Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Title I of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), “Title I of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act” (EPA ICR No. 0824.06, OMB Control No. 2040-0008) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a proposed renewal of the ICR (formerly known as “Ocean Dumping Regulations—reports and record keeping to obtain a permit, request designation, and report on permitted dumping activities”), which is currently expired. 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.

DATES:

Comments must be submitted on or before March 7, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-2015-0613, online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by email to ow-docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.

EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

David Redford, Oceans and Coastal Protection Division, Environmental Protection Agency, 4504T 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 202-566-1288; fax number: 202-566-1546; email address: redford.david@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Supporting documents which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments and information to enable it 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. EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB.

Abstract: Ocean dumping—the transportation of any material for the purpose of dumping in ocean waters—cannot occur unless a permit is issued under the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA). EPA is responsible for issuing ocean dumping permits for all materials except dredged material. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is responsible for issuing ocean dumping permits for dredged material using EPA's environmental criteria. Ocean dumping permits for dredged material are subject to EPA review and concurrence. EPA is also responsible for designating and managing ocean sites for the disposal of wastes and other materials, and establishing Site Management and Monitoring Plans for ocean disposal sites. EPA collects or sponsors the collection of information for the purposes of permit issuance, reporting of emergency dumping to safety of life at sea, compliance with permit requirements, including specifically general permits for burial at sea and for transportation and disposal of vessels.

EPA collects this information to ensure that ocean dumping is appropriately regulated and will not harm human health and the marine environment, based on applying the Ocean Dumping Criteria. The Ocean Dumping Criteria consider, among other things: The environmental impact of the dumping; the need for the dumping; the effect of the dumping on esthetic, recreational, or economic values; land-based alternatives to ocean dumping; and the adverse effects of the dumping on other uses of the ocean. The Ocean Dumping Criteria are codified in 40 CFR parts 227-228. To meet U.S. reporting obligation under the London Convention, EPA also reports some of this information in the annual United States Ocean Dumping Report.

EPA uses ocean dumping information to make decisions regarding whether to issue or deny a permit. This information is also used to develop the conditions in ocean dumping permits issued by EPA in order to ensure consistency with the Ocean Dumping Criteria. EPA uses monitoring and reporting data from permittees to assess compliance with ocean dumping permits, including associated monitoring activities.

Form numbers: None.

Respondents/affected entities: Respondents/affected entities may include any private person or entity, or State, local or foreign governments.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Required to obtain or retain a benefit, specifically permit authorization and/or compliance with permits required under MPRSA sections 102 and 104, 33 U.S.C. 1402 & 1404, and implementing regulations at 40 CFR parts 220-229.

Estimated number of respondents: 2,767 respondents per year.

Frequency of response: The frequency of response varies for application and reporting requirements for different permits. Other than the general permit for transportation and disposal of vessels, response is required once for each permit application, whether a single notification to EPA or a permit application. Depending on the type of MPRSA permit, a permit application would be required prior to expiration if the permittee seeks re-issuance: General permit (once every seven years); special permit (once every three years), and research permit (once every 18 months).

Total estimated burden: The public reporting and recordkeeping burdens for this collection of information are estimated to be 3,207 hours per year. Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).

Total estimated cost: Annual labor costs are estimated to be $153,300 and $195,857 for capital or operation & maintenance costs.

Changes in estimates: EPA estimates an increase in the number of respondents from 21 to 2,767 with a corresponding decrease in total estimated burden from 27,004 to 3,207 hours as compared to the most recently approved ICR, which expired January 31, 1992. The estimated increase in the number of respondents is due to the significant increase in the number of entities using the burial at sea and vessel general permits, which were not widely used at the time of the earlier ICR. The estimated decrease in the total estimated burden is due to the implementation of the Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988, which led to the cessation of the dumping of sewage sludge and industrial wastes. The respondent burden for these special permits was high due the potentially significant impacts from dumping these wastes, and the data required from the respondents to ensure permit compliance.