Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Continuous Release Reporting Regulations (CRRR) Under CERCLA 1980 (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 1445.07, OMB Control No. 2050-0086, 55197-55199 [E7-19211]
Download as PDF
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 188 / Friday, September 28, 2007 / Notices
Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E7–19187 Filed 9–27–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6717–01–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[EPA–HQ–SFUND–2007–0278; FRL–8474–7]
Agency Information Collection
Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Continuous
Release Reporting Regulations (CRRR)
Under CERCLA 1980 (Renewal); EPA
ICR No. 1445.07, OMB Control No.
2050–0086
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In compliance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
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 February
29, 2008. 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 November 27, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–
SFUND–2007–0278, by one of the
following methods:
• https://www.regulations.gov: Follow
the on-line instructions for submitting
comments.
• E-mail: superfund.docket@epa.gov.
• 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–
0278. EPA’s policy is that all comments
received will be included in the public
docket without change and may be
made available online at https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided, unless
the comment includes information
claimed to be Confidential Business
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:12 Sep 27, 2007
Jkt 211001
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 https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The
https://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 https://
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 https://
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: Beasley.lynn@epa.gov.
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–2007–0278, which is
available for online viewing at https://
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 https://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
PO 00000
Frm 00026
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
55197
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.
E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM
28SEN1
55198
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 188 / Friday, September 28, 2007 / Notices
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
What Information Collection Activity or
ICR Does This Apply To?
Affected entities: Entities potentially
affected by this action are not defined.
The usage and release of hazardous
substances are pervasive throughout
industry. EPA expects a number of
different industrial categories to report
hazardous substance releases under the
provisions of the CRRR. No one industry
sector or group of sectors is
disproportionately affected by the
information collection burden.
Title: Continuous Release Reporting
Regulations (CRRR) under CERCLA
1980 (Renewal).
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. [1445.06],
OMB Control No. 2050–0086.
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, 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 103(a) of CERCLA,
as amended, requires the person in
charge of a vessel or facility 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). The RQ of every
hazardous substance can be found in
Table 302.4 of 40 CFR 302.4.
Section 103(f)(2) of CERCLA provides
facilities relief from this per-occurrence
notification requirement if the
hazardous substance release at or above
the RQ is continuous and stable in
quantity and rate. Under the Continuous
Release Reporting Requirements
(CRRR), to report such a release as a
continuous release you must make an
initial telephone call to the NRC, an
initial written report to the EPA Region,
and, if the source and chemical
composition of the continuous release
does not change and the level of the
continuous release does not
significantly increase, a follow-up
written report to the EPA Region one
year after submission of the initial
written report. If the source or chemical
composition of the previously reported
continuous release changes, notifying
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:12 Sep 27, 2007
Jkt 211001
the NRC and EPA Region of a change in
the source or composition of the release
is required. Further, a significant
increase in the level of the previously
reported continuous release must be
reported immediately to the NRC
according to section 103(a) of CERCLA.
Finally, any change in information
submitted in support of a continuous
release notification must be reported to
the EPA Region.
The reporting of a hazardous
substance release that is equal to or
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. The
continuous release of hazardous
substance information collected under
CERCLA section 103(f)(2) is also
available to EPA program offices and
other Federal agencies who use the
information to evaluate the potential
need for additional regulations, new
permitting requirements for specific
substances or sources, or improved
emergency response planning. State and
local government authorities and
facilities subject to the CRRR use release
information for purposes of local
emergency response planning. Members
of the 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. 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,
PO 00000
Frm 00027
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
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 10.5 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: 3,587.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total average number of
responses for each respondent: 8.
Estimated total annual burden hours:
301,508 hours.
Estimated total annual costs:
$128,000. This includes an estimated
burden cost of $128,000 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 an increase of 17,154 hours
in the total estimated respondent
burden compared with that identified in
the ICR currently approved by OMB.
This increase reflects EPA’s use of data
on the actual number of continuous
release reports from several regions and
applying a growth rate consistent with
prior years reporting. The average
annual percent increase in facilities in
the previous ICR was approximately
7.5%. The same percent increase was
assumed for this ICR. The unit burden
hours per respondent information
collection activity remains the same as
the previous ICR.
What Is the Next Step in the Process for
This ICR?
EPA will consider the comments
received and amend the ICR as
E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM
28SEN1
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 188 / Friday, September 28, 2007 / Notices
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.
1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460–0001; or by
hand delivery or courier to EPA Docket
Center, EPA West, Room 3334, 1301
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,
DC, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Monday through Friday, excluding legal
holidays. Comments on a disk or CD–
ROM should be formatted in Word or
ASCII file, avoiding the use of special
characters and any form of encryption,
and may be mailed to the mailing
address above.
Dated: September 20, 2007.
Deborah Y. Dietrich,
Director, Office of Emergency Management.
[FR Doc. E7–19211 Filed 9–27–07; 8:45 am]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
BILLING CODE 6560–50–P
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY
[FRL–8474–8]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Proposed Consent Decree, Clean Air
Act Citizen Suit
I. Additional Information About the
Proposed Consent Decree
Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of Proposed Consent
Decree; request for public comment.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: In accordance with section
113(g) of the Clean Air Act, as amended
(‘‘Act’’), 42 U.S.C. 7413(g), notice is
hereby given of a proposed consent
decree, to address a lawsuit filed by
Sierra Club (‘‘Plaintiff’’) in the United
States District Court for the District of
Columbia: Sierra Club v. Johnson, No.
1:07–cv–01040 (ESH) (D. D.C.). Plaintiff
filed a deadline suit to compel the
Administrator to respond to an
administrative petition seeking EPA’s
objection to a CAA Title V operating
permit proposed by the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources for the
Weston Generating Station in Marathon
County, Wisconsin. Under the terms of
the proposed consent decree, EPA has
agreed to respond to Plaintiff’s petition
by December 19, 2007. If EPA fulfills its
obligation, Plaintiff has agreed to
dismiss this suit with prejudice. In
addition, EPA has agreed to pay Plaintiff
a specified amount in settlement for
attorneys’ fees in this matter.
DATES: Written comments on the
proposed consent decree must be
received by October 29, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments,
identified by Docket ID number EPA–
HQ–OGC–2007–0918, online at https://
www.regulations.gov (EPA’s preferred
method); by e-mail to
oei.docket@epa.gov; mailed to EPA
Docket Center, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
Howard J. Hoffman, Air and Radiation
Law Office (2344A), Office of General
Counsel, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460; telephone: (202)
564–5582; fax number (202) 564–5603;
e-mail address:
hoffman.howard@epa.gov.
17:12 Sep 27, 2007
Jkt 211001
This proposed consent decree would
resolve a lawsuit seeking a response to
an administrative petition to object to a
CAA Title V permit proposed by the
Wisconsin Department of Natural
Resources for the Weston Generating
Station in Marathon County, Wisconsin.
Under the proposed consent decree,
EPA has agreed to respond to the
Plaintiff’s petition by December 19,
2007 and to pay a specified amount in
settlement of the Plaintiff’s claims for
attorneys’ fees. The consent decree
becomes an order of the Court upon
entry, and, consistent with the terms of
the consent decree, the case shall be
dismissed with prejudice after EPA
takes final action on Plaintiffs’ petition
and pays the specified amount in the
consent decree in settlement of the
Plaintiff’s claims for attorneys’ fees.
For a period of thirty (30) days
following the date of publication of this
notice, the Agency will accept written
comments relating to the proposed
consent decree from persons who were
not named as parties or intervenors to
the litigation in question. EPA or the
Department of Justice may withdraw or
withhold consent to the proposed
consent decree if the comments disclose
facts or considerations that indicate that
such consent is inappropriate,
improper, inadequate, or inconsistent
with the requirements of the Act. Unless
EPA or the Department of Justice
determines, based on any comment
submitted, that consent to this consent
decree should be withdrawn, the terms
of the decree will be affirmed.
PO 00000
Frm 00028
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
55199
II. Additional Information About
Commenting on the Proposed Consent
Decree
A. How Can I Get a Copy of the Consent
Decree?
The official public docket for this
action (identified by Docket ID No.
EPA–HQ–OGC–2007–0918) contains a
copy of the proposed consent decree.
The official public docket is available
for public viewing at the Office of
Environmental Information (OEI) Docket
in the EPA Docket Center, EPA West,
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave.,
NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket
Center 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
Public Reading Room is (202) 566–1744,
and the telephone number for the OEI
Docket is (202) 566–1752.
An electronic version of the public
docket is available through https://
www.regulations.gov. You may use the
https://www.regulations.gov to submit or
view public comments, access the index
listing of the contents of the official
public docket, and to access those
documents in the public docket that are
available electronically. Once in the
system, select ‘‘search,’’ then key in the
appropriate docket identification
number.
It is important to note that EPA’s
policy is that public comments, whether
submitted electronically or in paper,
will be made available for public
viewing online at https://
www.regulations.gov without change,
unless the comment contains
copyrighted material, CBI, or other
information whose disclosure is
restricted by statute. Information
claimed as CBI and other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute
is not included in the official public
docket or in the electronic public
docket. EPA’s policy is that copyrighted
material, including copyrighted material
contained in a public comment, will not
be placed in EPA’s electronic public
docket but will be available only in
printed, paper form in the official public
docket. Although not all docket
materials may be available
electronically, you may still access any
of the publicly available docket
materials through the EPA Docket
Center.
B. How and to Whom Do I Submit
Comments?
You may submit comments as
provided in the ADDRESSES section.
Please ensure that your comments are
submitted within the specified comment
period. Comments received after the
E:\FR\FM\28SEN1.SGM
28SEN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 188 (Friday, September 28, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55197-55199]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-19211]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-SFUND-2007-0278; FRL-8474-7]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; Continuous Release Reporting Regulations (CRRR) Under
CERCLA 1980 (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 1445.07, OMB Control No. 2050-0086
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44
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 February 29, 2008. 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 November 27, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
SFUND-2007-0278, by one of the following methods:
https://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line
instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: superfund.docket@epa.gov.
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-
2007-0278. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at
https://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 https://
www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The https://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 https://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 https://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: Beasley.lynn@epa.gov.
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-2007-0278, which is available for online viewing at
https://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 https://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.
[[Page 55198]]
What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply To?
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
not defined. The usage and release of hazardous substances are
pervasive throughout industry. EPA expects a number of different
industrial categories to report hazardous substance releases under the
provisions of the CRRR. No one industry sector or group of sectors is
disproportionately affected by the information collection burden.
Title: Continuous Release Reporting Regulations (CRRR) under CERCLA
1980 (Renewal).
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. [1445.06], OMB Control No. 2050-0086.
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, 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 103(a) of CERCLA, as amended, requires the person
in charge of a vessel or facility 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). The RQ of every hazardous
substance can be found in Table 302.4 of 40 CFR 302.4.
Section 103(f)(2) of CERCLA provides facilities relief from this
per-occurrence notification requirement if the hazardous substance
release at or above the RQ is continuous and stable in quantity and
rate. Under the Continuous Release Reporting Requirements (CRRR), to
report such a release as a continuous release you must make an initial
telephone call to the NRC, an initial written report to the EPA Region,
and, if the source and chemical composition of the continuous release
does not change and the level of the continuous release does not
significantly increase, a follow-up written report to the EPA Region
one year after submission of the initial written report. If the source
or chemical composition of the previously reported continuous release
changes, notifying the NRC and EPA Region of a change in the source or
composition of the release is required. Further, a significant increase
in the level of the previously reported continuous release must be
reported immediately to the NRC according to section 103(a) of CERCLA.
Finally, any change in information submitted in support of a continuous
release notification must be reported to the EPA Region.
The reporting of a hazardous substance release that is equal to or
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. The continuous release of hazardous substance information
collected under CERCLA section 103(f)(2) is also available to EPA
program offices and other Federal agencies who use the information to
evaluate the potential need for additional regulations, new permitting
requirements for specific substances or sources, or improved emergency
response planning. State and local government authorities and
facilities subject to the CRRR use release information for purposes of
local emergency response planning. Members of the 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. 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 10.5
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: 3,587.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 8.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 301,508 hours.
Estimated total annual costs: $128,000. This includes an estimated
burden cost of $128,000 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 an increase of 17,154 hours in the total estimated
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently
approved by OMB. This increase reflects EPA's use of data on the actual
number of continuous release reports from several regions and applying
a growth rate consistent with prior years reporting. The average annual
percent increase in facilities in the previous ICR was approximately
7.5%. The same percent increase was assumed for this ICR. The unit
burden hours per respondent information collection activity remains the
same as the previous ICR.
What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?
EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as
[[Page 55199]]
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: September 20, 2007.
Deborah Y. Dietrich,
Director, Office of Emergency Management.
[FR Doc. E7-19211 Filed 9-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P