consider your comment.
    i. EPA Dockets. Your use of EPA's electronic public docket to 
submit comments to EPA electronically is EPA's preferred method for 
receiving comments. Go directly to EPA Dockets at http://www.epa.gov/edocket, and follow the online instructions for submitting comments. To 
access EPA's electronic public docket from the EPA Internet home page, 
select ``Information Sources,'' ``Dockets,'' and ``EPA Dockets.'' Once 
in the system, select ``search,'' and then key in Docket ID No. OEI-
2002-0007. The system is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means 
EPA will not know your identity, e-mail address, or other contact 
information unless you provide it in the body of your comment.
    ii. E-mail. Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to 
[email protected], Attention Docket ID No. OEI-2002-0007. In contrast 
to EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's e-mail system is not an 
``anonymous access'' system. If you send an e-mail comment directly to 
the Docket without going through EPA's electronic public docket, EPA's 
e-mail system automatically captures your e-mail address. E-mail 
addresses that are automatically captured by EPA's e-mail system are 
included as part of the comment that is placed in the official public 
docket, and made available in EPA's electronic public docket.
    iii. Disk or CD ROM. You may submit comments on a disk or CD ROM 
that you mail to the mailing address identified in Unit 1.B. These 
electronic submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file 
format. Avoid the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
    iv. By Mail. Send your comments to: OEI Docket, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Mailcode: 6102T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, 
Washington, DC, 20460, Attention Docket ID No. OEI-2002-0007.
    v. By Hand Delivery or Courier. Deliver your comments to: Public 
Reading Room, Room B102, EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution Avenue, 
NW, Washington, DC, Attention Docket ID No. OEI-2002-0007. Such 
deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of 
operation as identified in Unit I. A. 1.
    vi. By Facsimile. Fax your comments to: 202-566-1753, Attention 
Docket ID. No. OEI-2002-0007.

C. What Should I Consider as I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide any technical information and/or data you used that 
support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at your estimate.
    5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
    6. Offer alternatives.
    7. Make sure to submit your comments by the comment period deadline 
identified.
    8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, identify the appropriate docket 
identification number in the subject line on the first page of your 
response. It would also be helpful if you provided the name, date, and 
Federal Register citation related to your comments.

[[Page 60238]]

II. Environmental Data Standards Council (EDSC) Background

    Data sharing has become an increasingly important aspect of sound 
environmental management. States, Tribes, and EPA together face the 
critical challenge of sharing information among themselves and with 
their respective stakeholders and public. Fundamental to the seamless 
exchange of data are data standards. Data standards help improve the 
ability of partners (internal and external) to exchange data 
efficiently and accurately, and also assist secondary users of data to 
understand, interpret, and use data appropriately. Recognition of the 
need for EPA, States and Tribes to develop and agree upon data 
standards for environmental information sharing has lead to the 
creation of the EDSC. Data standards are documented agreements on 
formats and definitions of data elements. Standards are developed only 
when there is an environmental management business reason.
    The EDSC's mission is to promote the efficient sharing of 
environmental information between EPA, States, Tribes, and other 
parties through the development of data standards. The EDSC identified 
contact information as an information area for which having a standard 
will create value to all interested parties. An Action Team 
deliberation process bringing together State, EPA, and Tribal parties 
began in June 2002 for the Contact Information Data Standard. The 
standard was delivered to the EDSC for consideration in August 2002 and 
approved for initiation of this 45-day public comment period.
    After the comment period announced in this Notice, the EDSC and its 
Action Team will review comments received and make appropriate 
modifications. The EDSC will then consider approval of these data 
standards as appropriate. EDSC approval does not bind an individual 
agency to using a standard. It will be up to the individual or programs 
to determine if, when, and how it might use a standard developed under 
the auspices of the EDSC. It will be the intent of EPA to adopt and 
implement the consistent use of EDSC-approved standards in its 
information systems and programs.

III. Draft Contact Information Data Standard Background

    The draft Contact Information Data Standard includes: (1) Point of 
Contact, (2) Address, and (3) Communication information. The Contact 
Information Data Standard helps define the answers to: who, where, and 
how in contacting a person or organization. In order to ensure 
consistency among data standards, some of the data elements which are 
included in this Contact Information Data Standard have been 
incorporated from the Facility Identification Data Standard and the 
Permitting Standards which were previously approved by the EDSC. In 
addition to being available in the docket, the Draft Contact 
Information Data Standard and the Frequently Asked questions concerning 
the Data Standard can be accessed on the EDSC Web site at http://www.epa.gov/edsc or in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 
Environmental Data Registry at http://www.epa.gov/edr.

IV. Future Revisions

    EDSC standards will be periodically reviewed and revised as 
recommended by the EDSC. The most current standards will be posted at 
www.edsc.org and www.epa.gov/edr.

V. Review of Draft Standard to Date

    The draft standard has received significant input through the 
representatives from EPA program, States, and Tribal organizations. In 
addition, the preliminary versions of the draft standards have been 
reviewed by State and EPA programs managers during the second quarter 
of 2002. EDSC members have also reviewed and recommended these draft 
standards for this public comment process.

    Dated: September 17, 2002.
Mark Luttner,
Director, Office of Information Collection, Office of Environmental 
Information.
[FR Doc. 02-24340 Filed 9-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P