[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 179 (Wednesday, September 16, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49565-49566]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-24838]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-6161-7]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request; Evaluation of Jobs Through Recycling Grant
Projects
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 the following Information
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Evaluation of Jobs Through
Recycling Grant Projects, ICR Number 1865.01. The ICR describes the
nature of the information collection and its expected burden and cost;
where appropriate, it includes the actual data collection instrument.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 16, 1998.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY: Contact Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone
at (202) 260-2740, by email at farmer.sandy@epamail.epa.gov, or
download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA
ICR No. 1865.01. Alternatively, download off the Jobs Through Recycling
Web site at http://www.epa.gov/jtr/seconds/program/program.htm.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Evaluation of Jobs Through Recycling Grant Projects, ICR
Number 1865.01. This is a new collection.
Abstract: EPA launched the Jobs Through Recycling (JTR) initiative
in 1994 to help facilitate the growth of the recycling industry and
thereby increase the environmental and economic benefits created by
recycling. The industry includes businesses involved in collecting,
processing, manufacturing, and selling products made from recovered
materials. With JTR, EPA intended to help state and tribal agencies
build a support infrastructure of economic development activities which
create jobs, increase capital invested in the recycling industry,
create new recycling capacity, and increase the amount of secondary
materials actually used.
To assess the success of the JTR grant projects, EPA designed a
methodology to evaluate the results, accomplishments, and lessons
learned from each JTR grant. The first step in the methodology is to
review grant workplans, progress and final reports, and grant products.
The second step is to interview the grantees as well as one project
partner and one business assisted by each grantee. To facilitate the
evaluation, EPA developed an interview guide with a standard set of
questions for grantees, project partners, and assisted businesses. The
interview guide will enable EPA to collect both qualitative and
quantitative information on the accomplishments of the JTR grantees
through either phone or onsite interviews. Grantees, for example, are
asked to describe the lessons learned and challenges overcome in
implementing and managing their projects as well as the results, such
as the number of jobs created, amount of capital invested, volume of
new capacity created, and volume of secondary materials actually used.
EPA pilot tested the evaluation process and the discussion guide with
six 1994 JTR grants. All participation in JTR project evaluation
interviews is voluntary.
[[Page 49566]]
The purpose of the ICR is to allow EPA to continue its evaluation
of JTR grant projects by measuring the success of the remaining 1994
grant projects as well as the grants awarded in 1995, 1996, and 1997.
The information compiled during these interviews will be disseminated
to current and future program participants as well as other recycling
market development professionals, so that others can replicate project
successes and avoid past mistakes. In addition, EPA will use the
information gathered to help identify opportunities to improve the
overall JTR program and ensure its continued growth and success.
Finally, the evaluation will assist EPA in complying with the
Government Performance and Results Act of 1993 (GPRA), by measuring
progress towards the goals and objectives detailed in the EPA Strategic
Plan.
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
Federal Register Notice required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting
comments on this collection of information was published on 6/2/98 (63
FR 29988); no comments were received.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 6
hours per response from JTR grantees and 2.25 hours per response from
project partners and assisted businesses. 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: Entities potentially affected by
this action are JTR grantees, which include state, multistate, and
tribal organizations that have received grant funding through JTR. Also
affected are project partners (including state and local agencies) and
selected businesses assisted by JTR grantees.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 35.
Frequency of Response: One-time only.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 122.5 hours.
Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods
for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of
automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please
refer to EPA ICR No. 1865.01 in any correspondence.
Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OP Regulatory
Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460
and
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA 725 17th Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20503
Dated: September 9, 1998.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 98-24838 Filed 9-15-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
