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[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 229 (Friday, November 28, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 63329-63330]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31271]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5928-9]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Information Collection Request Number 1597.02: 
Universal Waste Handlers and Destination Facilities, Reporting and 
Recordkeeping Requirements

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 proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): Universal Waste Handlers and 
Destination Facilities Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements, EPA 
ICR Number 1597.02, OMB Control Number 2050-0145, current expiration 
date: 5/31/98. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and 
approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the 
proposed information collection as described below. Please note that 
this action does not create any new regulatory requirements for persons 
who manage universal waste.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Commenters must send an original and two copies of their 
comments referencing docket number F-97-UWIP-FFFFF to RCRA Docket 
Information Center, Office of Solid Waste (5305G), U.S. Environmental 
Protection Agency Headquarters (EPA HQ), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, 
DC 20460. Hand deliveries of comments should be made to the Arlington, 
VA, address listed below. Comments may also be submitted electronically 
by sending electronic mail through the Internet to: rcra-[email protected]. Comments in electronic format should also be 
identified by the docket number F-97-UWIP-FFFFF. All electronic 
comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special 
characters and any form of encryption.
    Public comments and supporting materials are available for viewing 
in the RCRA Information Center (RIC), located at Crystal Gateway 1, 
1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, first floor, Arlington, VA. The RIC is 
open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal 
holidays. To review docket materials, the public must make an 
appointment by calling 703-603-9230. The public may copy a maximum of 
100 pages from any regulatory docket at no charge. Additional copies 
cost $.15/page.
    Copies of the original ICR may be requested from the docket address 
and phone number listed above or may be found on the Internet. On the 
Internet, access the main EPA gopher menu and locate the directory: EPA 
Offices and Regions/Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response 
(OSWER)/Office of Solid Waste (RCRA/hazardous waste-RCRA Subtitle C/
generators.
    Follow these instructions to access the information electronically:

WWW: http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/id/univwast.htm
FTP: ftp.epa.gov
Login: anonymous
Password: your Internet address
    Files are located in /pub/epaoswer.
    The official record for this action will be kept in paper form. 
Accordingly, EPA will transfer all comments received electronically 
into paper form and place them in the official record, which will also 
include all comments submitted directly in writing. The official record 
is the paper record maintained in the RCRA Information Center (the RIC 
address is listed above in this section).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information, contact the 
RCRA Hotline at 1-800-424-9346 or TDD 1-800-553-7672 (hearing 
impaired). In the Washington metropolitan area, call 703-412-9610 or 
TDD 703-412-3323. For technical information, contact Bryan Groce at 
703-308-8750.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities potentially 
affected by this action are waste handlers and destination facilities 
that collect and manage certain hazardous waste batteries, certain 
hazardous waste pesticides, and hazardous waste mercury-containing 
thermostats.
    Title: Universal Waste Handlers and Destination Facilities 
Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements, EPA ICR Number 1597.02, OMB 
Control Number 2050-0145, expiration date: 5/31/98.
    Abstract: EPA promulgated the Universal Waste standards at 40 CFR 
part 273. The Universal Waste standards govern the collection and 
management of widely generated wastes known as universal wastes. EPA 
has identified hazardous waste batteries, certain hazardous waste 
pesticides, and hazardous waste thermostats as universal wastes. Other 
wastes may be added to the universal waste Federal program if EPA 
determines such regulation is appropriate. The regulations allow 
universal waste handlers to manage universal wastes under a reduced set 
of regulatory requirements. Destination facilities, on the other hand, 
(i.e., those facilities accepting universal waste for treatment, 
recycling, or disposal) remain subject to standards under 40 CFR parts 
264 or 265.
    The universal waste regulations at part 273 were promulgated by EPA 
under the authority of Subtitle C in RCRA. This information collection 
targets the collection of information for the following reporting or 
recordkeeping requirements: notification, labeling and marking, 
storage-time limitations, off-site shipments, tracking universal waste 
shipments, and petitions to include other waste categories at the 
federal level.
    It is necessary for EPA to collect universal waste information to 
ensure that universal waste is collected and managed in a manner that 
is protective of human health and the environment. EPA requires, among 
other things, large quantity handlers of universal waste (LQHUWs) to 
notify the Agency for their universal waste management activities so 
that EPA can obtain general information on these handlers, and so that 
it can facilitate enforcement of the regulations at part 273. In 
addition, EPA requires universal waste handlers to record the date on 
which they begin storing universal waste on-site to ensure

[[Page 63330]]

that such accumulation is performed responsibly. EPA also requires 
certain universal waste handlers to track receipt of universal waste 
shipments as well as shipments sent off-site to ensure that universal 
waste is properly treated, recycled, and disposed. Finally, the 
submission of petitions in support of regulating other wastes or waste 
categories under part 273 helps EPA (1) to compile information on these 
wastes, and (2) to determine whether regulation as a universal waste is 
appropriate.
    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.
    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 estimated number of likely respondents under 
this collection of information is 79,510 (78,973 Small Quantity 
Handlers of Universal Wastes (SQHUWs), 485 LQHUWs, and 52 Destination 
Facilities). The bottom line annual reporting and recordkeeping burden 
to respondents under this collection of information is 122,674 hours. 
The average annual public reporting burden per response for SQHUWs 
under this collection of information is 0 hours. The average annual 
public reporting burden per response for LQHUWs is estimated to range 
from 0 to 2.41 hours. The average annual public reporting burden per 
response for destination facilities is estimated to range from 0 to 
2.41 hours. The average annual recordkeeping burden per response for 
SQHUWs under this collection of information is estimated to range from 
1.12 to 1.62 hours. The average annual recordkeeping burden per 
response for LQHUWs is estimated to range from 5.82 to 6.82 hours. The 
average annual recordkeeping burden per response for destination 
facilities is estimated to be 115.37 hours. The total average annual 
burden cost for universal waste handlers, universal waste petitioners, 
and destination facilities is: $5,303,419 in labor costs; $1,212 in 
capital costs; and $244.25 in annual O&M costs (O&M costs include a 
purchase of service component). 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.

    Dated: November 20, 1997.
Elizabeth Cotsworth,
Acting Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 97-31271 Filed 11-26-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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