[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 13, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1977-1978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-707]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[RCRA-2003-0066, FRL-7608-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under EPA's 
WasteWise Program; EPA ICR Number 1698.05, OMB Control Number 2050-0139

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.

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 a 
continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request to renew an existing 
approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2004. 
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 March 15, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. RCRA-2003-
0066, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-mail to 
[email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Mailcode 5305T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460. Follow the detailed instructions as provided in 
the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Charles Heizenroth, Office of Solid 
Waste, 5306W, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-0154; fax 
number: (703) 308-8686; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

A. How Can I Get Copies of the ICR Supporting Statement and Other 
Related Information?

    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. RCRA-2003-0066. The official public docket is the collection of 
materials that is available for public viewing at the OSWER 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-
1744, and the telephone number for the OSWER Docket is (202) 566-0270.
    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,'' then key in the docket ID number identified above.
    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 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. 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 above.
    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 EDOCKET as EPA receives 
them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted 
material, CBI, or other information whose public 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 EDOCKET. 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 on 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.

B. How and to Whom Do I Submit Comments?

    You may submit comments electronically, by mail, 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. Any comments related to this ICR should be 
submitted to EPA within 60 days of this notice. 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 in formulating a 
final decision.
    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.
    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. Once in the system, select 
``search,'' and then key in Docket ID No. RCRA-2003-0066. 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.
    Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to [email protected], Attention Docket ID No. RCRA-2003-0066. 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

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public docket, and made available in EPA's electronic public docket.
    You may submit comments on a disk or CD ROM that you mail to the 
mailing address identified in the ADDRESSES section. These electronic 
submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file format. Avoid 
the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
    2. By Mail. Send your comments to: OSWER Docket, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Mailcode: 5305T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460, Attention Docket ID No. RCRA-2003-0066.
    3. By Hand Delivery or Courier. Deliver your comments to: EPA 
Docket Center, EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC, Attention Docket ID No. RCRA-2003-0066. Such deliveries 
are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation as 
identified in Unit A.

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.

D. What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested In?

    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically 
solicits comments and information to enable it to:
    1. Evaluate whether the proposed collections of information are 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility.
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burdens 
of the proposed collections of information.
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected.
    4. Minimize the burden of the collections of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
or electronic collection technologies or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those business, institutions, and government agencies that voluntarily 
sign up to participate in EPA's WasteWise program.
    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements Under EPA's 
WasteWise program.
    Abstract: EPA's voluntary WasteWise program encourages businesses 
and other organizations to reduce solid waste through waste prevention, 
recycling, and the purchase or manufacture of recycled-content 
products. WasteWise participants include partners, which commit to 
implementing waste reduction activities of their choice, and endorsers 
which promote the WasteWise program and waste reduction to their 
members.
    The Partner Registration Form identifies an organization and its 
facilities registering to participate in WasteWise, and requires the 
signature of a senior official that can commit the organization to the 
program. (This form can be submitted either electronically or in hard 
copy.) Within six months of registering, each partner is asked to 
conduct a waste assessment and submit baseline data and waste reduction 
goals to EPA via the Annual Assessment Form. (This form can also be 
submitted either electronically or in hard copy.) On an annual basis 
partners are asked to report, via the Annual Assessment Form, on their 
progress toward achieving their waste reduction goals by estimating 
amounts of waste prevented and recyclables collected, and describing 
buying or manufacturing recycled-content products. They can also 
provide WasteWise with information on total waste prevention revenue, 
total recycling revenue, total avoided purchasing costs due to waste 
prevention, and total avoided disposal costs due to recycling and waste 
prevention. Additionally, they are asked to submit new waste reduction 
goals.
    Endorsers, which are typically trade associations or state/local 
governments, submit the Endorser Registration Form once during their 
endorser relationship with WasteWise. (This form can be submitted 
either electronically or in hard copy.) The Endorser Registration Form 
identifies the organization, the principal contact, and the activities 
to which the Endorser commits.
    EPA's WasteWise program uses the submitted information to (1) 
identify and recognize outstanding waste reduction achievements by 
individual organizations, (2) compile aggregate results that indicate 
overall accomplishments of WasteWise partners, (3) identify cost-
effective waste reduction strategies to share with other organizations, 
and (4) identify topics on which to develop assistance and information 
efforts.
    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.
    Burden Statement: The respondent burden for this collection is 
estimated to average 1 hour per response for the Partner Registration 
Form, 40 hours per response for the Annual Assessment Form, and 16 
hours per response for the Endorser Registration Form. This results in 
an estimated annual partner respondent burden of 41 hours for new 
partners, 40 hours for established partners, and a one-time respondent 
burden of 10 hours for endorsers.
    The estimated number of respondents is 1,325 in Year 1; 1,425 in 
Year 2; and 1,525 in Year 3. Estimated total annual burden on all 
respondents is 52,350 hours in Year 1; 56,350 hours in Year 2; and 
60,350 hours in Year 3.
    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.

    Dated: January 7, 2004.
Robert Springer,
Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 04-707 Filed 1-12-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P