[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 67 (Friday, April 5, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15246-15251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8481]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5453-6]
Agency Information Collection Activities up for Renewal
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 continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB). 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 June 4, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Oil Program Center, 401 M Street SW (5203G), Washington, DC
20460. Materials relevant to this ICR may be inspected from 8:30 a.m.
to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, by visiting Public Docket No.
SPCC-4, located at 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway (ground floor),
Arlington, Virginia. A reasonable fee may be charged for copying docket
material.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Mould, (703) 603-8728. Facsimile
number: (703) 603-9116. Electronic address:
mould.kevin@epamail.epa.gov. Note that questions but not comments will
be accepted electronically.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Affected Entities
The Oil Pollution Prevention regulation applies only to non-
transportation-related facilities that could reasonably be expected to
discharge oil into or upon the navigable waters of the U.S. or
adjoining shorelines, and that have: (1) A total underground buried
storage capacity of more than 42,000 gallons; or (2) A total
aboveground oil storage capacity of more than 1,320 gallons, or an
aboveground oil storage capacity of more than 660 gallons in a single
container.
The specific private industry sectors expected to be affected by
this action include: (1) large oil distribution (SIC 28/29/5171); (2)
oil production (SIC 131); (3) transportation and utilities (SIC 401/
411/413/414/417/42/448/449/458/46/491); (4) other manufacturing (SIC 20
- 39); (5) small oil distribution/auto services (SIC 554/5983/751); (6)
mining and construction (SIC 12/14/15/16/17); (7) commercial and
institutional services (SIC 801/802/803/804/805/806/807/821/822/97);
(8) food manufacturing (SIC 20); and (9) farming (SIC 01/02).
Title
``Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plans,'' OMB
Control Number: 2050-0021. EPA Control Number: 328. Expiration Date:
September 30, 1996.
Abstract
Under Section 311 of the Clean Water Act, EPA's Oil Pollution
Prevention regulation requires facilities to prepare and implement SPCC
Plans to help ``minimize the potential for oil discharges.'' This
regulation is codified at 40 CFR Part 112. The SPCC Plan must be ``a
carefully thought-out plan, prepared in accordance with good
engineering practices.'' Preparation of the SPCC Plan requires that a
facility's staff analyze how the facility will prevent oil discharges,
thereby encouraging appropriate facility design and operations. The
information in the SPCC Plan also promotes efficient response in the
event of a discharge. Finally, proper maintenance of the SPCC Plan will
promote important spill-reducing measures, facilitate leak detection,
and generally ensure that the facility is at peak capability for
deterring discharges. The specific activities and reasons for the
information collection are described below.
New Plan
Preparation of the Plan, required under Sec. 112.3, involves
several tasks, mostly conducted by the facility's technical personnel.
These tasks include: field investigations to understand facility design
and possible failures and to predict the flow paths of spilled oil and
the potential harm that the spilled oil would have on nearby navigable
waters; a regulatory review to ensure that personnel are fully aware of
all requirements and limitations imposed in the rule; an evaluation of
the current spill prevention and control practices employed by the
facility; preparation of the Plan according to the specifications of
Sec. 112.7; and certification by a Registered Professional Engineer
(P.E.).
Modification of Plan
Under Sec. 112.5(a), the SPCC Plan must be amended whenever there
is a change in the facility's design, construction, operation, and
maintenance that materially affects the facility's potential to
discharge oil into navigable waters or onto adjoining shorelines. The
amended Plan must also be certified by a P.E.
Triennial Review
Under Sec. 112.5(b) owners or operators of regulated facilities
must review and evaluate the Plan at least once every three years. This
involves review of spill prevention and control procedures being
implemented under the current Plan, as well as a regulatory review.
Facility owners/operators must amend the SPCC Plan within six months of
the review to include more effective prevention and control technology
if: (1) such technology will significantly reduce the likelihood of a
spill event; and (2) such technology has been field-
[[Page 15247]]
proven at the time of the review. If amended, the Plan must also be
certified by a P.E.
Oil Discharge
Under Sec. 112.4, in the event of certain oil discharges, facility
owner/operators must submit information to the Regional Administrator
within 60 days. Discharges of oil that trigger the reporting
requirements are: (1) a single spill event of more than 1,000 U.S.
gallons into navigable waters; or (2) two or more spills (in a 12 month
period) of harmful quantities as defined in 40 CFR Part 110.
Submitting a Plan after a discharge involves time to collect the
required information, as well as time for review by management. The
facility must also submit a copy of this information to the appropriate
state agency in charge of water pollution control activities. After the
Regional Administrator and the appropriate state agency have reviewed
the Plan, the Regional Administrator may require amendment of the SPCC
Plan. The amended Plan must be certified by a P.E. prior to
implementation. Facilities may appeal a decision made by the Regional
Administrator requiring an amendment to an SPCC Plan.
Recordkeeping
Under Sec. 112.3, the facility owner/operator must maintain a copy
of the SPCC Plan at the facility, or under certain circumstances, at
the nearest field office. The Plan must be available for review during
normal working hours. In addition, facilities must maintain (and
update) records of Plan-specific inspections as outlined under
Sec. 112.7(e).
Purpose of Data Collection
EPA does not collect the information required by the Oil Pollution
Prevention regulation (i.e., the SPCC Plan) on a routine basis.
Preparation, implementation, and maintenance of the SPCC Plan by the
facility help prevent oil discharges, and mitigate the environmental
damage caused by such discharges. Therefore, the primary user of the
data is the facility itself. For example:
(i) As facility staff accumulate the necessary data, they must
analyze the facility's capability to prevent oil discharges, facilitate
safety awareness, and promote appropriate modifications to facility
design and operations;
(ii) Because facility staff keep the required information in a
single document, they can respond efficiently in the event of a
discharge;
(iii) To implement the Plan according to the specifications of
Sec. 112.7, the facility must meet certain design and operational
standards that reduce the likelihood of an oil discharge;
(iv) Inspection records help facilities to promote important
maintenance, facilitate leak detection, and demonstrate compliance with
the SPCC requirements; and
(v) When facility staff review the Plan every three years, they
ensure the implementation of more effective spill prevention control
technology.
Although the facility is the primary data user, EPA also uses the
data in certain situations. EPA primarily uses SPCC plan data to ensure
that facilities comply with the regulation, including design and
operation specifications and inspection requirements. EPA reviews SPCC
Plans: (1) when facilities submit the Plans because of oil discharges,
and (2) as part of EPA's inspection program. State and local
governments also use the data, which is not necessarily available
elsewhere and can greatly assist local emergency preparedness planning
efforts. Coordination with state governments is facilitated when, after
certain spill events, a facility sends a copy of the SPCC Plan and
additional information on the spill to the relevant state agency.
EPA recognizes that additional data would help to better
demonstrate the effectiveness of the program and better understand the
nature of the threat of oil pollution posed by facilities regulated
under the SPCC program. As such, in 1995 EPA surveyed a random sample
of potentially regulated facilities that represent the diverse range of
facilities that produce, use, or store oil products. EPA is currently
analyzing the survey results related to facility-specific information,
such as the size, type, and location of the facility; the size, number
and type of storage tanks; spill prevention systems; and the number and
size of oil discharges.
The survey results should provide data to address a number of
program issues, including:
(i) The verification of general information about the regulated
community, such as the number and type of facilities subject to the
regulation; and
(ii) The estimation of the extent to which spills vary with
characteristics of facilities.
The survey should provide data to characterize the difference in
spill rates and volumes released from various categories of facilities.
The results of this characterization, combined with data on
regulatory compliance costs, should help the Agency to evaluate the
effectiveness of the SPCC program and to consider appropriate revisions
to regulatory requirements. Also, survey data may help to address
important analytical issues, such as the extent to which secondary
containment systems (e.g., dikes) prevent spills from reaching
navigable waters.\1\
\1\ See pages 3-3 to 3-5 of the ``Regulatory Impact Analysis of
the Proposed Revisions to the Oil Pollution Prevention Regulation
(40 CFR Part 112)'' (Emergency Response Division, EPA, February
1993) for a discussion about the quality of the oil spill data
provided by ERNS and the uncertainties in using these data.
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As part of the Agency's efforts to reduce the overall paperwork
burden on regulated facilities, EPA would like to solicit comments on
how the Agency could best reduce the total paperwork burden hours for
this rule while maintaining an effective level of environmental
protection.
EPA would also like to solicit public 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
This notice first presents the estimated number of existing and new
storage and production facilities regulated under the Oil Pollution
Prevention Regulation. Next, the estimated burden hours and costs to
facilities to perform required actions are presented. Finally, the
estimated total annual burden hours and costs for all facilities to
comply with the requirements of this regulation are presented. The
burden hours shown for each action represent the hours in both the
existing ICR and the ICR renewal, since the renewal of the request does
not change the burden hours associated with each activity. Costs have
been updated to December 31, 1995 dollars.
[[Page 15248]]
As of January 1996, approximately 459,000 existing facilities are
assumed to be regulated under the SPCC program with approximately 4,590
new facilities joining the program in 1996. These numbers are based on
the previous ICR estimate of 450,630 facilities. A one percent annual
growth rate in the number of facilities is assumed.\2\ For purposes of
this ICR, all facilities were grouped into two distinct categories:
production facilities (facilities whose operations and oil storage
activities are exclusively limited to oil production) and storage
facilities (all other SPCC-regulated facilities whose operations do not
include oil production). This categorization of facilities reflects
differences in the estimated burden of compliance activities depending
on the nature of the facility's operations.
\2\ ``Renewal of Information Collection Request for the Oil
Pollution Prevention Regulation (40 CFR Part 112),'' 1994.
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The current ICR assumes that storage facilities make up 61 percent
of small facilities, 38 percent of medium facilities, and all large
facilities, production facilities make up 39 percent of small
facilities and 62 percent of medium facilities. The definitions of a
small, medium, and large facility are based on oil storage capacity and
are defined as follows based on the Agency's 1991 SPCC Facilities Study
\3\:
\3\ ``SPCC Facilities Study,'' January 1991.
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(i) Small facility--a facility that has aboveground storage
capacity greater than 1,320 gallons (or 660 gallons in a single
container), but less than or equal to 42,000 gallons;
(ii) Medium facility--a facility that has total (aboveground or
underground) storage capacity greater than 42,000 gallons but less than
or equal to one million gallons; and
(iii) Large facility--a facility that has total storage capacity
greater than one million gallons.
The estimated number of existing and new storage and production
facilities in 1996 are shown in Exhibits 1 and 2.
Exhibit 1.--Estimated Number of Existing Facilities
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Small Medium Large Total
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Storage..................... 227,749 30,909 4,791 263,449
Production.................. 145,272 50,691 0 195,963
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Total................. 373,021 81,600 4,791 459,412
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Exhibit 2.--Estimated Number of New Facilities
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Small Medium Large Total
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Storage..................... 2,277 309 48 2,634
Production.................. 1,453 507 0 1,960
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Total................. 3,730 816 48 4,594
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The facility cost estimates for each category of activities are
based on hourly wage rates for managerial ($38.72), technical ($28.37),
and clerical ($17.48) work. Each exhibit presents separate burden
estimates for small, medium, and large storage and production
facilities.
Exhibits 3 through 8 summarize the estimated facility burden
associated with performing each separate task associated with an SPCC
Plan. Not all of the activities will be performed on an annual basis by
all facilities.
New Plan
Exhibit 3 presents the estimated burden and costs for a facility to
perform the activities associated with preparing an SPCC Plan. All new
facilities must prepare and implement an SPCC Plan.
Exhibit 3.--Estimated Burden Hours and Costs--Preparation of New Plan
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Burden hours
--------------------------------------- Burden
Type of facility Managerial Technical Clerical hours Cost
$38.72/hr. $28.37/hr. $17.48/hr.
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Storage:
Small...................................... 6.0 25.0 4.0 35.0 $1,012
Medium..................................... 6.0 44.0 6.0 56.0 1,586
Large...................................... 6.0 76.0 8.0 90.0 2,528
Production:
Small...................................... 6.0 28.0 4.0 38.0 1,097
Medium..................................... 6.0 46.0 6.0 58.0 1,642
Large...................................... 6.0 77.0 8.0 90.0 2,557
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Modification of Plan
Exhibit 4 presents the burden hours and costs for a facility to
revise an SPCC Plan after any modification that materially affects the
facility's potential to discharge oil into navigable waters. An
estimated ten percent of facilities will need to modify their SPCC
Plans each year.
[[Page 15249]]
Exhibit 4.--Estimated Annual Burden Hours and Costs--Modification of Plan
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Burden hours
--------------------------------------- Burden
Type of facility Managerial Technical Clerical hours Cost
$38.72/hr. $28.37/hr. $17.48/hr.
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Storage:
Small...................................... 0.0 4.5 1.0 5.5 $145
Medium..................................... 0.0 4.5 1.0 5.5 145
Large...................................... 0.0 4.5 1.0 5.5 145
Production:
Small...................................... 0.0 4.5 1.0 5.5 145
Medium..................................... 0.0 4.5 1.0 5.5 145
Large...................................... 0.0 4.5 1.0 5.5 145
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Triennial Review
Exhibits 5 and 6 present the estimated burden hours and costs for a
facility to complete a triennial review, with and without amendment. As
a result of the review process, the facility may need to amend its
Plan, incurring additional costs. Annual burdens and costs per facility
are one-third of the values in Exhibits 5 and 6. An estimated three
percent of all existing facilities will need to amend their Plans each
year.
Exhibit 5.--Estimated Burden Hours and Costs--Triennial Review--No Amendment
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Burden hours
--------------------------------------- Burden
Type of facility Managerial Technical Clerical hours Cost
$38.72/hr. $28.37/hr. $17.48/hr.
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Storage:
Small...................................... 1.0 2.5 0.5 4.0 $118
Medium..................................... 1.0 4.5 1.0 6.5 184
Large...................................... 1.0 9.0 1.0 10.0 283
Production:
Small...................................... 1.0 3.5 0.5 5.0 147
Medium..................................... 1.0 5.5 1.0 7.5 212
Large...................................... 1.0 8.0 1.0 11.0 312
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Exhibit 6.--Estimated Burden Hours and Costs--Triennial Review--Amendment
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Burden hours
--------------------------------------- Burden
Type of facility Managerial Technical Clerical hours Cost
$38.72/hr. $28.37/hr. $17.48/hr.
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Storage:
Small...................................... 1.0 7.0 2.0 10.0 $272
Medium..................................... 1.0 9.0 2.0 12.0 329
Large...................................... 1.0 12.5 2.0 15.5 428
Production:
Small...................................... 1.0 8.0 2.0 11.0 301
Medium..................................... 1.0 10.0 2.0 13.0 357
Large...................................... 1.0 13.5 2.0 16.5 457
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Oil Discharge
Exhibit 7 presents estimated burden hours and costs for a facility
to submit information to the Regional Administrator in the event of
certain discharges of oil into navigable waters. It is assumed that the
probability of a facility having such a spill in any given year is 0.15
percent.
Exhibit 7.--Estimated Burden Hours and Costs--Oil Discharge
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Burden hours
--------------------------------------- Burden
Type of facility Managerial Technical Clerical hours Cost
$38.72/hr. $28.37/hr. $17.48/hr.
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Storage:
Small...................................... 1.0 1.0 0.0 2.0 $67
Medium..................................... 1.0 1.0 0.0 2.0 67
Large...................................... 1.0 1.0 0.0 2.0 67
Production:
Small...................................... 1.0 1.0 0.0 2.0 67
Medium..................................... 1.0 1.0 0.0 2.0 67
[[Page 15250]]
Large...................................... 1.0 1.0 0.0 2.0 67
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Recordkeeping
Exhibit 8 presents the burden hours and costs for a facility to
perform Plan maintenance and Plan-specific recordkeeping activities.
All regulated facilities are subject to these requirements.
Exhibit 8.--Estimated Burden Hours and Costs--Recordkeeping
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Burden hours
--------------------------------------- Burden
Type of facility Managerial Technical Clerical hours Cost
$38.72/hr. $28.37/hr. $17.48/hr.
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Storage:
Small...................................... 0.0 2.0 0.5 2.5 $65
Medium..................................... 0.0 4.5 0.5 5.0 136
Large...................................... 0.0 9.5 0.5 10.0 278
Production:
Small...................................... 0.0 3.0 0.5 3.5 94
Medium..................................... 0.0 3.0 0.5 3.5 94
Large...................................... 0.0 3.0 0.5 3.5 94
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Annual Expected Facility Burden
The total annual burden per facility reflects the sum of the annual
burdens incurred by the facility for each category of activities
outlined above. The estimated annual burden for an existing facility is
shown in Exhibit 9. Exhibit 10 presents the estimated annual burden for
a new facility.
Exhibit 9.--Estimated Burden Hours and Costs per Facility--Existing Facilities
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Annual burden hours
--------------------------------------- Total
Type of facility Managerial Technical Clerical burden Annual cost
$38.72/hr. $28.37/hr. $17.48/hr. hours
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Storage:
Small...................................... 0.3 3.3 0.8 4.4 $121
Medium..................................... 0.3 6.5 0.9 7.7 214
Large...................................... 0.3 12.7 0.9 13.9 389
Production:
Small...................................... 0.3 4.7 0.8 5.8 159
Medium..................................... 0.3 5.3 0.9 6.5 181
Large...................................... 0.3 6.5 0.9 7.7 214
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Exhibit 10.--Estimated Annual Burden Hours and Costs per Facility--New Facilities
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Annual burden hours
--------------------------------------- Total
Type of facility Managerial Technical Clerical burden Annual cost
$38.72/hr $28.37/hr $17.48/hr hours
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Storage:
Small...................................... 6.0 27.5 4.6 38.1 $1,092
Medium..................................... 6.0 49.0 6.6 61.6 1,737
Large...................................... 6.0 86.0 8.6 100.6 2,821
Production:
Small...................................... 6.0 31.5 4.6 42.1 1,205
Medium..................................... 6.0 49.5 6.6 62.1 1,751
Large...................................... 6.0 80.5 8.6 95.1 2,665
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Total Annual Expected Facility Burdens
The total annual burdens for all existing facilities and all new
facilities are shown in Exhibits 11 and 12. The approximately 459,000
existing facilities will incur a combined burden of about 2.5 million
hours and $68 million. In addition, around 4,590 new facilities will
incur a combined burden of 207,000 hours and $5.8 million. The total
annual reporting and recordkeeping burden to the regulated community as
a result of the SPCC Program is estimated to be approximately 2.7
million hours at a cost of about $74 million.
[[Page 15251]]
Exhibit 11.--Estimated Annual Burden Hours and Costs--All Existing Facilities
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Annual burden hours Total
Type of facility --------------------------------------- burden Annual cost
Managerial Technical Clerical hours
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Storage:
Small...................................... 75,157 758,404 17,644 1,013,485 $27,581,027
Medium..................................... 10,200 200,909 29,054 240,163 6,607,489
Large...................................... 1,581 60,654 4,504 66,739 1,862,563
Production:
Small...................................... 47,940 676,968 113,312 838,220 23,088,383
Medium..................................... 16,728 270,183 47,650 334,561 9,158,414
Large...................................... 0 0 0 0 0
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Total.................................... 151,606 1,967,118 212,164 2,493,168 68,297,876
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Exhibit 12.--Estimated Annual Burden Hours and Costs--All New Facilities
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Annual burden hours Total
Type of facility --------------------------------------- burden Annual cost
Managerial Technical Clerical hours
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Storage:
Small...................................... 13,662 62,504 10,474 86,640 $2,486,233
Medium..................................... 1,854 15,126 2,039 19,019 536,768
Large...................................... 288 4,126 413 4,827 135,181
Production:
Small...................................... 8,718 45,697 6,684 61,099 1,750,741
Medium..................................... 3,042 25,071 3,346 31,459 887,491
Large...................................... 0 0 0 0 0
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Total.................................... 27,564 152,524 22,956 203,044 5,796,414
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No person is 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 displayed at 40 CFR Part 9.
Send comments regarding these matters, or any other aspects of the
information collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden,
to the address listed above under ADDRESSES near the top of this
Notice.
Dated: April 1, 1996.
Elaine F. Davies,
Acting Director, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response.
[FR Doc. 96-8481 Filed 4-4-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
