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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 153 (Tuesday, August 9, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48859-48860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-20166]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-RCRA-2011-0626, FRL-9449-4]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Facility Ground-Water Monitoring Requirements

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to 
submit to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) a request to renew 
an existing approved Information Collection Request (ICR) concerning 
groundwater monitoring reporting and recordkeeping requirements. This 
ICR is scheduled to expire on January 31, 2011. 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.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before October 11, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
RCRA-2011-0626, by one of the following methods:
    http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: rcra-docket@epa.gov.
     Fax: 202-566-9744.
     Mail: RCRA Docket (28221T), U.S. Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Room 3334, 
Washington, DC 20460. Such deliveries are only accepted during the 
Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be 
made for deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-RCRA-
2011-0626. 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 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. For additional information about EPA's public 
docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: William Schoenborn, Office of Resource 
Conservation and Recovery, (mail code 5303P), Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: 703-308-8483; fax number: 703-308-8433; e-mail address: 
schoenborn.william@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

How can I access the docket and/or submit comments?

    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-RCRA-2011-0626, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the RCRA Docket in 
the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 
8 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 RCRA Docket is (202) 566-0270.
    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;

[[Page 48860]]

    (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 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 
Business or other for-profit; and State, Local, or Tribal Governments.
    Title: Facility Ground-Water Monitoring Requirements.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 0959.14, OMB Control No. 2050-0033.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on January 
31, 2011. 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: This ICR examines the ground-water monitoring standards 
for permitted and interim status facilities at 40 CFR Parts 264 and 
265, as specified. The ground-water monitoring requirements for 
regulated units follow a tiered approach whereby releases of hazardous 
contaminants are first detected (detection monitoring), then confirmed 
(compliance monitoring), and if necessary, are required to be cleaned 
up (corrective action). Each of these tiers requires collection and 
analysis of ground-water samples. Owners or operators that conduct 
ground-water monitoring are required to report information to the 
oversight agencies on releases of contaminants and to maintain records 
of ground-water monitoring data at their facilities. The goal of the 
ground-water monitoring program is to prevent and quickly detect 
releases of hazardous contaminants to groundwater, and to establish a 
program whereby any contamination is expeditiously cleaned up as 
necessary to protect human health and environment. Subtitle C of the 
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976 (RCRA) creates a 
comprehensive program for the safe management of hazardous waste. 
Section 3004 of RCRA requires owners and operators of facilities that 
treat, store, or dispose of hazardous waste to comply with standards 
established by EPA that are to protect the environment. Section 3005 
provides for implementation of these standards under permits issued to 
owners and operators by EPA or authorized States. Section 3005 also 
allows owners and operators of facilities in existence when the 
regulations came into effect to comply with applicable notice 
requirements to operate until a permit is issued or denied. This 
statutory authorization to operate prior to permit determination is 
commonly known as ``interim status.'' Owners and operators of interim 
status facilities also must comply with standards set under Section 
3004.
    Burden Statement: EPA estimates that permitted facilities will 
incur an average reporting burden of about 10 hours per year, which 
includes time for developing and submitting notifications, reports, and 
demonstrations. They will also incur a recordkeeping burden of about 
130 hours per year, which includes time for reading the regulations, 
implementing a ground-water monitoring system, performing and keeping 
records of ground-water monitoring, and maintaining records. These 
estimates represent the average reporting and recordkeeping burdens 
placed on permitted facilities for detection monitoring, compliance 
monitoring, or corrective action.
    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.
    The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, 
which is only briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 989.
    Frequency of response: Quarterly, semi-annually, and annually.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 121,577 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $27,818,075. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $4,628,246 and an estimated cost of 
$23,189,829 for capital investment or maintenance and operational 
costs.

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: August 1, 2011.
Suzanne Rudzinski,
Director, Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery.
[FR Doc. 2011-20166 Filed 8-8-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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