E9-11635. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; EPA's National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 2076.03, OMB Control Number 2050-0190

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 an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES:

Additional comments may be submitted on or before June 18, 2009.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-RCRA-2008-0914, to (1) EPA, either online using http://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), or by e-mail to [e-mail], or by mail to: RCRA Docket (28221T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; and (2) OMB, by mail to: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Newman Smith, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery (5306P), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 703-308-8757; fax number: 703-308-8433; e-mail address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On January 23, 2009 (74 FR 4189), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments. Any additional comments on this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.

EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-RCRA-2008-0914, which is available for online viewing at http://www.regulations.gov,, or in person viewing at the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) 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 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is [phone], and the telephone number for the RCRA Docket is [phone].

Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at http://www.regulations.gov,, to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select “docket search,” then key in the docket ID number identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing at http://www.regulations.gov as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, confidential business information (CBI), or other information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov.

Title: EPA's National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (Renewal).

ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 2076.03, OMB Control No. 2050-0190.

ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2009. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 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: EPA has established a national program, called the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP), to encourage improved chemical management through source reduction, use of environmentally preferable alternatives, and recycling. An organization's decision to participate in the program is completely voluntary. The primary purpose of the program is to serve as a “clearing house” of information on the availability of technical assistance, project ideas, and production-related success stories. By distributing this information, EPA hopes to stimulate additional chemical management activities and to present innovative technologies and production success stories to prospective partners. EPA uses three forms to collect information from partners. These forms can be prepared and submitted by hard copy or electronically.

Burden Statement: The annual burden for the enrollment form is estimated to average 22 hours per response; the annual burden for the Champion Enrollment form is estimated to average 22 hours per response; the annual burden for the success stories is expected to average 10 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.

Respondents/Affected Entities: Business or other for-profit.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 423.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 2,358.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $185,598. This includes an estimated $0 capital investment and $88 operation and maintenance costs.

Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 1,716 hours in the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burdens. This is due to the increase in program enrollment, as well as the addition of the Champions Form.

Dated: May 14, 2009.

John Moses,

Director, Collection Strategies Division.