[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 7, 2004)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40901-40902]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-15346]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[RCRA-2004-0006; FRL-7782-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Hazardous Waste Generator Standards, EPA ICR Number 
0820.09, OMB Control Number 2050-0035

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. This ICR 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 September 7, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number RCRA-
2004-0006, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-
mail to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, OSWER Docket, mail code 5305T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Anna Tschursin, Office of Solid Waste, 
Mail Code 5304W, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 308-8805; fax 
number: (703) 308-0514; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR under Docket ID number RCRA-2004-0006. Documents in the official 
public docket are listed in the index list in EPA's electronic public 
docket and comment system, EDOCKET. Documents may be available either 
electronically or in hard copy. Electronic documents may be viewed 
through EDOCKET. Hard copy documents may be viewed 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 EDOCKET at http://www.epa.gov/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 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 EDOCKET. 
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 EDOCKET. EPA's 
policy is that copyrighted material will not be placed in EDOCKET but 
will be available only in printed, paper form in the official public 
docket. Publicly available docket materials that are not available 
electronically may be viewed at the docket facility identified above.
    Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA within 
60 days of this notice. 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 EDOCKET 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 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 EDOCKET. Public comments 
that are mailed or delivered to the Docket will be scanned and placed 
in EDOCKET. Where practical, physical objects will be photographed, and 
the photograph will be placed in EDOCKET along with a brief description 
written by the docket staff.
    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. 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.
    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 EDOCKET. 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 EDOCKET 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-2004-0006. 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. Electronic comments may also be 
sent through the federal wide eRulemaking Web site at http://www.regulations.gov.
    Comments may be sent by electronic mail (e-mail) to [email protected], Attention Docket ID No. RCRA-2004-0006. In contrast to 
EDOCKET, 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

[[Page 40902]]

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 EDOCKET.
    You can mail your comments to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Mailcode: 5305T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC, 20460, Attention Docket ID No. RCRA-2004-0006. You may 
submit comments on paper, or on a disk or CD ROM. These electronic 
submissions will be accepted in WordPerfect or ASCII file format. Avoid 
the use of special characters and any form of encryption.
    You can deliver your comments to: EPA Docket Center, Room B102, EPA 
West Building, 1301 Constitution Ave NW., Washington, DC, Attention 
Docket ID No. RCRA-2004-0006. Such deliveries are only accepted during 
the Docket's normal hours of operation as identified above.
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
generators of hazardous wastes; transporters who commingle wastes with 
different Department of Transportation descriptions; and importers or 
exporters of hazardous wastes.
    Title: Hazardous Waste Generator Standards (OMB Control Number 
2050-0035; EPA ICR No. 0820.09) expiring 10/31/04.
    Abstract: In the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as 
amended, Congress directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 
(EPA) to implement a comprehensive program for the safe management of 
hazardous waste. The core of the national waste management program is 
the regulation of hazardous waste from generation to transport to 
treatment and eventual disposal, or from ``cradle to grave.'' Section 
3001(d) of RCRA requires EPA to develop standards for small quantity 
generators. Section 3002 of RCRA among other things states that EPA 
shall establish requirements for hazardous waste generators regarding 
recordkeeping practices. Section 3002 also requires EPA to establish 
standards on appropriate use of containers by generators.
    Finally, Section 3017 of RCRA specifies requirements for 
individuals exporting hazardous waste from the United States, including 
a notification of the intent to export, and an annual report 
summarizing the types, quantities, frequency, and ultimate destination 
of all exported hazardous waste (additional reporting requirements for 
exporters and importers of recyclable materials are covered under ICR 
Number 1647.01).
    This ICR addresses five categories of informational requirements in 
part 262 of the Code of Federal Regulations: pre-transport requirements 
for both large quantity generators (LQG) and small quantity generators 
(SQG); air emission standards requirements for LQGs (referenced in 40 
CFR Part 265, Subparts I and J); recordkeeping and reporting 
requirements for LQGs and SQGs; and export requirements for LQGs and 
SQGs (i.e., notification of intent to export and annual reporting). 
This collection of information is necessary to help generators and EPA: 
(1) Identify and understand the waste streams being generated and the 
hazards associated with them; (2) determine whether employees have 
acquired the necessary expertise to perform their jobs; and (3) 
determine whether LQGs have developed adequate procedures to respond to 
unplanned sudden or non-sudden releases of hazardous waste or hazardous 
constituents to air, soil, or surface water. This information is also 
needed to help EPA determine whether tank systems are operated in a 
manner that is fully protective of human health and the environment and 
to ensure that releases to the environment are managed quickly and 
efficiently. Additionally, this information contributes to EPA's goal 
of preventing contamination of the environment from hazardous waste 
accumulation practices, including contamination from equipment leaks 
and process vents. Export information is needed to ensure that: (1) 
foreign governments consent to U.S. exported wastes; (2) exported waste 
is actually managed at facilities listed in the original notifications; 
and (3) documents are available for compliance audits and enforcement 
actions. In general, these requirements contribute to EPA's goal of 
preventing contamination of the environment.
    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.
    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 average annual public reporting burden per 
response for LQGs under this collection of information is estimated to 
range from 21 minutes to 32.6 hours, and the average annual public 
reporting burden per response for SQGs is estimated to range from 21 
minutes to 7.2 hours. The average annual recordkeeping burden per 
response for LQGs under this collection of information is estimated to 
range from 2.5 to 3.2 hours, and the average annual recordkeeping 
burden per response for SQGs is estimated to range from 1.2 to 1.6 
hours.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Hazardous Waste Generators, 
Hazardous Waste Transporters who commingle waste with different 
Department of Transportation descriptions; and Importers or Exporters 
of Hazardous Waste.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 130,511.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 475,802 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital and O&M Cost Burden: $54,288. 
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: June 20, 2004.
Robert Springer,
Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 04-15346 Filed 7-6-04; 8:45 am]
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