[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 73344-73346]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-25039]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-SFUND-2007-0707, FRL-8511-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; National Oil and Hazardous 
Substance Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 
1463.07, OMB Control Number 2050-0096

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

[[Page 73345]]

(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. This 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 January 31, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-
SFUND-2007-0707 to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Superfund Docket, Mail Code 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB at: 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: S. Steven Chang, Assessment and 
Remediation Division, Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology 
Innovation, Mail Code 5204P, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number:703-603-
9017; fax number: 703-603-9112; 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 August 22, 2007 (72 FR 46991), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments. 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-SFUND-2007-0707, which is available for online viewing at 
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 
8:30 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.
    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, Confidential Business Information (CBI), or other information 
whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further 
information about the electronic docket, go to www.regulations.gov.
    Title: National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency 
Plan (NCP) (Renewal).
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR Number 1463.07, OMB Control No. 2050-0096.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2008. 
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: This Information Collection Request is a renewal ICR that 
covers the remedial portion of the Superfund Program, as specified in 
the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability 
Act of 1980 as amended (CERCLA) and the National Oil and Hazardous 
Substance Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP). All remedial actions 
covered by this ICR (e.g., Remedial Investigations/Feasibility Studies) 
are stipulated in the statute (CERCLA) and are instrumental in the 
process of cleaning up National Priority List (NPL) sites to be 
protective of human health and the environment. Some community 
involvement activities covered by this ICR are not required at every 
site (e.g., Technical Assistance Grants) and depend very much on the 
community and the nature of the site and cleanup. All community 
activities seek to involve the public in the cleanup of the sites, gain 
the input of community members, and include the community's perspective 
on the potential future reuse of Superfund NPL sites. Community 
involvement activities can enhance the remedial process and increase 
community acceptance and the potential for productive and useful reuse 
of the sites.
    The respondents on whom a burden is placed include State (and 
Tribal) governments and communities. Potential Responsible Parties 
(PRPs) are not addressed in this ICR because the Paperwork Reduction 
Act [5 CFR part 1320 (Controlling Paperwork Burdens on the Public, FRN 
8/29/1995) Sect. 1320.4 (a)] does not require the inclusion of those 
entities that are the subject of administrative or civil action by the 
Agency. The ICR reports the estimated reporting and recordkeeping 
burden hours and costs expected to be incurred by these entities and by 
the Federal government in its oversight capacities of State action and 
administration of community activities at Fund-lead NPL sites. Remedial 
activities undertaken by States at NPL sites are those required and 
recommended by CERCLA and the NCP and the cost of many of these 
activities may be reimbursed by the Federal government. All community 
involvement in the remedial process of Superfund is voluntary. 
Therefore, all cost estimates for community members is theoretical and 
does not represent expenditure of actual dollars.
    States have responsibilities at new and on-going State-lead sites 
and at all State-lead, Federal-lead, and Federal Facility sites 
entering the remedial phase of Superfund. All other remedial activities 
taken by the State are done so at sites at which the State voluntarily 
assumes the lead agency role. Over each year of this ICR the State will 
be completing remedial activities at sites that entered the remedial 
phase of Superfund at different times.
    Community members' participation in remedial activities at 
Superfund sites is purely voluntary and the level of involvement varies 
greatly depending on the complexity of the site, its location (urban 
vs. rural, industrial vs. residential, etc.), and the level of 
interest.
    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 and are identified on 
the form and/or instrument, if applicable.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 8.4 
hours per response.

[[Page 73346]]

    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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: State, Tribal, or local governments, 
and individuals or households.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 7,970.
    Frequency of Response: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 71,165 hours, which includes an 
estimated 40,185 hours for States and 30,980 hours for communities.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $572,415, which includes an estimated 
$61,245 for States and $511,170 for communities. There are no capital/
O&M costs.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is no change in the burden for this 
ICR. Cost models were updated to reflect wage inflation. While 
currently approved O&M costs are listed as $850,000 and are updated in 
the current ICR, they have been removed from the cost estimate listed 
above because they are reimbursed in full by the Federal government, 
and thus effectively impose no burden on state governments.

    Dated: December 18, 2007.
Sara Hisel-McCoy,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
 [FR Doc. E7-25039 Filed 12-26-07; 8:45 am]
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