E7-14263. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements under EPA's WasteWise Program, EPA ICR Number 1698.07, OMB Control Number 2050-0139

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (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 August 23, 2007.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number EPA-HQ-RCRA-2007-0022, to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by e-mail to [e-mail], or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, RCRA Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB at: 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:

Charles Heizenroth, Office of Solid Waste, 5306W, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: [phone]; fax number: [phone]; 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 March 1, 2007 (72 FR 9326), 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-2007-0022, which is available for online viewing at 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 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 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 www.regulations.gov as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic docket, go to www.regulations.gov.

Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements under EPA's WasteWise Program.

ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1698.07, OMB Control No. 2050-0139.

ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2007. 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's voluntary WasteWise program encourages businesses and other organizations to reduce solid waste through waste prevention, recycling, and the purchase or manufacture of recycled-content products. WasteWise participants include partners, who commit to implementing waste reduction activities of their choice, and endorsers which promote the WasteWise program and waste reduction to their members.

The Partner Registration Form identifies an organization and its facilities registering to participate in WasteWise, and requires the signature of a senior official that can commit the organization to the program. (This form can be submitted either electronically or in hard copy.) Within six months of registering, each partner is asked to conduct a waste assessment and submit baseline data and waste reduction goals to EPA via the Annual Assessment Form. (This form can also be submitted either electronically or in hard copy.) On an annual basis partners are asked to report, via the Annual Assessment Form, on their progress toward achieving their waste reduction goals by estimating amounts of waste prevented and recyclables collected, and describing buying or manufacturing recycled-content products. They can also provide WasteWise with information on total waste prevention revenue, total recycling revenue, total avoided purchasing costs due to waste prevention, and total avoided disposal costs due to recycling and waste prevention. Additionally, they are asked to submit new waste reduction goals.

Endorsers, which are typically trade associations or State/local governments, submit the Endorser Registration Form once during their endorser relationship with WasteWise. (This form can be submitted either electronically or in hard copy.) The Endorser Registration Form identifies the organization, the principal contact, and the activities to which the Endorser commits.

EPA's WasteWise program uses the submitted information to (1) identify and recognize outstanding waste reduction achievements by individual organizations, (2) compile aggregate results that indicate overall accomplishments of WasteWise partners, (3) identify cost-effective waste reduction strategies to share with other organizations, and (4) identify topics on which to develop assistance and information efforts.

Burden Statement: The respondent burden for this collection is estimated to average 1 hour per response for the Partner Registration Form, 40 hours per response for the Annual Assessment Form, and 10 hours per response for the Endorser Registration Form.

The estimated number of respondents is 1,775 in Year 1; 1,875 in Year 2; and 1,975 in Year 3. Estimated total annual burden on all respondents is 66,350 hours in Year 1; 70,350 hours in Year 2; and 74,350 hours in Year 3.

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.

Respondents/Affected Entities: Private Sector; State, Local, or Tribal Governments; and the Federal Government.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,875.

Frequency of Response: Once per year.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 70,350.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: Includes $0 annualized capital or O&M costs, and $4,245,450 annual labor costs.

Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 13,650 hours in the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burdens. This increase is due to an adjustment stemming from the increased number of partners.

Dated: July 18, 2007.

Sara Hisel-McCoy,

Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.