01-22370. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Hazardous Waste Generator Standards

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

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: Hazardous Waste Generator Standards, OMB Control Number 2050-0035, expiring on September 30, 2001. 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 9, 2001.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments referencing EPA ICR No. 0820.08 and OMB Control 2050-0035, to the following addresses: Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Collection Strategies Division (Mail Code 2822), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; and 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:

For a copy of the ICR contact call Sandy Farmer at EPA, [phone], by E-mail at [e-mail], or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/​icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 0820.08. For technical questions about the ICR contact Bryan Groce at 703-308-8750.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Hazardous Waste Generator Standards (OMB Control Number 2050-0035; EPA ICR No. 0820.08.) expiring September 30, 2001. This is a request for extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: In the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended, Congress directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement a comprehensive program for the safe management of hazardous waste. The core of the national waste management program is the regulation of hazardous waste from generation to transport to treatment and eventual disposal, or from “cradle to grave.” Section 3001(d) of RCRA requires EPA to develop standards for small quantity generators. Section 3002 of RCRA among other things states that EPA shall establish requirements for hazardous waste generators regarding recordkeeping practices. Section 3002 also requires EPA to establish standards on appropriate use of containers by generators.

Finally, section 3017 of RCRA specifies requirements for individuals exporting hazardous waste from the United States, including a notification of the intent to export, and an annual report summarizing the types, quantities, frequency, and ultimate destination of all exported hazardous waste. This ICR targets five categories of informational requirements in part 262: pre-transport requirements for both large (LQG) and small (SQG) quantity generators; air emission standards requirements for LQGs (referenced in 40 CFR part 265, subparts I and J); recordkeeping and reporting requirements for LQGs and SQGs; and export requirements for LQGs and SQGs (i.e., notification of intent to export and annual reporting).

This collection of information is necessary to help generators and EPA (1) identify and understand the waste streams being generated and the hazards associated with them, (2) determine whether employees have acquired the necessary expertise to perform their jobs, and (3) determine whether LQGs have developed adequate procedures to respond to unplanned sudden or non-sudden releases of hazardous waste or hazardous constituents to air, soil, or surface water. This information is also needed to help EPA determine whether tank systems are operated in a manner that is fully protective of human health and the environment. Additionally, this information contributes to EPA's goal of preventing contamination of the environment from hazardous waste accumulation practices, including contamination from equipment leaks and process vents.

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 document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on April 3, 2001 (66 FR 17701); no comments were received.

Burden Statement: The average annual public reporting burden per response for LQGs under this collection of information is estimated to range from 21 minutes to 32 hours, and the average annual public reporting burden per response for SQGs is estimated to range from 21 minutes to 7 hours. The average annual recordkeeping burden per response for LQGs under this collection of information is estimated to range from 2 minutes to 3 hours, and the average annual recordkeeping burden per response for SGQs is estimated at 1 hour. 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: Hazardous Waste Generators, Hazardous Waste Transporters who commingle waste with different Department of Transportation descriptions; and Importers or Exporters of Hazardous Waste.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 130,511.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 475,802 hours.

Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $54,288.

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 listed above. Please refer to EPA ICR No. 0820.08 and OMB Control No. 2050-0035 in any correspondence.

Dated: August 23, 2001.

Oscar Morales,

Director, Collection Strategies Division.