[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 74 (Tuesday, April 18, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 19887-19888]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-5742]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2005-0012; FRL-8159-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Draft Questionnaire for the Chlorine and Chlorinated 
Hydrocarbon Point Source Categories; EPA ICR No. 2214.01, OMB Control 
No. 2006-OW-NEW

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to 
submit a request for a new Information Collection Request (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 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. The 
information collection consists of a questionnaire for facilities that 
manufacture chlorine and/or certain chlorinated hydrocarbons. The 
questionnaire results will be used to support an effluent guidelines 
rulemaking effort.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 19, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2005-0012, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail: Water Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Mailcode: 4101T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: Water Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/
DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. 
Such deliveries are only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of 
operation, and special arrangements should be made for deliveries of 
boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2005-
0012. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in 
the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be 
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you 
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site 
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without 
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. 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. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public 
docket visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Samantha Lewis, Office of Water, 
Engineering and Analysis Division, (4303T), Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: 202-566-1058; fax number: 202-566-1053; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?

    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OW-2005-0012, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Water Docket in 
the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 
8 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 Water Docket is 202-566-2422.
    Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft 
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the 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 in this document.

What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested in?

    Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically 
solicits comments and information to enable it 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. In

[[Page 19888]]

particular, EPA is requesting comments from very small businesses 
(those that employ less than 25) on examples of specific additional 
efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork burden for very 
small businesses affected by this collection.

What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific 
examples.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used 
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
    6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified 
under DATES.
    7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket 
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page 
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation.

What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
facilities that manufacture chlorine and/or chlorinated hydrocarbon 
products.
    Title: Draft Questionnaire for the Chlorine and Chlorinated 
Hydrocarbon Point Source Categories.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 2214.01, OMB Control No. 2006-OW-NEW.
    ICR status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity. 
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 associated with EPA's 
regulations found in title 40 of the CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9. 
Upon OMB approval, control numbers are displayed either by publication 
in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the 
related collection instrument or form, if applicable.
    Abstract: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is 
conducting a census of facilities that manufacture chlorine and/or 
certain chlorinated hydrocarbons (CCH) as part of its effort to review 
the effluent limitations guidelines and standards for these operations. 
EPA is considering revision of the Organic Chemicals, Plastics and 
Synthetic Fibers Point Source Category regulations at 40 CFR part 414 
for facilities that manufacture ethylene dichloride, vinyl chloride 
monomer, polyvinyl chloride and other chlorinated hydrocarbons. EPA is 
also considering revision of the Inorganic Chemicals Point Source 
Category regulations at 40 CFR part 415 for facilities that manufacture 
chlorine as well as chlorine manufacturers not regulated under 40 CFR 
part 415. The questionnaire seeks information on (1) technical data, 
including general facility information, manufacturing process 
information, wastewater treatment and characterization information, and 
information on sampling data; and (2) financial and economic data, 
including ownership information, facility/company information, and 
corporate parent financial information. The technical data will be used 
to determine the industry production rates, water use for processes, 
rates of wastewater generation, pollution prevention, and the practices 
of wastewater management, treatment, and disposal. The financial and 
economic data will be used to characterize the economic status of the 
industry and to estimate the possible economic impacts of wastewater 
regulations. This questionnaire will be sent to all identified 
facilities engaged in CCH production. Completion of this one-time 
questionnaire will be mandatory pursuant to section 308 of the Clean 
Water Act.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 200 
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 which have subsequently changed; 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.
    The ICR will provide a detailed explanation of the Agency's 
estimate, which is only briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 66.
    Frequency of response: One-time.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 13,200 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $441,240. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $437,370 and an estimated cost of $3,870 for operational 
costs.

What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the questionnaire 
as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will 
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the 
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any 
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: March 23, 2006.
Ephraim S. King,
Director, Office of Science and Technology.
[FR Doc. E6-5742 Filed 4-17-06; 8:45 am]
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