[Federal Register: April 7, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 66)]
[Notices]
[Page 17686-17687]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07ap05-54]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[RCRA-2005-0005, FRL-7895-7]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection;
Comment Request; RCRA Expanded Public Participation, EPA ICR Number
1688.05, OMB Control Number 2050-0149
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency.
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to submit a
continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request an existing approved
collection. This ICRis scheduled to expire on August 31, 2005. 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 June 6, 2005.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number RCRA-
2005-0005, to EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-
mail to RCRA-docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center,
Environmental Protection Agency, RCRA Docket, mail code 5305T, 1200
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Norma Abdul-Malik, Environmental
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460;
telephone number: 703-308-8753; fax number: 703-308-8617; e-mail
address: abdul-malik.norma@epamail.epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this
ICR under Docket ID number RCRA-2005-0005, which is available for
public viewing at the RCRA Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC),
EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The
EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30
p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone
number for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number
for the RCRA Docket is (202) 566-0270. An electronic version of the
public docket is available through EPA Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket.
Use EDOCKET to obtain a copy of the draft
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the
index listing of the contents of the public docket, and to access those
documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once
in the system, select ``search,'' then key in the docket ID number
identified above.
Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA within
60 days of this notice. EPA's policy is that public comments, whether
submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public
viewing in EDOCKET as EPA receives them and without change, unless the
comment contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose
public disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a
comment containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference
to that material in the version of the comment that is placed in
EDOCKET. The entire printed comment, including the copyrighted
material, will be available in the public docket. Although identified
as an item in the official docket, information claimed as CBI, or whose
disclosure is otherwise restricted by statute, is not included in the
official public docket, and will not be available for public viewing in
EDOCKET. For further information about the electronic docket, see EPA's
Federal Register notice describing the electronic docket at 67 FR 38102
(May 31, 2002), or go to http://www.epa.gov./edocket.
Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
facility owners or operators applying for an initial Part B permit or a
Part B permit renewal.
Title: RCRA Expanded Public Participation.
Abstract: Section 7004(b) of RCRA gives EPA broad authority to
provide for, encourage, and assist public participation in the
development, revision, implementation, and enforcement of any
regulation, guideline, information, or program under RCRA. In addition,
the statute specifies certain public notices (i.e., radio, newspaper,
and a letter to relevant agencies) that EPA must provide before issuing
any RCRA permit. The statute also establishes a process by which the
public can dispute a permit and request a public hearing to discuss it.
EPA carries out much of its RCRA public involvement at 40 CFR parts 124
and 270.
In 1995, EPA expanded the public participation requirements under
the RCRA program by promulgating the RCRA Expanded Public Participation
Rule (60 FR 63417; December 11, 1995). The rule responded to calls by
the
[[Page 17687]]
Administration and stakeholders (e.g., States and private citizens) to
provide earlier and better public participation in EPA's permitting
programs, including procedures for more timely information sharing. In
particular, the rule requires earlier public involvement in the
permitting process (e.g., pre-application meetings), expanded public
notice for significant events (e.g., notices of upcoming trial burns),
and more opportunities for the exchange of permitting information
(e.g., information repository).
The required activities and information are needed to help assure
timely and effective public participation in the permitting process.
The requirements are intended to provide equal access to information to
all stakeholders in the permitting process: the permitting agency, the
permit applicant, and the community where a facility is located. Some
facilities may be required to develop information repositories to allow
for expanded public participation and access to detailed facility
information as part of the permitting process.
EPA sought to reduce the reporting frequency to the minimum that is
necessary to ensure compliance with the rule. It would not be possible
to collect this information less frequently and still assure that the
requirements of permit and public involvement regulations are met by
owners or operators. The reporting frequency is essential to assure
that any changes in the trial burn plans or in the anticipated permit
application contents are made known to EPA and to the public.
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 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
The EPA would like to solicit 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 through 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: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 91
hours per response. 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.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 33.
Frequency of Response: On occasion.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 3,005 hours.
Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $4.
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: March 29, 2005.
Maria Parisi Vickers,
Acting Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 05-6850 Filed 4-6-05; 8:45 am]
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