[Federal Register: March 22, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 56)]
[Notices]
[Page 13324-13325]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22mr02-57]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-7162-2]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request; Institutional Controls Tracking Systems and
Costs Survey
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: Institutional Controls
Tracking Systems and Costs Survey, EPA ICR No. 2043.01. 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 April 22, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 2043.01, to the
following addresses: Susan Auby, 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 Susan
Auby at EPA by phone at (202) 260-4901, by E-mail at
Auby.Susan@epa.gov, or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/
icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 2043.01. For technical questions about the
ICR, contact Michael E. Bellot by phone at (703) 603-8905.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Institutional Controls Tracking Systems and Costs Survey
(EPA ICR No. 2043.01). This is a new collection.
Abstract: The Office of Emergency and Remedial Response (OERR) is
currently researching the development of a system for tracking
institutional controls at Superfund sites. Institutional controls are
non-engineered site measures such as administrative or legal controls
that minimize the potential for exposure to contamination or protect
the integrity of a remedy by limiting land or resource use. Proper
implementation, monitoring, and enforcement of institutional controls
are critical to EPA's core mission of protecting human health and the
environment. Although institutional control mechanisms are necessary
parts of many site remedies, they are often implemented, monitored, or
enforced by state, tribal or local governments. OERR is proposing to
complete a study that includes: (1) Conducting research into the types
of institutional controls tracking systems that are currently in use
and evaluating their relative strengths and weaknesses; (2) developing
a focused list of data collection points and definitions; (3)
developing and piloting a process for the collection of data to be used
to estimate data availability and the cost and time required for data
acquisition; (4) developing a data entry process; and (5) researching
the feasibility of sharing data and linking federal, state, tribal and
local institutional control tracking in a web-based system. In a second
phase of this study, OERR is planning to develop the tracking system,
establish data linkages, and populate the database. This proposed ICR
specifies information necessary to determine what types of
institutional controls tracking systems are currently in use; their
purpose, scope, and structure; the kinds of data they track; their data
entry, quality assurance, administration, and access features; data
querying capabilities; compatibility with a future EPA system;
development, population, and operating costs; and lessons learned from
developing, implementing, and operating these systems. EPA estimates
that approximately 52 States, 10 Tribes, and no more than 200 local
agencies (planning, zoning, and real estate recording offices) will be
surveyed. If approved by OMB, respondents will have 60 days from
receipt of the survey to submit their responses. In addition to the
survey, this proposed ICR includes EPA requests for clarifications,
questions and updates to the survey, and agency visits. Clarifications
and updates will be necessary if EPA has follow-up questions regarding
responses or if EPA requires more information to understand a tracking
system. Up to 50 agencies may be required to submit more detailed
descriptions. EPA
[[Page 13325]]
proposes to visit up to 20 agencies to evaluate institutional controls
tracking systems. Responding to the survey is entirely voluntary. 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 October 2, 2001 (66 FR
50182); 19 comments were received.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and record keeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 10
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.
Respondents/Affected Entities: States, Tribes, and Local Agencies.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 262.
Frequency of Response: One time only.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 2,620 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. 2043.01 in any correspondence.
Dated: March 14, 2002.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 02-6997 Filed 3-21-02; 8:45 am]
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