[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 175 (Monday, September 12, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 53793-53794]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18022]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[SFUND-2005-0008, FRL-7967-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Emergency Planning and Release Notification 
Requirements (EPCRA Sections 302, 303, and 304); EPA ICR Number 
1395.06, OMB Control Number 2050-0092

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 February 28, 
2006. 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 November 14, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number SFUND-
2005-0008, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-
mail to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, 
Environmental Protection Agency, Superfund Docket, Mail Code 5305T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sicy Jacob, Mail Code 5104A, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-564-8019; fax number: 202-
564-2625; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this 
ICR under Docket ID number SFUND-2005-0008, which is available for 
public viewing at the Superfund 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 Superfund 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 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 
those which have a threshold planning quantity of an extremely 
hazardous substance (EHS) listed in 40 CFR part 355, Appendix A and 
those which have a release of any of the EHS above a reportable 
quantity. Entities more likely to be affected by this action may 
include chemical manufacturers, non-chemical manufacturers, retailers, 
petroleum refineries, utilities, etc.
    Title: Emergency Planning and Release Notification Requirements 
(EPCRA sections 302, 303, and 304)
    Abstract: The authority for these requirements is sections 302, 
303, and 304 of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act 
(EPCRA), 1986 (42 U.S.C. 11002, 11003, and 11004). EPCRA established 
broad emergency planning and facility reporting requirements. Section 
302 requires facilities to notify their state emergency response 
commission (SERC) that the facility is subject to emergency planning. 
This activity has been completed; this ICR covers only new facilities 
that are subject to this requirement. Section 303 requires the local 
emergency planning committees (LEPCs) to prepare emergency plans for 
facilities that are subject to section 302. This activity has been also 
completed; this ICR only covers any updates needed for these emergency 
response plans. Section 304 requires facilities to report to SERCs and 
LEPCs releases in excess of the reportable quantities listed for each 
extremely hazardous substance (EHS). This ICR also covers the 
notification and the written follow-up required under this section.
    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;

[[Page 53794]]

    (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 reporting burden for emergency 
planning under 40 CFR 355.30 is 16.15 hours for new facilities and 1.50 
hours for existing facilities. For new facilities, this burden includes 
the time required to read and understand the regulations, to determine 
reporting status, notify the SERC that the facility is subject to 
emergency planning, designate a facility representative and otherwise 
participate in initial planning activities and provide information to 
the LEPC for planning purposes (11 hours). For a limited number of 
existing facilities, there may a burden to inform the LEPC of any 
changes at the facility that may affect emergency planning (1.50 
hours). The average reporting burden for facilities reporting releases 
under 40 CFR 355.40 is estimated to average approximately 5 hours per 
release, including the time for determining if the release is a 
reportable quantity, notifying the LEPC and SERC, or the 911 operator, 
and developing and submitting a written follow-up notice. There are no 
recordkeeping requirements for facilities under EPCRA Sections 302-304. 
The total burden to facilities over three years is 264,560 hours at a 
cost of $8.8 million.
    The average burden for emergency planning activities is 21 hours 
per plan for LEPCs, and 16 hours per plan for SERCs. Each SERC and LEPC 
is also estimated to incur an annual recordkeeping burden of 10 hours. 
The total burden to LEPC and SERC over three years is 372,820 hours at 
a cost of $9.5 million.
    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: September 2, 2005.
Deborah Y. Dietrich,
Director, Office of Emergency Management.
[FR Doc. 05-18022 Filed 9-9-05; 8:45 am]
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