[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 29 (Friday, February 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7189-7190]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3532]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6233-9]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; The 1999 National Survey of Local Emergency Planning
Committees
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 EPA is planning to submit the
following proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB): The 1999 National Survey of Local
Emergency Planning Committees. 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 April 13, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Dan Waldeck, Office of Chemical Emergency Preparedness and
Prevention, US EPA, 401 M St. SW, Washington, DC 20460. Interested
persons may obtain a copy of the ICR, including survey questionnaire,
without charge by calling Dan Waldeck at 202-260-4520 or via e-mail at
waldeck.daniel@epamail.epa.gov or Kate Narburgh at 202-260-8247,
narburgh.kate@epamail.epa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan Waldeck, 202-260-4520 (phone),
202-401-3448 (facsimile), waldeck.daniel@epamail.epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
those which hold a leadership position on Local Emergency Planning
Committees (LEPCs). It is anticipated that the majority of respondents
will be LEPC chairs.
Title: The 1999 National Survey of Local Emergency Planning
Committees. (OMB Control No. XXXX-XXXX; EPA ICR No. 1903.01.) This is a
new collection.
Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Chemical
Emergency Preparedness and Prevention (CEPPO) proposes to conduct a
nationwide survey of Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPCs). The
information will be used to assess the general progress, status, and
activity level of LEPCs. This collection also addresses reporting
requirements under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) of
1993, which stipulates that agencies focus on evaluating their program
activities in terms of outputs and outcomes. This ICR is necessary to
evaluate whether CEPPO is successfully providing national leadership
and assistance to local communities in preparing for and preventing
chemical emergencies.
The Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986
(EPCRA) introduced a fundamental change in the regulation of chemical
facilities and the prevention of and preparedness for chemical
accidents. This law seeks to improve emergency preparedness and reduce
the risk of chemical accidents by providing information to citizens
about chemical hazards in their community. EPCRA is premised on the
concept that the more informed local citizens are the more involved
they will become in prevention and preparedness activities. For this
``informational regulation'' to be effective, the public must receive
accurate and reliable information that is easy to understand and
practical to use.
EPCRA mandates the creation of LEPCs as a means for local
government, law enforcement, health officials, and emergency responders
to work with chemical facilities, the media, and community groups to
develop formal plans for responding to chemical emergencies.
LEPC activities include:
Receiving chemical hazards data from facilities in their
community and providing this information to the local public.
Developing local emergency response plans, which are
annually reviewed, tested, and updated.
Serving as point of contact for discussing and sharing
information about hazardous substances, emergency planning, and health
and environmental risk.
Notifying the public of LEPC activities and other
pertinent information.
In general, LEPCs provide local citizens an opportunity to
participate actively in understanding chemical hazards, planning for
emergency response, and reducing the risk of chemical emergencies. To
be judged effective, LEPCs must be compliant with the requirements of
EPCRA and actively carry out these responsibilities. LEPC's level of
satisfaction with the information, guidance, and support they receive
will heavily influence their ability to fulfill their duties. The 1999
National Survey of LEPCs will collect information to evaluate the
status and activity level of these planning bodies and their
satisfaction with CEPPO products and services.
This proposed information collection builds upon previous
assessments conducted by CEPPO. In 1994, a nationwide survey of LEPCs
revealed various strengths and weaknesses among LEPCs. Since that time,
no systematic nationwide measurement of the progress of LEPCs has been
conducted. Over the past five years, local emergency planning has
evolved, most notably, in the amount of information that is now
available to assist LEPCs in preparing for and preventing chemical
emergencies. Moreover, in June 1999, this information will expand
further with the addition of facility specific chemical hazards data
and risk management plans made available under amendments to the Clean
Air Act in 1990 (section 112(r)--the Risk Management Program Rule for
the prevention of chemical accidents).
The primary goals of this research are to: (1) track the progress
of LEPCs by updating the 1994 baseline data on a series of key
performance indicators; and (2) probe current LEPC practices and
preferences regarding several important sets of issues--including:
communications with local citizens, proactive accident prevention
efforts, and the effectiveness of selected CEPPO products and services.
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.
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
[[Page 7190]]
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: CEPPO estimates that there will be 3,300
respondents to this information collection and each respondent will
spend 15 minutes completing and submitting either an on-line response
form or a mail-in survey, for a total response burden of 825 hours.
There is no need for ``developing, acquiring or utilizing
technology systems for the purpose of collecting, validating or
verifying information,'' ``* * * disclosing and providing
information,'' ``adjusting the existing ways to comply with any
previous applicable instructions or requirements,'' ``training
personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information,''
``searching data sources,'' nor a need for respondents to keep records.
Burden activities include only a few steps: reading instructions,
reading survey questions, responding to survey questions, submitting
completed questionnaire (electronically or US mail). CEPPO estimates an
average cost per respondent of $6.59.
CEPPO estimates that 3,300 respondents will voluntarily respond to
the national survey at a total burden of 825 hours and a total cost of
$21,747.00.
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: February 9, 1999.
Kathy Jones,
Associate Director, EPA/OSWER/CEPPO.
[FR Doc. 99-3532 Filed 2-11-99; 8:45 am]
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