[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 118 (Monday, June 21, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 34346-34347]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-13936]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[SFUND-2004-0005, FRL-7775-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Information Collection Request for Superfund Site 
Evaluation and Hazard Ranking System, EPA ICR Number 1488.06, OMB 
Control Number 2050-0095

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 
proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB):
    Superfund Site Evaluation and Hazard Ranking System; ICR 
1488.06. This is a request to renew an existing approved 
collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on November 30, 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 August 20, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number SFUND-
2004-0005, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-
mail to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Mailstop 5202T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Yolanda Singer, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Mail Stop 5204G, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 603-8835.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR under Docket ID number SFUND-2004-0005, which is available for 
public viewing at the CERCLA 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 CERCLA Docket is (202) 566-0276. 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 2001 
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the 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.
    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 State agencies, Indian Tribes, and U.S. Territories performing 
Superfund site evaluation activities.
    Title: Superfund Site Evaluation and Hazard Ranking System.
    Abstract: Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, 
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, 1980 and 1986) amends the 
National Oil and Hazardous

[[Page 34347]]

Substances Contingency Plan (NCP) to include criteria prioritizing 
releases throughout the U.S. before undertaking remedial action at 
uncontrolled hazardous waste sites. The Hazard Ranking System (HRS) is 
a model that is used to evaluate the relative threats to human health 
and the environment posed by actual or potential releases of hazardous 
substances, pollutants, and contaminants. The HRS criteria take into 
account the population at risk, the hazard potential of the substances, 
as well as the potential for contamination of drinking water supplies, 
direct human contact, destruction of sensitive ecosystems, damage to 
natural resources affecting the human food chain, contamination of 
surface water used for recreation or potable water consumption, and 
contamination of ambient air.
    EPA Regional offices work with States to determine those sites for 
which the State will conduct the Superfund site evaluation activities 
and the HRS scoring. The States are reimbursed 100 percent of their 
costs, except for record maintenance.
    Under this ICR, the States will apply the HRS by identifying and 
classifying those releases or sites that warrant further investigation. 
The HRS score is crucial since it is the primary mechanism used to 
determine whether a site is eligible to be included on the National 
Priorities List (NPL). Only sites on the NPL are eligible for 
Superfund-financed remedial actions.
    HRS scores are derived from the sources described in this 
information collection, including conducting field reconnaissance, 
taking samples at the site, and reviewing available reports and 
documents. States record the collected information on HRS documentation 
worksheets and include this in the supporting reference package.
    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: The annual public reporting and record keeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to range from 44 
to 1,870 hours per site depending on how far a site progresses through 
the site assessment process. Sites needing Pre-CERCLIS Screening and no 
other Superfund site assessment work will require an average of 44 
hours per site, while sites progressing though all of the major phases 
of the site assessment process will require an average of 1,870 hours 
per site. EPA estimates 60 States, Indian Tribes, and U.S. Territories 
will likely respond, each averaging 14 actions per year. EPA further 
estimates the average hours per action will require 171 hours (based on 
historic data for the type of site assessment activities to be 
conducted). Thus, the burden for all respondents is estimated at 
143,640 hours and approximately $10,903,301 each year (based on 
historic data on estimated costs per site assessment activity). 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: States, Indian Tribes, and U.S. 
Territories performing Superfund site evaluation activities.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 60.
    Frequency of Response: One time; section 116(b) requires an HRS 
evaluation within four years of the site's entry into the EPA 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability 
Information System (CERCLIS) database.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 143,640 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $10,903,301.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $0.

    Dated: June 14, 2004.
Charles H. Sutfin,
Acting Director, Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology 
Innovation, Office of Solid Waste and Remedial Response.
[FR Doc. 04-13936 Filed 6-18-04; 8:45 am]
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