31462 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 110 /Tuesday, June 9, 1998 / Notices

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

respondent burden for the activities

covered in this ICR is estimated to be

1,074,410 hours at a cost of $32,511,641.

EPA estimates an average of 25,688

responses each year. Table 1 shows the

annual respondent burden and costs

associated with specific program

elements.

TABLE 1.—ANNUAL RESPONDENT BURDEN AND COSTS

Reporting requirement/citation Number of

responses

Hours per

response Total hours Total respondent cost ($) 1

State Program Requests:

Request for NPDES Program Approval ................................................................ 0.67 2,080 1,394 42,170

Request for NPDES Partial Program Approval .................................................... 1.33 2,080 2,766 83,711

Request for NPDES Program Modification ........................................................... 1.33 250 333 10,061

Request for Program Transfer/Withdrawal ........................................................... 0.00 .................... 0 0

Request for NPDES Sludge Program Approval ................................................... 3.00 750 2,250 68,085

Request for Non-NPDES Sludge Program Approval ............................................ 6.00 750 4,500 136,170

State Program Implementation:

Report on Compliance Evaluation ........................................................................ 0.00 .................... 0 0

Recordkeeping of NPDES Program Information .................................................. 45.00 50 2,250 68,085

Recordkeeping for Non-NPDES Sludge Program Implementation ...................... 12.00 50 600 18,156

Inspection and Investigation of NPDES permittees .............................................. 23,240 ( 2 ) 1,041,998 31,530,853

Inspection of Class I Sludge Management Facilities ............................................ 0.00 8 0 0

Certification of EPA-Issued Permits ...................................................................... 1,849 4 7,396 223,803

State Program Oversight:

Submittal of NPDES Permit Information ............................................................... 45.00 40 1,813 54,877

Submittal of Sludge Permit Information (40 CFR Sections 123.43 and 123.44(j)) 8.00 0 2 75

Submittal of Sludge Permit Information (40 CFR Section 501.16) ....................... 12.00 0 3 76

NPDES Quarterly, Semi-Annual, and Annual Reports ......................................... 225.00 25 5,625 170,213

Semi-Annual Sludge Noncompliance Reports (40 CFR Section 123.45) ............ 16.00 24 384 11,620

Semi-Annual Sludge Noncompliance Reports (40 CFR Section 501.21) ............ 24.00 24 576 17,430

Annual Sludge Noncompliance Reports (40 CFR Section 123.45) ...................... 8.00 126 1,008 30,502

Annual Sludge Noncompliance Reports (40 CFR Section 501.21) ...................... 12.00 126 1,512 45,753

Total Burden ...................................................................................................... 25,688 .................... 1,074,410 32,511,641

1Assumes an hourly labor rate of $30.26.

2Varies.

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 (1)

collecting, validating, and verifying

information, (2) processing and

maintaining information, and (3)

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: June 2, 1998.

Michael B. Cook,

Director, Office of Wastewater Management.

[FR Doc. 98–15323 Filed 6–8–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[FRL–6109–6]

Environmental Laboratory Advisory

Board, Meeting Date and Agenda

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency.

ACTION: Notice of open meeting.

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) will convene an open

meeting of the Environmental

Laboratory Advisory Board (ELAB) on

July 1, 1998, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This meeting will be held at the Omni

San Antonio Hotel, 9821 Colonnade

Boulevard, San Antonio, Texas 78230.

The agenda will include discussion

on the summary of meeting rules, a

discussion of the proposed changes to

NELAC standards, a report on the

resolution of the GLP issue, a discussion

of the proposed charter, membership

and products of Third Party Assessors

Working Group, and a report on EPA

issues.

The public is encouraged to attend.

Time will be allotted for public

comment. Written comments are

encouraged and should be directed to

Ms. Elizabeth Dutrow; Designated

Federal Officer; USEPA; NCERQA (MC–

8724R); Washington, DC 20460. If

questions arise, please contact Ms.

Dutrow by telephone at 202/564–9061,

facsimile at 202/565–2441, or e-mail at

dutrow.elizabeth@epamail.epa.gov.
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 110 /Tuesday, June 9, 1998 / Notices 31463

Dated: May 29, 1998.

Thomas E. Dixon,

Acting Director, Quality Assurance Division.

[FR Doc. 98–15324 Filed 6–8–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–P

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

[FRL–6109–5]

Hazardous Waste Land Disposal

Restrictions: Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection

Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Solid Waste

will hold a public roundtable discussion

on the Agency’s efforts to evaluate

important aspects of and potentially

improve the Resource Conservation and

Recovery Act (RCRA) Land Disposal

Restrictions (LDR) Program. The

purpose of the roundtable is to enable

individuals who have substantial

experience in implementing the LDR

Program to offer their own evaluations

and suggestions on possible

improvements to the program. EPA’s

overall goal in the LDR reinvention

project is to examine the best way to

ensure the program is environmentally

protective, less expensive, more

efficient and flexible, clearer to the

public, and more enforceable. The

public is welcome to observe the

discussions among participants and will

be afforded some opportunities to

express their views. However, this

meeting is not intended to be a full

public hearing.

DATES: The meeting will be held on July

1 and 2, 1998, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00

p.m. each day.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at

the Holiday Inn Arlington at Ballston,

4610 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA

22203.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For

registration matters, contact Ms. Lisa

Enderle of SAIC at (703) 645–6950. For

technical questions regarding the LDRs,

contact Rhonda Minnick of EPA’s Office

of Solid Waste at (703) 308–8771; email: minnick.rhonda@epamail.epa.gov.

For general information on the LDRs,

contact EPA’s RCRA Hotline at (800)

824–9346 or TDD (800) 553–7672

(hearing impaired). In the Washington,

D.C. metropolitan area, call (703) 412–

9810 or TDD (703) 412–3323.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Accommodations

Guest rooms may be reserved by

calling the Holiday Inn Arlington at

Ballston directly at (703) 243–9800 by

June 8, 1998. Please reference the ‘‘LDR

Roundtable’’ to receive the special

government room rate.

Registration

Only registered participants will be

eligible to take part in the roundtable

discussions (subject to the final agenda

and meeting structure). Depending on

the number of persons seeking to be full

discussion participants, EPA may need

to tailor the meeting structure and limit

the number of full participants to 75

individuals to insure that useful results

are obtained in the time available.

Details will be developed and

communicated on meeting structure as

early as possible. To register as an

observer or to register as a full

participant (requested), please

download a registration form via the

Internet from the EPA web site at http:/

/www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/ldr/

register.htm. To receive a registration

form via fax and/or for additional

meeting and logistical information

please contact Ms. Lisa Enderle of SAIC

at (703) 645–6950. The registration

deadline is June 19, 1998.

Background

In the 1984 Hazardous and Solid

Waste Amendments to RCRA, Congress

prohibited the land disposal of

hazardous wastes unless the wastes

meet treatment standards established by

EPA. The statute requires that these

treatment standards substantially

diminish the toxicity or mobility of

hazardous wastes so that short- and

long-term threats to human health and

the environment are minimized. RCRA

section 3004(m). In response, EPA has

developed a series of rulemakings under

the LDR Program setting forth standards

for treatment of hazardous wastes

destined for land disposal.

Once a hazardous waste is prohibited,

the statute provides only two options for

legal land disposal: meet the treatment

standard for the waste prior to land

disposal or dispose of the waste in a

land disposal unit that has been found

to satisfy the statutory ‘‘no migration’’

test. A no migration unit is one from

which there will be no migration of

hazardous constituents for as long as the

waste remains hazardous. RCRA

sections 3004(d), (e), (f) and (g)(5).

To date, the Agency has implemented

section 3004(m) of RCRA by

establishing treatment standards for

chemical constituents in hazardous

wastes based upon the performance of

the best demonstrated available

technology (BDAT) to treat the waste.

EPA may establish treatment standards

as specified technologies, as constituent

concentration levels in treatment

residuals, or both. When treatment

standards are set as levels, the regulated

community may use any technology not

otherwise prohibited (such as

impermissible dilution) to treat the

waste.

On January 13 and 14, 1993, EPA held

a roundtable discussion on the LDR

Program with stakeholders from

hazardous waste generators, treaters,

recyclers and disposers; public interest

groups; State environmental agencies;

EPA regional offices; and other federal

agencies. The purpose of the 1993

roundtable was for EPA to hear

suggestions on improvements to the

LDR Program from people who

implement it. As a result of those

suggestions, EPA made several

significant changes to the LDRs,

including consolidation of the three

treatment standard tables into one table,

simplification of notification

requirements, and promulgation of

universal treatment standards. See 59

FR 47982, 48004 (Sept. 19, 1994) (final

LDR Phase II rule); 62 FR 25998, 26004

(May 12, 1997) (final Phase IV ‘‘minirule’’).

EPA believes that, in general, the LDR

Program is working and is an impetus

for source reduction and proper waste

treatment. Nonetheless, EPA’s efforts to

improve the LDR Program are on-going.

Specifically, as part of its LDR

Reinvention Project, EPA has

undertaken a multi-faceted evaluation of

the LDR Program to determine what is

and is not working well in the program.

These Reinvention activities include

interviews of hazardous waste

management experts, visits to different

hazardous waste treatment facilities,

and analysis of RCRA Hotline and LDR

staff inquiries. EPA believes it would be

valuable to build upon the information

obtained from these activities by

holding a second roundtable. The

Agency anticipates that the roundtable

will enable EPA to gather additional

stakeholder suggestions and to target

areas of the LDR Program for specific

improvements.

As currently planned, the roundtable

will begin with a plenary session to

obtain general comments from the

attendees on the benefits and burdens of

the LDRs. The meeting will then

proceed with a number of breakout

sessions involving discussion among

designated participants in smaller

groups, each of which will focus on a

subset of LDR issues.