96-29455. Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Environmental Leadership Program

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 223 (Monday, November 18, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58750-58751]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-29455]



[[Page 58749]]

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Part III





Environmental Protection Agency





_______________________________________________________________________



Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; Comment 
Request; Environmental Leadership Program; Notice

Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 223 / Monday, November 18, 1996 / 
Notices

[[Page 58750]]



ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5652-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Environmental Leadership Program

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 notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Environmental 
Leadership Program, EPA ICR number 1794.01. 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 January 17, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Tai-ming Chang (2223A) or Debby Thomas (2223A), U.S. EPA, 
401 M St., S.W., Washington D.C. 20460. Interested persons may obtain a 
copy of the ICR without charge by calling Tai-ming Chang at (202) 564-
5081.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tai-ming Chang, [phone], or 
Debby Thomas, [phone]. Fax number: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which voluntarily choose to participate in the full-scale 
Environmental Leadership Program.
    Title: Environmental Leadership Program.
    Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is developing 
the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP). The ELP is a voluntary 
program designed to accomplish several goals, including better 
protecting the environment and human health by promoting a systematic 
approach to managing environmental issues and by encouraging 
environmental enhancement activities (e.g., biodiversity, energy 
conservation). The Agency also hopes to increase identification and 
timely resolution of environmental compliance issues by ELP 
participants. The Mentoring component of the ELP attempts to multiply 
compliance assistance efforts by incorporating industry as mentors. The 
overall Program should serve to foster constructive and open 
relationships between agencies, the regulated community, and the 
public.
    The proposed framework and program requirements as outlined below 
are also available for comment. As part of the application process for 
the ELP, facilities will be asked to submit information about their 
environmental management systems (EMS), compliance and EMS auditing 
programs, and community outreach and employee involvement programs. 
Federal facilities applying to the Program must submit a statement 
affirming they endorse the Code of Environmental Management Principles.
    EPA will assess each applicant's information and determine whether 
they meet Program requirements. For those that do meet the 
requirements, EPA will conduct a compliance screening and provide a 30-
day comment period to the public. A third party auditor that meets ELP 
EMS auditor qualifications (which may include EPA or State staff) will 
then verify that the ELP EMS elements are met by the applicant and that 
the facility has implemented ELP EMS standards.
    Upon acceptance to the Program, facilities will be required to 
submit annual performance reports as a term of participation. The 
annual performance report should contain the following seven sections: 
a boiler plate section on EMS activities; objective, goals, and 
measures for EMS; a table of information on the formal audit (EMS and 
compliance) for years 2 and 5 of the 6-year participation period; an 
EMS performance evaluation (results and measures); a table of 
information on agency inspections; compliance issues and status summary 
for the year; other environmental enhancement activities; and 
highlights from community outreach/employee involvement and mentoring 
programs.
    The submission of information for the purposes of application to 
the ELP is voluntary. The ELP will use a disclosure and confidentiality 
policy that includes 40 CFR Part 2 and reference to any State-specific 
regulations of confidentiality. During the application process to ELP, 
the Incentives for Self-Policing: Discovery, Disclosure, Correction and 
Prevention of Violations Policy, dated December 22, 1995 (Federal 
Register Vol. 60, No. 246) will apply. Information submitted as part of 
the annual performance report is required for participation in the 
Program. The annual performance report will be made available 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. The OMB control numbers for EPA's 
regulations are listed in 40 CFR Part 9 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.
    EPA is soliciting 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 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.

[[Page 58751]]

    Burden Statement: It is estimated that approximately 75 facilities 
may voluntarily apply to the Environmental Leadership Program annually. 
An estimated 72 hours will be expended to provide EPA with data for 
application to the ELP. This burden hour estimate translates to a cost 
of approximately $3,175 per facility [($21/hour x 110% overhead) times 
72 hours] and a total cost to industry of approximately $238,125 
($3,175 per facility times 75 facilities) in the first year of the 
program. Facilities will also need 150 hours for preparing the annual 
performance report. This represents an additional cost to industry of 
$6,615 per facility and a total cost to industry of $496,125. 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.

    Dated: November 1, 1996.
Elaine Stanley,
Director, Office of Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-29455 Filed 11-15-96; 8:45 am]
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