[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 93 (Friday, May 13, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Page 29856]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-11275]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0613; FRL-9946-06-OEI]


Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and 
Approval; Comment Request; Title I of the Marine Protection, Research, 
and Sanctuaries Act

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Title I of the Marine 
Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act'' (EPA ICR No. 0824.06, OMB 
Control No. 2040-0008) 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 reinstatement of the ICR 
(formerly known as ``Ocean Dumping Regulations--reports and record 
keeping to obtain a permit, request designation, and report on 
permitted dumping activities''), which is currently expired. Public 
comments were previously requested via the Federal Register (81 FR 484) 
on January 6, 2016 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 June 13, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2015-0613, online using www.regulations.gov (our 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.
    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: David Redford, Oceans and Coastal 
Protection Division, Environmental Protection Agency, 4504T 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 202-566-1288; 
email address: [email protected].

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, WJC 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.
    Abstract: Ocean dumping--the transportation of any material for the 
purpose of dumping in ocean waters--cannot occur unless a permit is 
issued under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act 
(MPRSA). EPA is responsible for issuing ocean dumping permits for all 
materials except dredged material. EPA collects or sponsors the 
collection of information for the purposes of permit issuance, 
reporting of emergency dumping to safety of life at sea, compliance 
with permit requirements, including specifically general permits for 
burial at sea and for transportation and disposal of vessels.
    Form numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Respondents/affected entities may 
include any private person or entity, or State, local or foreign 
governments.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Required to obtain or retain a 
benefit, specifically permit authorization and/or compliance with 
permits required under MPRSA sections 102 and 104, 33 U.S.C. 1402 & 
1404, and implementing regulations at 40 CFR parts 220-229.
    Estimated number of respondents: 2,767 respondents per year.
    Frequency of response: The frequency of response varies for 
application and reporting requirements for different permits. Other 
than the general permit for transportation and disposal of vessels, 
response is required once for each permit application, whether a single 
notification to EPA or a permit application. Depending on the type of 
MPRSA permit, a permit application would be required prior to 
expiration if the permittee seeks re-issuance: general permit (once 
every seven years); special permit (once every three years), and 
research permit (once every 18 months).
    Total estimated burden: 3,207 hours per year. Burden is defined at 
5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Total estimated cost: $349,157, which includes $195,857 for capital 
or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: EPA estimates an increase in the number of 
respondents from 21 to 2,767 with a corresponding decrease in total 
estimated burden from 27,004 to 3,207 hours as compared to the most 
recently approved ICR, which expired January 31, 1992. The estimated 
increase in the number of respondents is due to the significant 
increase in the number of entities using the burial at sea and vessel 
general permits, which were not widely used at the time of the earlier 
ICR. The estimated decrease in the total estimated burden is due to the 
implementation of the Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988, which led to the 
cessation of the dumping of sewage sludge and industrial wastes. The 
respondent burden for these special permits was high due the 
potentially significant impacts from dumping these wastes, and the data 
required from the respondents to ensure permit compliance.

Courtney Kerwin,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2016-11275 Filed 5-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P