02-28848. Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Notification of Regulated Waste Activity

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 the following Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Notification of Regulated Waste Activity, EPA ICR No. 0261.14, OMB No. 2050-0028, expires on December 31, 2002. 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 December 13, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 0261.14 and OMB Control No. 2050-0028, to the following addresses: Susan Auby, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Collection Strategies Division (Mail Code 2822T), 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 Susan Auby at EPA by phone at [phone], by e-mail at [e-mail] or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/​icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 0261.14. For technical questions about the ICR contact David Eberly at [phone].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Title: Notification of Regulated Waste Activity, EPA ICR No. 0261.14, OMB No. 2050-0028, expires on December 31, 2002. This is a request for extension of a currently approved collection.

Abstract: Section 3010 of Subtitle C of RCRA, as amended, requires any person who generates or transports regulated waste or who owns or operates a facility for the treatment, storage, or disposal (TSD) of regulated waste to notify EPA of their activities, including the location and general description of activities and the regulated wastes handled. The facility is then issued an EPA Identification number. The facilities are required to use the Notification Form (EPA Form 8700-12) to notify EPA of their hazardous waste activities. EPA needs this information to determine the universe of persons who generate, handle, and manage these regulated wastes; assign EPA Identification Numbers; and ensure that these regulated wastes are managed in a way that protects human health and the environment, as required by RCRA, as amended. EPA enters notification information submitted by respondents into the EPA National data base and assigns EPA Identification Numbers. EPA uses the information primarily for tracking purposes, and secondarily for a variety of enforcement and inspection purposes. In addition, EPA uses this information to identify the universe of regulated waste generators, handlers, and managers and their specific regulated waste activities. Finally, EPA uses this information to ensure that regulated waste is managed properly, that statutory provisions are upheld, and that regulations are adhered to by facility owners or operators.

Section 3007(b) of RCRA and 40 CFR part 2, subpart B, which defines EPA's general policy on public disclosure of information, both contain provisions for confidentiality. However, the Agency does not anticipate that businesses will assert a claim of confidentiality covering all or part of the Notification of Regulated Waste Activity. If such a claim were asserted, EPA must and will treat the information in accordance with the regulations cited above. EPA also will assure that this information collection complies with the Privacy Act of 1974 and OMB Circular 108. 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 July 1, 2002 (67 FR 44196). No comments were received.

Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average about 4 hours per respondent for initial notifications and about 2 hours per respondent for subsequent notifications. The estimates for the notification ICR include all aspects of the information collection including time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering data, and completing and reviewing the form. 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: Business or other for profit.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 31,125.

Frequency of Response: On occasion.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 96,250 hours.

Estimated Total Annualized Capital, Operating/ Maintenance Cost Burden: $130,725.

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 addresses above. Please refer to EPA ICR No. 0261.14 and OMB Control No. 2050-0028 in any correspondence.

Dated: November 1, 2002.

Oscar Morales,

Director, Collection Strategies Division.