[Federal Register: May 18, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 97)]
[Notices]               
[Page 27645]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr18my01-31]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6980-1]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission of EPA ICR 
No. 1365.06 to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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 the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Asbestos-Containing Materials 
in Schools Rule and Revised Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan Rule (EPA 
ICR No. 1365.06; OMB Control No. 2070-0091). The ICR, which is 
abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection 
and its estimated cost and burden. The Federal Register document 
required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on this collection 
of information, was published on October 20, 2000 (65 FR 63071). EPA 
received no comments on this ICR during the comment period.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before June 18, 2001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone on (202) 
260-2740, by e-mail: ``farmer.sandy@epamail.epa.gov,'' or download off 
the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr/icr.htm and refer to EPA ICR No. 
1365.06 and/or OMB Control No. 2070-0091.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1365.06 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0091, to the following addresses: Sandy Farmer, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Collection Strategies Division (Mail 
Code: 2822), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460; 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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools Rule and Revised 
Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan Rule (OMB Control No. 2070-0091; EPA 
ICR No. 1365.06). This is a request for extension of an existing 
approved collection that is currently scheduled to expire on May 31, 
2001. Under 5 CFR 1320.10(e)(2), the Agency may continue to conduct or 
sponsor the collection of information while the submission is pending 
at OMB.
    Abstract: The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) 
requires local education agencies (LEAs) to conduct inspections, 
develop management plans, and design or conduct response actions with 
respect to the presence of asbestos-containing materials in school 
buildings. AHERA also requires states to develop model accreditation 
plans for persons who perform asbestos inspections, develop management 
control plans, and design or conduct response actions. This information 
collection addresses the burden associated with recordkeeping 
requirements imposed on LEAs by the asbestos in schools rule, and 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements imposed on states and training 
providers related to the model accreditation plan rule.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 763, subpart E). Respondents may claim all or part of a notice 
confidential. EPA will disclose information that is covered by a claim 
of confidentiality only to the extent permitted by, and in accordance 
with, the procedures in TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2. 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.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to range between 5.5 hours and 
140 hours per response, depending upon the category of respondent. 
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: Local education agencies (e.g., 
elementary or secondary school districts); asbestos training providers 
to schools and educational systems; state education departments or 
commissions; or public health programs.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 107,759.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 2,212,151 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Costs: $58,860,737.
    Changes in Burden Estimates: The total burden associated with this 
ICR has decreased from 2,367,293 hours in the previous ICR to 2,212,151 
hours for this ICR. This adjustment in burden reflects decreases in the 
estimated number of school buildings containing friable asbestos, 
offset slightly by an increase in the burden that applies to training 
providers.
    According to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12, EPA has 
submitted this ICR to OMB for review and approval. Any comments related 
to the renewal of this ICR should be submitted within 30 days of this 
notice, as described above.

    Dated: May 3, 2001.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 01-12577 Filed 5-17-01; 8:45 am]
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