[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 66 (Thursday, April 7, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17686-17687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-6850]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[RCRA-2005-0005, FRL-7895-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; RCRA Expanded Public Participation, EPA ICR Number 
1688.05, OMB Control Number 2050-0149

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 an existing approved 
collection. This ICRis scheduled to expire on August 31, 2005. 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 6, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number RCRA-
2005-0005, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-
mail to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, RCRA Docket, mail code 5305T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norma Abdul-Malik, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: 703-308-8753; fax number: 703-308-8617; e-mail 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR under Docket ID number RCRA-2005-0005, which is available for 
public viewing at the RCRA 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 RCRA 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 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 
facility owners or operators applying for an initial Part B permit or a 
Part B permit renewal.
    Title: RCRA Expanded Public Participation.
    Abstract: Section 7004(b) of RCRA gives EPA broad authority to 
provide for, encourage, and assist public participation in the 
development, revision, implementation, and enforcement of any 
regulation, guideline, information, or program under RCRA. In addition, 
the statute specifies certain public notices (i.e., radio, newspaper, 
and a letter to relevant agencies) that EPA must provide before issuing 
any RCRA permit. The statute also establishes a process by which the 
public can dispute a permit and request a public hearing to discuss it. 
EPA carries out much of its RCRA public involvement at 40 CFR parts 124 
and 270.
    In 1995, EPA expanded the public participation requirements under 
the RCRA program by promulgating the RCRA Expanded Public Participation 
Rule (60 FR 63417; December 11, 1995). The rule responded to calls by 
the

[[Page 17687]]

Administration and stakeholders (e.g., States and private citizens) to 
provide earlier and better public participation in EPA's permitting 
programs, including procedures for more timely information sharing. In 
particular, the rule requires earlier public involvement in the 
permitting process (e.g., pre-application meetings), expanded public 
notice for significant events (e.g., notices of upcoming trial burns), 
and more opportunities for the exchange of permitting information 
(e.g., information repository).
    The required activities and information are needed to help assure 
timely and effective public participation in the permitting process. 
The requirements are intended to provide equal access to information to 
all stakeholders in the permitting process: the permitting agency, the 
permit applicant, and the community where a facility is located. Some 
facilities may be required to develop information repositories to allow 
for expanded public participation and access to detailed facility 
information as part of the permitting process.
    EPA sought to reduce the reporting frequency to the minimum that is 
necessary to ensure compliance with the rule. It would not be possible 
to collect this information less frequently and still assure that the 
requirements of permit and public involvement regulations are met by 
owners or operators. The reporting frequency is essential to assure 
that any changes in the trial burn plans or in the anticipated permit 
application contents are made known to EPA and to the public.
    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 recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 91 
hours per response. 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.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 33.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 3,005 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $4.
    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: March 29, 2005.
Maria Parisi Vickers,
Acting Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 05-6850 Filed 4-6-05; 8:45 am]
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