Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 60 / Friday, March 28, 1997 / Notices 14905

[FRL–5804–4]

Agency Information Collection

Activities Under OMB Review;

Bioremediation Field Initiative

Database System

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the

Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.

3501 et seq.), this notice announces that

EPA is planning to submit the following

continuing Information Collection

Request (ICR) to the Office of

Management and Budget (OMB). Before

submitting the ICR to OMB for review

and approval EPA is soliciting

comments on specific aspects of the

collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on

or before May 27, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Office of Research and

Development, Center for Environmental

Research Information, 26 West Martin

Luther King Drive (Mailstop G75),

Cincinnati, Ohio 45268.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fran

Kremer, phone (513) 569–7346, fax

(513) 569–7585, email

kremer.fran@epamail.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Affected entities: Entities potentially

affected by this action are those which

are involved in the use of innovative

technologies at Superfund sites, such as

state and local governments, businesses,

and non-profit institutions.

Title: Request for Information for the

Bioremediation Field Initiative Database

Systems, EPA ICR No. 1672.02, OMB

No. 2080–0048, expires 04/30/97.

Abstract: This is an ICR renewal for

gathering information on the design,

operation, and performance of biological

treatment technologies from

remediation experts and managers

working at sites where biological

treatment technologies are being tested

or implemented. The authority for

collecting information on innovative

treatment technologies is described at

Section 311 of the Superfund

Amendments and Reauthorization Act,

Section 8003 of the Resource

Conservation and Recovery Act, Section

7001 of the Oil Pollution Act, and

Section 10 of the Toxic Substance

Control Act. The information will help

the EPA to deploy innovative

technologies more quickly at Superfund

and other sites.

Selected respondents are asked to

complete a two-part questionnaire. The

first part requests general site

information. The second part requests

site-specific biotechnology information.

Following the initial questionnaire,

respondents receive follow-up

questionnaires on a semi-annual basis to

update the information already

provided. EPA has also developed an

easy-to-use PC-based version of the

questionnaire which is currently in use.

Respondents may utilize either the

paper- or the PC-based questionnaire,

whichever they prefer.

EPA compiles information from

completed questionnaires into the

Bioremediation Field Initiative

computer database. EPA developed a

software program called the

Bioremediation in the Field Search

System (BFSS) to search, view, and

report information in the database.

BFSS is available to the public via

computerized bulletin boards and from

Web sites. The Bioremediation Field

Initiative database has also appeared in

the Bioremediation in the Field bulletin,

distributed to approximately 3,500

addressees who have registered for

Bioremediation Field Initiative

mailings.

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 Notice

required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d),

soliciting comments on this collection

of information was published on 12/31/

96 (Vol 61, No. 252, p. 69092); no

comments were received.

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 record keeping burden for

this collection of information is

estimated to average .25 to 5 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 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: Site

remediation personnel.

Estimated Number of Respondents:

781.

Frequency of Response: semi-annual.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden:

1620 hours.

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. 1672.02 and

OMB Control No. 2080–0048 in any

correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency, OPPE 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: March 24, 1997.

Joseph Retzer,

Director, Regulatory Information Division.

[FR Doc. 97–7951 Filed 3–27–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

[ER–FRL–5478–6]

Environmental Impact Statements;

Notice of Availability

Responsible Agency: Office of Federal

Activities, General Information (202)

564–7167 OR (202) 564–7153.

Weekly receipt of Environmental

Impact Statements filed March 17, 1997

through March 21, 1997, pursuant to 40

CFR 1506.9.

EIS No. 970092, Draft EIS, AFS, UT,

Sheepherder Hill Sanitation Salvage

Sale, Management of Selected