[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 75 (Monday, April 19, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20870-20871]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-8796]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[UST-2004-0001, FRL-7649-4]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Underground Storage Tanks: Technical and Financial 
Requirements, and State Program Approval Procedures, EPA ICR Number 
1360.07, OMB Control Number 2050-0068

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 a 
continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request to renew an existing 
approved collection which is scheduled to expire on October 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 June 18, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number UST-2004-
0001 to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-mail to 
[email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Underground Storage Tank (UST) Docket, Mail Code 
5305T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sammy Ng, Office of Underground 
Storage Tanks, Mail Code 5401G, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 
603-9900; fax number: (703) 603-0175; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR under Docket ID number UST-2004-0001 which is available for public 
viewing at the UST 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 UST 
Docket is (202) 566-0270. An electronic version of the public docket is 
available through EPA Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. 
Use EDOCKET to obtain a copy of the draft collection of information, 
submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the 
contents of the public docket, and 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.
    Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA within 
60 days of this notice. 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. Although identified 
as an item in the official docket, information claimed as CBI or whose 
disclosure is otherwise restricted by statute is not included in the 
official public docket, and will not be available for public viewing in 
EDOCKET. For further information about the electronic docket, see EPA's 
Federal Register notice describing the electronic docket at 67 FR 38102 
(May 31, 2002), or go to http://www.epa.gov/edocket.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those facilities that own and operate underground storage tanks (USTs) 
and those States that implement the UST programs.
    Title: ``Underground Storage Tanks: Technical and Financial 
Requirements, and State Program Approval Procedures.''
    Abstract: Subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 
(RCRA), as amended, requires that EPA develop standards for UST 
systems, as may be necessary, to protect human health and the 
environment, and procedures for approving State programs in lieu of the 
Federal program. EPA promulgated technical and financial requirements 
for owners and operators of USTs at 40 CFR part 280, and State program 
approval procedures at 40 CFR part 281. This ICR is a comprehensive 
presentation of all information collection requirements contained at 40 
CFR parts 280 and 281.
    The data collected for new and existing UST system operations and 
financial requirements are used by

[[Page 20871]]

owners and operators and/or EPA or the implementing agency to monitor 
results of testing, inspections, and operation of UST systems, as well 
as to demonstrate compliance with regulations. EPA believes strongly 
that if the minimum requirements specified under the regulations are 
not met, neither the facilities nor EPA can ensure that UST systems are 
being managed in a manner protective of human health and the 
environment.
    EPA uses State program applications to determine whether to approve 
a State program. Before granting approval, EPA must determine that 
programs will be no less stringent than the Federal program and contain 
adequate enforcement mechanisms.
    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 in 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
    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: EPA estimates the total annual respondent burden 
for all activities covered in this proposed ICR to be 6,814,362 hours. 
The total annual respondent cost burden is estimated to be $713,330,054 
($369,823,007 in labor costs; $80,250,656 in capital/startup costs; and 
$263,256,390 in operation and maintenance costs). The Agency estimates 
the average total annual number of respondents will be 254,668 (i.e., 
254,666 UST facilities and two States) and the frequency of their 
response will depend upon the individual reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements.
    Based on this analysis, the public reporting burden for UST 
facilities is estimated to average 15 hours per respondent per year. 
This estimate includes time for preparing and submitting notices, 
preparing and submitting demonstrations and applications, reporting 
releases, gathering information, and preparing and submitting reports. 
The recordkeeping burden for UST facilities is estimated to average 12 
hours per respondent per year. This estimate includes time for 
gathering information and for developing and maintaining records.
    For States applying for program approval, the reporting burden is 
estimated to average 13 hours per respondent per year. This estimate 
includes time for preparing and submitting an application and 
associated information. The recordkeeping burden is estimated to 
average 15 hours per respondent per year. This estimate includes time 
for maintaining application files.
    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: April 6, 2004.
Cliff Rothenstein,
Director, Office of Underground Storage Tanks.
[FR Doc. 04-8796 Filed 4-16-04; 8:45 am]
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