[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 19, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11641-11643]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-03741]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-SFUND-2004-0008; FRL-9528-3]


Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and 
Approval; Comment Request; Consolidated Superfund Information 
Collection Request (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Consolidated Superfund 
Information Collection Request (Renewal)'' (EPA ICR No. 1487.11, OMB 
Control No. 2050-0179) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is 
currently approved through February 28, 2013. It is also a proposed 
consolidation of three ICR's into one. EPA ICR's No. 1488.08, OMB 
Control No. 2050-0095 ``Superfund Site Evaluation and Hazard Ranking 
System (Renewal)'' and ICR No. 1463.09, OMB Control No. 2050-0096 
``National Oil and Hazardous Substance Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) 
(Renewal)'' are being consolidated into EPA ICR No. 1487.11, OMB 
Control No. 2050-0179 ``Consolidated Superfund Information Collection 
Request (Renewal).'' Public comments were previously requested via the 
Federal Register (77 FR 47835) on August 10, 2012 during a 60-day 
comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public 
comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its 
estimated burden and cost 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.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before March 21, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
SFUND-2004-0008, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our

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preferred method), by email to [email protected], or by mail to: 
EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via email 
to [email protected]. Address comments to OMB Desk Officer 
for EPA.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Knudsen, Office of Solid Waste 
and Emergency Response, Assessment and Remediation Division, (5204P), 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 703-603-8861; fax number: 703-
603-9102; email address: knudsen.laura@@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the 
public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, EPA West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone 
number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit www.epa.gov/dockets.

Superfund Site Evaluation and Hazard Ranking System (HRS) ICR

    Abstract: The Hazard Ranking System (HRS) is a model that is used 
to evaluate the relative threats to human health and the environment 
posed by actual or potential releases of hazardous substances, 
pollutants, and contaminants.
    EPA regional offices work with states to determine those sites for 
which the state will conduct the Superfund site evaluation activities 
and the HRS scoring. The states are reimbursed 100 percent of their 
costs, except for record maintenance.
    Under this ICR, the states will apply the HRS by identifying and 
classifying those releases or sites that warrant further investigation. 
The HRS score is crucial since it is the primary mechanism used to 
determine whether a site is eligible to be included on the National 
Priorities List (NPL). Only sites on the NPL are eligible for 
Superfund-financed remedial actions. HRS scores are derived from the 
sources described in this information collection, including conducting 
field reconnaissance, taking samples at the site, and reviewing 
available reports and documents. States record the collected 
information on HRS documentation worksheets and include this in the 
supporting reference package.

National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan (NCP) 
ICR

    Abstract: 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 
Priorities 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 the 
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. Potentially Responsible Parties (PRPs) are 
not addressed in this ICR because the Paperwork Reduction Act 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 ongoing 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 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.

Cooperative Agreements and Superfund State Contracts for Superfund 
Response Actions (SRA) ICR

    Abstract: This ICR authorizes the collection of information under 
40 CFR part 35, subpart O, which establishes the administrative 
requirements for cooperative agreements funded under the Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) for 
State, federally-recognized Indian tribal governments, and political 
subdivision response actions. This regulation also codifies the 
administrative requirements for Superfund State Contracts for non-State 
lead remedial responses. This regulation includes only those provisions 
mandated by CERCLA, required by OMB Circulars, or added by EPA to 
ensure sound and effective financial assistance management under this 
regulation. The information is collected from applicants and/or 
recipients of EPA assistance and is used to make awards, pay 
recipients, and collect information on how federal funds are being 
utilized. EPA requires this information to meet its federal stewardship 
responsibilities. Recipient responses are required to obtain a benefit 
(federal funds) under 40 CFR part 31, ``Uniform Administrative 
Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local 
Governments'' and under 40 CFR part 35, ``State and Local Assistance.'' 
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.
    Form Numbers: None of the ICR's have forms.
    Respondents/affected entities: State, Local or Tribal Governments; 
Communities; US Territories.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Required to obtain benefits, 
Mandatory, Voluntary.
    Estimated number of respondents: 12,131
    Frequency of response: On occasion, Once.
    Total estimated burden: 308,458 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b)
    Total estimated cost: $481,661.59 (per year), includes $0 
annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.

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    Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 304,269 hours 
primarily due the consolidation of three ICRs into one (OMB numbers 
2050-0179, 2050-0095 and 2050-0096).

John Moses,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2013-03741 Filed 2-15-13; 8:45 am]
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