[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 202 (Thursday, October 19, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61770-61771]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17449]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OA-2006-0513; FRL-8232-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Renewal of 
Information Collection for EPA's National Environmental Performance 
Track Program (Renewal), EPA ICR No. 1949.05, OMB Control No. 2010-0032

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 an Information Collection 
Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing 
approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the 
nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before November 20, 
2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-
2006-0513 to: (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred 
method), by e-mail to [email protected] or by mail to: EPA Docket 
Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental 
Information Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail to: Office of 
Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert D. Sachs, Office of Policy, 
Economics and Innovation, Mail Code 1807T, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: (202) 566-2884; fax number: (202) 566-0966; e-mail address: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB 
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 
1320.12. On June 22nd, 2006 (71 FR 35904), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received 1 comment during the 
comment period, which is addressed in the ICR. Any additional comments 
on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this 
notice.
    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OA-2006-0513, which is available for online viewing at 
www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Office of 
Environmental Information 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 Office of Environmental Information Docket is (202) 566-1752.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at 
www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those 
documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the 
system, select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number 
identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public 
comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made 
available for public viewing at www.regulations.gov as EPA receives 
them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted 
material, CBI, or other information whose public disclosure is 
restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic 
docket, go to www.regulations.gov.
    Title: Information Collection Request for EPA's National 
Environmental Performance Track Program (Renewal).
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1949.05, OMB Control No. 2010-0032.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2006. 
Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor 
the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 
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 title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when 
approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, 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. The 
display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is 
consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: EPA's National Environmental Performance Track is a 
voluntary program that recognizes and rewards private and public 
facilities that demonstrate top environmental performance beyond 
current requirements. The program is based on the premise that 
government should complement existing programs with new tools and 
strategies that not only protect people and the environment, but also 
capture opportunities for reducing cost and spurring technological 
innovation.
    Performance Track is a facility based program (not company-wide) 
that solicits and receives applications and makes acceptance decisions 
twice per year from February through April, and August through October. 
Applying facilities must meet four basic criteria: (1) A history of 
sustained compliance with environmental regulations; (2) an 
Environmental Management System (EMS) in place that has undergone an 
assessment by an independent third party; (3) past and future 
environmental achievements, and a commitment to quantified continuous 
environmental improvement; and (4) public involvement and annual 
reporting. Once accepted, members remain in the program for three 
years, as long as they continue to meet the program criteria. After 
three years, they may apply to renew their membership through a 
streamlined application process.
    No confidential information is requested in this notice. 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 and 48 CFR chapter 15.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 16.4 
hours per facility per year. This includes all applications, compliance 
screens, annual reporting, incentives participation, and site visits. 
EPA estimates that all facilities who voluntarily respond to this 
information collection by electing to participate in the Performance 
Track program have determined that the expected benefits of 
participation outweigh any burdens associated with preparing the 
response. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial resources 
expended by persons

[[Page 61771]]

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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Performance track member facilities 
and States.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 476.
    Frequency of Response: Annually, triennially, and biennially.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 7,750.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $514,521, which includes $0 capital 
and O&M costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is a decrease of 105,689 annual 
hours in the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB 
Inventory of Approved ICR Burdens. This decrease is due to an 
adjustment to the estimated program participation burden.

    Dated: October 11, 2006.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. E6-17449 Filed 10-18-06; 8:45 am]
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