[Federal Register: August 7, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 152)]
[Notices]               
[Page 42396]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr07au98-100]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6139-8]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request Up for 
Renewal

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 EPA is planning to submit the 
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): EPA Worker Protection Standard for 
Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response, EPA ICR #1426.03, 
OMB Control #2050-0105, Expiration 1/31/99. Before submitting ICR to 
OMB and Budget (OMB) for review and approval, EPA is soliciting 
comments on specific aspects of the collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 3, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, 401 M. Street, 
SW, MS 5101, Washington, DC 20460.
    Remit Comments to: Sella M. Burchette, S EPA/ERT, 2890 Woodbridge 
Ave., Blg 18, MS 101, Edison, NJ 08837-3679.
    To obtain a copy at no charge, please contact Sella Burchette at 
(732) 321-6726/FAX: (732) 321-6724/or electronically at 
burchette.sella@epamail.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities affected by this action are those State 
and local employees engaged in hazardous waste operations and emergency 
response in the 27 States that do not have Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration (OSHA) approved State plans.
    Title: EPA Worker Protection Standard for Hazardous Waste 
Operations and Emergency Response, EPA ICR #1426.03, OMB Control #2050-
0105, Expiration 1-31-99. This is a request for renewal, without 
change, of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: Section 126 (f) of the Superfund Amendments and 
Reauthorization Act of 1986 (SARA) require EPA to set worker protection 
standards for State and local employees engaged in hazardous waste 
operations and emergency response in the 27 States that do not have 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration approved State plans. The 
EPA coverage, required to be identical to the OSHA standards, extends 
to three categories of employees: those in clean-ups at uncontrolled 
hazardous waste sites, including corrective actions at Treatment, 
Storage and Disposal (TSD) facilities regulated under the Resource 
Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); employees working at routine 
hazardous waste operations at RCRA TSD facilities; and employees 
involved in emergency response operations without regard to location. 
This ICR renews the existing mandatory recordkeeping collection of 
ongoing activities including monitoring of any potential employee 
exposure at uncontrolled hazardous waste site, maintaining records of 
employee training, refresher training, medical exams, and reviewing 
emergency response plans.
    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 estimates of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information;
    (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 though the use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other technology collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic 
submission of responses.
    Burden Statement: The annual recordkeeping burden for this 
collection is estimated to average 10.64 hours per site or event. The 
estimated number of respondents is approximated at 100 RCRA regulated 
TSD facilities or uncontrolled hazardous waste sites; 23,900 State and 
local police departments, fire departments or hazardous materials 
response teams. The estimated total burden hours on respondents: 
255,427. The frequency of collection: continuous maintenance or 
records.
    Send comments regarding these matters, or any other aspect of the 
information collection, including suggestions for reducing the burden, 
to the address listed above.

    Dated: July 30, 1998.
Larry Reed,
Acting Office Director, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response.
[FR Doc. 98-21211 Filed 8-6-98; 8:45 am]
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