96-20367. Agency Information Collection Activities; Environmental Protection Agency/Chemical Manufacturers Association Root Cause Analysis Pilot Project

[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 155 (Friday, August 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41605-41606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20367]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5550-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Environmental 
Protection Agency/Chemical Manufacturers Association Root Cause 
Analysis Pilot Project

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 
Protection Agency/Chemical Manufacturers Association Root Cause 
Analysis Pilot Project. 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 October 8, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Tracy Back (2224A) or Sally Sasnett (2224A), U.S. EPA, 401 M 
St., SW., Washington DC 20460. Interested persons may obtain a copy of 
the ICR without charge by calling Tracy Back at [phone].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracy Back, [phone], or Sally 
Sasnett, [phone]. Facsimile number: [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
Chemical Manufacturers Association member companies that voluntarily 
choose to participate in the pilot project.
    Title: Environmental Protection Agency/Chemical Manufacturers 
Association Root Cause Analysis Pilot Project.
    Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction 
with the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA), is developing a 
pilot project to improve environmental performance and regulatory 
compliance. To achieve this goal, EPA and CMA will analyze past 
compliance information of

[[Page 41606]]

CMA member companies to: (1) Identify fundamental causes of 
noncompliance; (2) identify common features or trends among these 
causes; and (3) develop innovative compliance management 
recommendations and potential pollution prevention opportunities to 
help facilities achieve and maintain compliance. The pilot project will 
focus on areas of noncompliance that have been addressed through a 
Federal civil administrative or judicial enforcement actions that were 
commenced and closed between fiscal years 1990-1995.
    To identify the fundamental causes of noncompliance, EPA and CMA 
will develop a survey tool for participating CMA member companies. The 
survey will seek responses regarding the fundamental causes of 
identified noncompliance, actions taken by facilities to remedy the 
noncompliance, and additional recommendations for compliance activities 
or potential pollution prevention opportunities to continuously improve 
compliance. In addition, the survey may also seek information regarding 
CMA's Responsible Care program and its impact on compliance. 
To support completion of the survey and help identify the fundamental 
causes of noncompliance, EPA will supply participating CMA member 
companies with compliance data for fiscal years 1990-1995 from closed 
Federal civil administrative or judicial enforcement actions specific 
to their facilities. Participating CMA member companies will be 
afforded the opportunity to review and verify compliance data provided 
to them. Participation by CMA member companies in this pilot project is 
voluntary. 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 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.
    Burden Statement: It is estimated that approximately 100 facilities 
may voluntarily participate on the EPA/CMA Root Cause Analysis Pilot 
Project. Each participant will be asked to complete the EPA/CMA-
developed ``one-time'' survey. In addition, participating facilities 
will be provided the opportunity to review and verify EPA-supplied 
compliance data. EPA estimates that participating facilities may need 
to spend up to seven hours to research compliance files and complete 
the survey. Therefore, a total of 700 facility hours may be expended to 
provide EPA and CMA with data for use in the pilot project. This burden 
hour estimate translates to a cost of $308.70 per facility and a total 
cost to industry of $30,870. The respondent costs were calculated based 
on $21.00 per hour, plus 110 percent overhead. 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: August 2, 1996.
Elaine Stanley,
Director, Office of Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-20367 Filed 8-8-96; 8:45 am]
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