Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; Comment Request; Final Authorization for Hazardous Waste Management

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Action (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Final Authorization for Hazardous Waste Management, EPA ICR Number 0969.06, OMB Control Number 2050-0041 (expiration date May 31, 2002.) EPA will use the information collected under this ICR to determine whether a State Hazardous Waste program meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for authorization. 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 February 26, 2002.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CALL:

Tony Terrell at EPA, (703) 308-6496, and refer to EPA ICR No. 969.

ADDRESSES:

Commenters must send an original and two copies of their comments referencing docket number F-2001-SA3P-FFFFF to: RCRA Docket Information Center, Office of Solid Waste (5305W), U.S. Docket Information Center, Office of Solid Waste (5305W), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters (EPA H), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460. Hand deliveries of comments should be made to the Arlington, VA address below. Comments may also be submitted electronically through the Internet to: rcra-docket@epamail.epa.gov Comments in electronic format should also be identified by docket number F-2001-SA3P-FFFFF. All electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. The official record for this action will be kept in paper form and place them in the official record, which also include all comments submitted directly in writing. The official record is the paper record maintained in the RCRA Information Center (the RIC address is listed above this section). Commenters should not submit any confidential business information (CBI) electronically. An original and two copies of CBI must be submitted under separate cover to: RCRA CBI Document Control Officer, Office of Solid Waste (5303W), United States Environmental Protection Agency, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Mailcode 5303W, Washington, DC, 20460. Public comments and supporting materials are available for viewing in the RCRA Information Center (RIC), located at Crystal Gateway, First Floor, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. The RIC is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. To review docket materials, it is recommended that the public make an appointment by calling (703) 603-9230. The public may copy a maximum of 100 pages from any regulatory docket at no charge. Additional copies are $0.15/page. This notice and the supporting documents that detail the ICR renewal are also available.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For general information, contact the RCRA Hotline at 800 424-9346 or TDD 800 553-7672 (hearing impaired). In the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, call 703 412-9810 or TDD 703 412-3323.

For more detailed information on specific aspects of this rulemaking, contact Tony Terrell, Office of Solid Waste (5303W), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, (703) 308-6496/8638, terrell.tony@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are those which are authorized to manage the federal Hazardous waste program.

Title: Final Authorization for Hazardous Waste Management Programs, (OMB Control No. 2050-0041, ICR No. 969.) expiring May 31, 2002.

Abstract: In order for a State to obtain final authorization for a State hazardous waste program or to revise its previously authorized program, it must submit an official application to the EPA Regional office for approval. The purpose of the application is to enable EPA to properly determine whether the State's program meets the requirements of section 3006 of RCRA.

A State with an approved program may voluntarily transfer program responsibilities to EPA by notifying EPA of the proposed transfer, as required by section 271.23. Further, EPA may withdraw a State's authorized program under section 271.23.

State program revision may be necessary when the controlling Federal or State statutory or regulatory authority is modified or supplemented. In the event that the State is revising its program by adopting new Federal requirements, the State shall prepare and submit modified revisions of the program description, Attorney General's statement, Memorandum of Agreement, or such other documents as EPA determines to be necessary. The State shall inform EPA of any proposed modifications to its basic statutory or regulatory authority in accordance with section 271.21. If a State is proposing to transfer all or any part of any program from the approved State agency to any other agency, it must notify EPA in accordance with section 271.21 and submit revised organizational charts as required under section 271.6, in accordance with section 271.21. These paperwork requirements are mandatory under § 3006(a). EPA will use the information submitted by the State in order to determine whether the State's program meets the statutory and regulatory requirements for authorization. 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 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 automatic 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 632 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; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 50.

Frequency of Response: 18.

Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 11,376 hours.

Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $619,541.