[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 36 (Friday, February 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 9794-9795]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-3376]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-0273; FRL-8532-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; PCBs, Consolidated Reporting and 
Recordkeeping Requirements; EPA ICR No. 1446.09, OMB No. 2070-0112

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 activity and its expected burden 
and costs.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before March 24, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OPPT-2007-0273 to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by email to [email protected] or by mail to: 
Document Control Office (DCO), Office of Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 7407T, 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: Barbara Cunningham, Director, 
Environmental Assistance Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 7408-M, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-
554-1404; 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 13, 2007 (72 FR 32644), EPA sought comments on this 
renewal ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received comments from the 
Utilities Solid Waste Activities Group (USWAG) during the comment 
period. These

[[Page 9795]]

comments are addressed in the body of the Supporting Statement to 
incorporate USWAG's comments where appropriate, and in Appendix E of 
the Supporting Statement. Any comments related to 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-OPPT-2007-0273, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person inspection at the OPPT Docket 
in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center 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 Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics Docket is 202-566-0280.
    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 public 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 in 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: PCBs, Consolidated Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements.
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1446.09; OMB Control No. 2070-0112.
    ICR Status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on February 
29, 2008. 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 and 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: Section 6(e)(1) of the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA), 15 U.S.C. 2605(e), directs EPA to regulate the marking and 
disposal of PCBs. Section 6(e)(2) bans the manufacturing, processing, 
distribution in commerce, and use of PCBs in other than a totally 
enclosed manner. Section 6(e)(3) establishes a process for obtaining 
exemptions from the prohibitions on the manufacture, processing, and 
distribution in commerce of PCBs. Since 1978, EPA has promulgated 
numerous rules addressing all aspects of the life cycle of PCBs as 
required by the statute. The regulations are intended to prevent the 
improper handling and disposal of PCBs and to minimize the exposure of 
human beings or the environment to PCBs. These regulations have been 
codified in the various subparts of 40 CFR part 761. There are 
approximately 100 specific reporting, third-party reporting, and 
recordkeeping requirements covered by 40 CFR part 761.
    To meet its statutory obligations to regulate PCBs, EPA must obtain 
sufficient information to conclude that specified activities do not 
result in an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. 
EPA uses the information collected under the 40 CFR part 761 
requirements to ensure that PCBs are managed in an environmentally safe 
manner and that activities are being conducted in compliance with the 
PCB regulations. The information collected by these requirements will 
update the Agency's knowledge of ongoing PCB activities, ensure that 
individuals using or disposing of PCBs are held accountable for their 
activities, and demonstrate compliance with the PCB regulations. 
Specific uses of the information collected include determining the 
efficacy of a disposal technology; evaluating exemption requests and 
exclusion notices; targeting compliance inspections; and ensuring 
adequate storage capacity for PCB waste.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 761). Respondents may claim all or part of a notice as CBI. 
EPA will disclose information that is covered by a CBI claim only to 
the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, the procedures in 40 
CFR part 2.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to be 1.21 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; 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: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are persons who currently possess PCB items, PCB-
contaminated equipment, or other PCB waste.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 576,811.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 696,055 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Capital Costs: $12,600.
    Changes in Burden Estimates: There is a net decrease of 128,723 
hours (from 824,778 hours to 696,055 hours) in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This decrease primarily reflects EPA's revised 
estimates in the total number of respondents. There is an estimated $50 
per site cost to place a sign at a PCB contamination cleanup site. For 
252 sites, the total estimated annual capital cost would be $12,600. 
This is not a new cost, but was previously unaccounted in the bottom 
line Operations and Maintenance costs associated with the ICR. A more 
detailed analysis of the change in burden appears in the Supporting 
Statement. This change is an adjustment.

    Dated: February 14, 2008.
Joseph A. Sierra,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
 [FR Doc. E8-3376 Filed 2-21-08; 8:45 am]
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