[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 25, 2001)] [Notices] [Pages 49018-49019] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 01-23921] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-7065-4] Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Continuous Release Reporting Regulations (CRRR) Under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) 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: Continuous Release Reporting Regulations (CRRR) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability [[Page 49019]] Act of 1980 (CERCLA), OMB No. 2050-0086, 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 October 25, 2001. ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1445.05 and OMB Control No. 2050-0086, to the following addresses: Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Collection Strategies Division (Mail Code 2822), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; 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) 260-2740, by E-mail at [email protected], or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA ICR No. 1445.05. For technical questions about the ICR contact Lynn Beasley on 703-603-9086 or E-mail address [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Continuous Release Reporting Regulation (CRRR) under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), OMB Control No. 2050-0086, EPA ICR Number 1445.05, expiring September 30, 2001. This is a request for extension of a currently approved collection. Abstract: Section 103(a) of CERCLA, as amended, requires the person in charge of a facility to immediately notify the National Response Center (NRC) of a hazardous substance release into the environment if the amount of the release equals or exceeds the substance's reportable quantity (RQ). The RQ of every hazardous substance can be found in Table 302.4 of 40 CFR 302.4. Section 103(f)(2) of CERCLA provides facilities relief from this per-occurrence notification requirement if the hazardous substance release at or above the RQ is continuous and stable in quantity and rate. Under the CRRR, to report such a release as a continuous release you must make an initial telephone call to the NRC, an initial written report to the EPA Region, and if the source and chemical composition of the continuous release does not change and the level of the continuous release does not significantly increase, a follow-up written report to the EPA Region one year after submission of the initial written report. If the source or chemical composition of the previously reported continuous release changes, notifying the NRC and EPA Region of a change in the source or composition of the release is required. Further, a significant increase in the level of the previously reported continuous release must be reported immediately to the NRC according to section 103(a) of CERCLA. Finally, any change in information submitted in support of a continuous release notification must be reported to the EPA Region. The continuous release of hazardous substance information collected under CERCLA section 103(f)(2) is also available to EPA program offices and other Federal agencies who use the information to evaluate the potential need for additional regulations, new permitting requirements for specific substances or sources, or improved emergency response planning. State and local government authorities and facilities subject to the CRRR use release information for purposes of local emergency response planning. Members of the public, who have access to release information through the Freedom of Information Act, may request release information for purposes of maintaining an awareness of what types of releases are occurring in different localities and what actions, if any, are being taken to protect public health and welfare and the environment. 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 March 28, 2001 (66 FR 16910). One question was received through electronic mail; no additional comments were received. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 92 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 use 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: Entities potentially affected by this action are facilities that manufacture, process, or otherwise use certain specified hazardous substances. Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,712. Frequency of Response: Annual. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 249,451. Estimated Total Annualized Capital, O&M Cost Burden: $76,496. 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. 1445.05 and OMB Control No. 2050-0086 in any correspondence. Dated: September 12, 2001. Oscar Morales, Director, Collection Strategies Division. [FR Doc. 01-23921 Filed 9-24-01; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P