FR Doc E6-9870

[Federal Register: June 22, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 120)]
[Notices]
[Page 35904-35906]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22jn06-76]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OA-2006-0513; FRL-8185-6]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Request for Renewal of
Information Collection for EPA's National Environmental Performance
Track Program, EPA ICR Number 1949.05, OMB Control Number 2010-0032

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 a
request to renew an existing approved Information Collection Request
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). This ICR is
scheduled to expire on August 31, 2006. The request will be to renew
the existing approved collection (EPA ICR Number 1949.03, OMB Control
Number 2010-0032, National Environmental Performance Track Program).
Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is
soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information
collections as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 21, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-
2006-0513 by one of the following methods:
http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line

instructions for submitting comments.
E-mail: docket.oei@epa.gov.
Fax: 202-566-0224.
Mail: Office of Administrator Docket, Environmental
Protection Agency, Mailcode: 2822T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.,
Washington, DC 20460.
Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, EPA West, Room B-102,
1301 Constitution Ave, NW., Washington, DC 20460. Such deliveries are
only accepted during the Docket's normal hours of operation (8:30 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. M-F), special arrangements should be made for deliveries
of boxed information.
Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OA-2006-
0513. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in
the public docket without change and may be made available online at
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information

provided, unless the comment includes information claimed to be
Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information whose
disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information that you
consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov, or via e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web

site is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know
your identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body
of your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without
going through http://www.regulations.gov your e-mail address will be

automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of
any defects or viruses.
Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the http://www.regulations.gov
index. Although listed in the index, some

information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other information
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other material, such
as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only in hard copy.
Publicly available docket materials are available either electronically
in http://www.regulations.gov or in hard copy at the EPA Docket Center,

EPA/DC, EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,
DC. The Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday
through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the
Public Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the
Office of Administrator Docket is (202) 566-1752).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert D. Sachs, Office of Policy,
Economics and Innovation, Mail Code 1807T, Environmental Protection
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone
number: (202) 566-2884; fax Number: (202) 566-0966; e-mail address:
Sachs.Robert@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has established a public docket for this
ICR under Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OA-2006-0513, which is available for
online viewing at http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at

the Office of Environmental Information Docket in the EPA Docket Center
(EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington,
DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The
telephone number for the Reading Room is (202) 566-1744, and the
telephone number for the Office of Environmental Information Docket is
(202) 566-1752.
Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft

collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those
documents in the public docket that are available electronically. Once
in the system, select ``search'' then key in the docket ID number
identified in this document.

What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested In?

Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically
solicits comments and information to enable it 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 estimate of the burden
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(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 through the use of appropriate automated
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses. In

[[Page 35905]]

particular, EPA is requesting comments from very small businesses
(those that employ less than 25) on examples of specific additional
efforts that EPA could make to reduce the paperwork burden for very
small businesses affected by this collection.

What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your
comments:
1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific
examples.
2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used
that support your views.
4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified
under DATES.
7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal
Register citation.

What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Apply to?

Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
facility members of EPA's National Environmental Performance Track
program.
Title: Request for Renewal of Information Collection for EPA's
National Environmental Performance Track Program.
ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1949.03, OMB Control No. 2010-0032.
ICR Status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on August 31,
2006. 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 in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal
Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed
either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate
means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if
applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
Abstract: EPA's National Environmental Performance Track is a
voluntary program that recognizes and rewards private and public
facilities that demonstrate top environmental performance beyond
current requirements. The program is based on the premise that
government should complement existing programs with new tools and
strategies that not only protect people and the environment, but also
capture opportunities for reducing cost and spurring technological
innovation.
Performance Track is a facility based program (not company-wide)
that solicits and receives applications and makes acceptance decisions
twice per year from February through April, and August through October.
Applying facilities must meet four basic criteria: (1) A history of
sustained compliance with environmental regulations; (2) an
Environmental Management System (EMS) in place that has undergone an
assessment by an independent third party; (3) past and future
environmental achievements, and a commitment to quantified continuous
environmental improvement; and (4) public involvement and annual
reporting. Once accepted, members remain in the program for three
years, as long as they continue to meet the program criteria. After
three years, they may apply to renew their membership through a
streamlined application process.
In this request, EPA proposes to renew ICR 1949.03, set to expire
on August 31, 2006. This ICR requests approval to collect information
from applicants and members of the National Environmental Performance
Track program. A total of 401 facilities are current members.
No confidential information is requested in this notice. 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 estimate of the burden
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of
the methodology and assumptions used;
(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 through the use of appropriate automated
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submission of responses.
Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 16.4
hours per facility per year. This includes all applications, compliance
screens, annual reporting, incentives participation, and site visits.
The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate,
which is only briefly summarized here:
Estimated total number of respondents: 476.
Frequency of response: Annually, biennially, and triennially.
Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 2
or 3.
Estimated total annual burden hours: 7,805.
Estimated total annual costs: $514,521. This includes an estimated
burden cost of $514,521, and an estimated cost of $0.00 for capital
investment or maintenance and operational costs.
EPA estimates that all facilities who voluntarily respond to this
information collection by electing to participate in the Performance
Track program have determined that the expected benefits of
participation outweigh any burdens associated with preparing the
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
which have subsequently changed; 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.

Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?

This renewal ICR 1949.05 estimates annualized burden hours to be
7,805. This is a reduction of 105,634 hours from the previous
reportable burden to OMB of 113,439 hours. The primary reason for this
decrease is the burden hour estimate in ``program

[[Page 35906]]

participation'' under ICR 1949.03. The estimated hours for program
participation were dramatically overestimated in the previous ICR, and
EPA has determined therefore that these hours were incorrect.
Specifically, EPA estimated significant burden for ``compliance
demonstration, EMS documentation and reporting, continuous performance
demonstration, and reporting and public outreach.'' This burden was not
correctly estimated, nor attributable to information collection
requirements of the Performance Track Program. Other areas that
contributed to the decrease in burden hours are application and renewal
application hours, incentives hours, and annual performance reporting
hours. Estimated burden hours per facility for the customer
satisfaction survey have not changed. Finally, EPA has gained
tremendous experience in the last three years about implementing its
Performance Track Program, and assessing information collection burden
in ICR amendments 1949.03 and 1949.04. As a result of this experience,
EPA believes that current estimates in ICR 1949.05 to be significantly
more accurate than previous estimates.

What Is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?

EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

Dated: June 14, 2006.
David W. Guest,
Acting Director, Performance Incentives Division.
[FR Doc. E6-9870 Filed 6-21-06; 8:45 am]

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