[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 93 (Tuesday, May 15, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27306-27308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-9295]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-SFUND-2007-0316; FRL-8314-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Notification of Episodic Releases of Oil and Hazardous 
Substances (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 1049.11, OMB Control No. 2050-0046

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44

[[Page 27307]]

U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to 
submit a request to renew an existing approved Information Collection 
Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is 
scheduled to expire on October 31, 2007. 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 July 16, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
SFUND-2007-0316, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Fax: (202) 566-9744.
     Mail: Superfund Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Mailcode: [2822T], 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: EPA West, Room 3334, 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-SFUND-
2007-0316. 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 www.regulations.gov 
or e-mail. The 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 
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: Lynn M. Beasley, Regulation and Policy 
Development Division, Office of Emergency Management (5104A), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-1965; fax number: 
(202) 564-2625; 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-SFUND-2007-0316, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the Superfund 
Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 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 Superfund Docket is 202-566-
0276.
    Use 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 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 or vessels that manufacture, process, transport, or 
otherwise use certain specified hazardous substances and oil.
    Title: Notification of Episodic Releases of Oil and Hazardous 
Substances (Renewal)
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No.1049.11, OMB Control No. 2050-0046.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on October 
31, 2007. 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

[[Page 27308]]

instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers 
in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: Section 103(a) of CERCLA, as amended, requires the person 
in charge of a facility or vessel to immediately notify the National 
Response Center (NRC) of a hazardous substance release into the 
environment if the amount of the release equals or exceeds the 
substance's reportable quantity (RQ) limit. The RQ of every hazardous 
substance can be found in Table 302.4 of 40 CFR 302.4.
    Section 311 of the CWA, as amended, requires the person in charge 
of a vessel to immediately notify the NRC of an oil spill into U.S. 
navigable waters if the spill causes a sheen, violates applicable water 
quality standards, or causes a sludge or emulsion to be deposited 
beneath the surface of the water or upon adjoining shorelines.
    The reporting of a hazardous substance release that is above the 
substance's RQ allows the Federal government to determine whether a 
Federal response action is required to control or mitigate any 
potential adverse effects to public health or welfare or the 
environment. Likewise, the reporting of oil spills allows the Federal 
government to determine whether cleaning up the oil spill is necessary 
to mitigate or prevent damage to public health or welfare or the 
environment. The hazardous substance and oil release information 
collected under CERCLA section 103(a) and CWA section 311 also is 
available to EPA program offices and other Federal agencies that use 
the information to evaluate the potential need for additional 
regulations, new permitting requirements for specific substances or 
sources, or improved emergency response planning. Release notification 
information, which is stored in the national Emergency Response 
Notification System (ERNS) data base, is available to State and local 
government authorities as well as the general public. State and local 
government authorities and the regulated community use release 
information for purposes of local emergency response planning. Members 
of the general public, who have access to release information through 
the Freedom of Information Act, may request release information for 
purposes of maintaining an awareness of what types of releases are 
occurring in different localities and what actions, if any, are being 
taken to protect public health and welfare and the environment. ERNS 
fact sheets, which provide summary and statistical information about 
hazardous substance and oil release notifications, also are available 
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 4.1 
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 provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, 
which is only briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 25,861.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
One.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 106,030 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $4,277,384. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $4,277,384 and an estimated cost of $0 for 
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

Are There Changes in the Estimates from the Last Approval?

    There is a an increase of 7,294 hours in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This increase reflects EPA's updating of burden 
estimates for this collection based upon historical information on the 
number of responses made during the previous three year period. Based 
upon revised estimates, the number of responses increased from an 
estimated three year average of 24,082 to 25,861.

What is the Next Step in the Process for this ICR?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR 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: May 7, 2007.
Deborah Y. Dietrich,
Director, Office of Emergency Management.
 [FR Doc. E7-9295 Filed 5-14-07; 8:45 am]
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