[Federal Register: October 4, 2001 (Volume 66, Number 193)]
[Notices]
[Page 50641-50642]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr04oc01-67]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7071-8]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request; Superfund Site Evaluation and Hazard Ranking
System
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: ``Superfund Site Evaluation
and Hazard Ranking System,'' OMB Control Number 2050-0095; expiring
September 30, 2001. 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 November 5, 2001.
ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1488.05 and OMB
Control No. 2050-0095 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For a copy of the ICR contact Sandy
Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 260-4901, by e-mail at
Farmer.sandy@epa.gov, or download off the Internet at http://
www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 1488.05. For technical
questions about the ICR contact Randy Hippen at EPA by phone at (703)
603-8829 or by e-mail at Hippen.randy@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Superfund Site Evaluation and Hazard Ranking System (OMB
Control No.2050-0095; EPA ICR No. 1488.05) expiring September 30, 2001.
This is a request for extension of a currently approved collection.
Abstract: Section 105 of the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA, 1980 and 1986) amends the
National Oil and Hazardous Substances Contingency Plan (NCP) to include
criteria prioritizing releases
[[Page 50642]]
throughout the U.S. before undertaking remedial action at uncontrolled
hazardous waste sites. The Hazard Ranking System (HRS) is a model that
is used to evaluate the relative threats to human health and the
environment posed by actual or potential releases of hazardous
substances, pollutants, and contaminants. The HRS criteria take into
account the population at risk, the hazard potential of the substances,
as well as the potential for contamination of drinking water supplies,
direct human contact, destruction of sensitive ecosystems, damage to
natural resources affecting the human food chain, contamination of
surface water used for recreation or potable water consumption, and
contamination of ambient air.
Under this ICR, the States will apply the HRS by identifying and
classifying those releases that warrant further investigation. The
information collected under this ICR is required to help determine
whether a site is eligible to be included on the National Priorities
List (NPL). Only sites on the NPL are eligible for Superfund-financed
remedial actions. 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
April 26, 2001; no comments were received.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and record keeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to range from 44
to 1,870 hours per site depending on how far a site progresses through
the site assessment process. Sites needing Pre-CERCLIS Screening and no
other Superfund site assessment work will require an average of 44
hours per site, while sites progressing though all of the major phases
of the site assessment process will require an average of 1,870 hours
per site. 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: States, Indian Tribes, and U.S.
Territories performing Superfund site evaluation activities.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 60.
Frequency of Response: One time.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 230,533 hours.
Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $0.
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 listed above. Please
refer to EPA ICR No. 1488.05 and OMB Control No. 2050-0095 in any
correspondence.
Dated: September 24, 2001.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 01-24898 Filed 10-3-01; 8:45 am]
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