[Federal Register: November 8, 1999 (Volume 64, Number 215)] [Notices] [Page 60814-60815] From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov] [DOCID:fr08no99-80] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-6472-1] Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Emergency Planning and Release Notification Requirements (EPCRA Sections 302, 303, and 304) AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 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: Emergency Planning and Release Notification Requirement (EPCRA sections 302, 303, and 304), OMB Control No. 2050-0092, expires January 31, 2000. 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 December 8, 1999. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 260-2740, by email at farmer.sandy@epamail.epa.gov, or download a copy of the ICR off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 1395.04. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Emergency Planning and Release Notification Requirements (EPCRA sections 302, 303, and 304), OMB Control No. 2050-0092, ICR No. 1395.04, expiring January 31, 2000. This information collection is an extension of a currently approved collection. Abstract: EPCRA established broad emergency planning and facility reporting requirements. Section 302 (40 CFR 355.30) requires any facility where an extremely hazardous substance (EHS) is present in an amount at or in excess of the threshold planning quantity (TPQ) to notify the state emergency response commission (SERC) by May 17, 1987. This activity has been completed; only new facilities are subject to this requirement. Section 303 (40 CFR 355.30) requires local emergency planning committees (LEPCs) to prepare emergency plans for facilities that have EHSs in excess of the TPQs in their local planning district. Facilities are required to provide local planners with information necessary for the preparation of emergency plans. Section 303 requires LEPCs to complete their emergency plans by October 17, 1988. This activity has been also completed; this ICR only covers any updates for these emergency response plans. Section 304 (40 CFR 355.40) requires facilities to report to SERCs and LEPCs releases in excess of quantities established by EPA. Facilities are required to report releases above the reportable quantity (RQ) of any EHS. This ICR covers the notification and the written follow-up required under this section. 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 August 5, 1999 (64 FR 42687); one comment was received. Burden Statement: The average reporting burden for emergency planning under 40 CFR 355.30 is 17.65 hours for new and newly regulated facilities and 12.5 hours for existing facilities. For new and newly regulated facilities, this burden includes the time required to read and understand the regulations, to determine reporting status, notify the SERC that the facility is subject to emergency planning, designate a facility representative and otherwise participate in initial planning activities. For certain existing facilities, this burden includes the time required to inform the LEPC of any changes at a facility that may affect emergency planning, and provide information to the LEPC for planning purposes. The average reporting burden for facilities reporting releases under 40 CFR 355.40 is estimated to average approximately 5 hours per release, including the time for determining if the release is a reportable quantity, notifying the LEPC and SERC, or the 911 operator, and developing and submitting a written follow-up notice. There are not recordkeeping requirements for facilities under EPCRA Sections 302-304. The average burden for emergency planning activities under 40 CFR 300.215 is 21 hours per plan for LEPCs, 16 hours per plan for SERCs. Each SERC and LEPC is also estimated to incur an annual recordkeeping burden of 10 hours. The total burden to facilities over the three-year information collection period is estimated to be 269,200 hours, at a cost of $7.8 million. The total burden for SERCs and LEPCs over the three-year information collection period is estimated to be 486,000 hours at a cost of $11.6 million. 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: Facilities where EHS's are present, LEPCs and SERCs. Estimated Number of Respondents: 99,170. Frequency of Response: Section 302 respondents will comply with requirements once unless new information becomes available. Section 303 respondents will comply with requirements as requested by LEPCs; LEPCs may have to update their local emergency response plans as new [[Page 60815]] facilities or other information such as new chemicals present at or above a TPQ. Section 304 respondents will comply when there is a release of an EHS above the RQ. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 251,700 hours. Estimated Total Annualized Capital and Operating & Maintenance Cost Burden: $64,000. 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 following addresses. Please refer to EPA ICR No. 1395.04 and OMB Control No. 2050-0092 in any correspondence. Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Policy, Regulatory Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460; and Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20503. Dated: November 3, 1999. Richard T. Westlund, Acting Director, Regulatory Information Division. [FR Doc. 99-29182 Filed 11-5-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-M