### 22487 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 77 / Tuesday, April 22, 2014 / Notices

which the filing responds; (3) furnish the name, address, and telephone number of the person protesting or intervening; and (4) otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 385.2001 through 385.2005. All comments, motions to intervene, or protests must set forth their evidentiary basis and otherwise comply with the requirements of 18 CFR 4.34(b). All comments, motions to intervene, or protests should relate to project works which are the subject of the license surrender. Agencies may obtain copies of the application directly from the applicant. A copy of any protest or
motion to intervene must be served upon each representative of the applicant specified in the particular application. If an intervener files
comments or documents with the Commission relating to the merits of an issue that may affect the responsibilities of a particular resource agency, they must also serve a copy of the document on that resource agency. A copy of all other filings in reference to this application must be accompanied by proof of service on all persons listed in the service list prepared by the Commission in this proceeding, in accordance with 18 CFR 4.34(b) and

385.2010.

Dated: April 15, 2014. Kimberly D. Bose,
Secretary.

[FR Doc. 2014–09070 Filed 4–21–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6717–01–P**

**ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION**
**AGENCY**

**[EPA–HQ–UST–2010–0625; FRL–9909–85– OSWER]** 

**Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request;**  **Underground Storage Tanks: Technical and Financial Requirements,**  **and State Program Approval Procedures (Renewal)** 

**AGENCY :**  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

**ACTION :**  Notice.

**SUMMARY :**  The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ‘‘Underground Storage Tanks: Technical and Financial Requirements, and State Program Approval Procedures (Renewal)’’ (EPA ICR No. 1360.13, OMB Control No. 2050–0068) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44

U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed
information collection as described below. This is a proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through September 30, 2014. 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.

**DATES :**  Comments must be submitted on or before June 23, 2014.

**ADDRESSES :**  Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ– UST–2010–0625 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by email to mcdermott.elizabeth@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.

EPA’s policy is that all comments received will be included in the public docket without change including any personal information provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats,
information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Elizabeth McDermott, Office of Underground Storage Tanks, Mail Code 5401P, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 603–7175; fax number: (703) 603–0175; email address: mcdermott.elizabeth@epa.gov

. **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  Supporting documents which explain in
detail the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the public
docket for this ICR. The docket can be
viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone number for the
Docket Center is 202–566–1744. For
additional information about EPA’s public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/
dockets

.

Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting 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; (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. 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. At that time, EPA
will issue another Federal Register
notice to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to
submit additional comments to OMB.

Abstract: Subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), as amended, requires that EPA develop standards for Underground Storage Tank (UST) systems, as may be necessary, to protect human health and the environment, and procedures for approving state programs in lieu of the federal program. EPA promulgated technical and financial requirements for owners and operators of USTs at 40 CFR part 280, and state program approval procedures at 40 CFR part 281. This ICR is a comprehensive presentation of all information collection requirements contained at 40 CFR parts 280 and 281.

The data collected for new and existing UST system operations and financial requirements are used by owners and operators and/or EPA or the implementing agency to monitor results of testing, inspections, and operation of UST systems, as well as to demonstrate compliance with regulations. EPA believes strongly that if the minimum requirements specified under the regulations are not met, neither the
facilities nor EPA can ensure that UST systems are being managed in a manner protective of human health and the

environment.

EPA uses state program applications to determine whether to approve a state program. Before granting approval, EPA must determine that programs will be no less stringent than the federal program and contain adequate
enforcement mechanisms.

This collection also includes the authority for Region IX to request
documents or other information from UST owners and operators within the Region. The information request letter authority was codified in 40 CFR 280.34 of the UST regulations and this regulation and other provisions of the UST regulations also contain specific ongoing facility reporting and record keeping obligations.

Form Numbers: None.


### 22488 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 77 / Tuesday, April 22, 2014 / Notices

Respondents/affected entities: Facilities that own and operate underground storage tanks (USTs), states that implement the UST programs, and tribes.

Respondent’s obligation to respond: Mandatory (40 CFR part 280).

Estimated number of respondents:

211,540.

Frequency of response: Once, on occasion, annual.

Total estimated burden: 6,753,558 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).

Total estimated cost: $479,519,291 (per year), includes $279,652,536 annualized capital or operation &

maintenance costs.

Changes in Estimates: There is an increase of 1,500 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by OMB. For Region 9, this represents an increase of 1,500 hours which is due to a readjustment of estimates after the first
collection. Therefore this ICR’s burden hours are increasing by 1,500 hours due to the consolidation of adding in the estimates from the Region 9 UST program. For the general UST program, EPA expects the estimates to remain substantially the same for the renewal
ICR since estimates of the universe of tanks and facilities has not changed significantly over the past three years.

Dated: April 9, 2014. Carolyn Hoskinson, Director, Office of Underground Storage
Tanks.

[FR Doc. 2014–09138 Filed 4–21–14; 8:45 am]

**BILLING CODE 6560–50–P**

**ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION**
**AGENCY**

**[EPA–HQ–OW–2013–0262; FRL–9909–87– OW]** 

**Re-Issuance of a General Permit to the**
**National Science Foundation for the Ocean Disposal of Man-Made Ice Piers** 
**From Its Base at McMurdo Sound in**
**Antarctica**

**AGENCY :**  Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

**ACTION :**  Notice; final permit.

**SUMMARY :**  EPA is re-issuing a permit authorizing the National Science Foundation (NSF) to dispose of ice piers

in ocean waters. Permit re-issuance is necessary because the current permit has expired. Today, this renewed permit
retains the conditions established in the previous general permit issuance.

**DATES :**  This general permit is effective May 22, 2014. **ADDRESSES :**  This permit is identified as Docket No. EPA–HQ–OW–2013–0262.
The record is closed but available for inspection from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays, at the Water Docket, 1301 Constitution Avenue NW., Room B–135, Washington, DC 20460. For access to docket materials, call (202) 566–2426, to schedule an appointment.

**FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT :**  Ryan Gross, Environmental Engineer, Marine Pollution Control Branch,
Oceans and Coastal Protection Division (4504T), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone (202) 566–1810.

**SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION :**  On February 14, 2003, EPA issued a general permit to the NSF for ocean disposal of man-made ice piers from its base at
McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act (MPRSA) section 104(a) provides that permits shall be issued for a period not to exceed seven years, 33 U.S.C. 1414(a). This general permit has expired, but remains in effect under the Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. 558(c) because NSF filed a timely and sufficient application for renewal prior to expiration. EPA published a notice proposing renewal of the permit on May 9, 2011 (76 FR 26721). Therefore, today’s action by the EPA finalizes the provisions of the general permit and extends the terms of the 2003 permit for another seven-year period.

EPA re-issues the general permit under sections 102(a) and 104(c) of the MPRSA to authorize the NSF to dispose of man-made ice piers in ocean waters
from its base at McMurdo Sound in Antarctica. The NSF is the agency of the United States Government responsible for oversight of the United States Antarctic Program. The NSF currently operates three major bases in Antarctica: McMurdo Station on Ross Island, adjacent to McMurdo Sound; Palmer Station, near the western terminus of the Antarctic Peninsula; and Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, at the geographic South Pole. McMurdo Station is the largest of the three stations and serves as the primary logistics base for the Antarctica operations of NSF. The great majority of personnel and supplies destined for the three stations are unloaded from ships docked at theMcMurdo Station ice pier. This manmade pier has a normal life span of three to five years. NSF constructed the current ice pier in 2012.

When an ice pier is at the end of its effective life, all transportable equipment, materials, and debris are removed. The pier is then cast loose from its moorings at the base and is
towed out to McMurdo Sound for disposal, where it melts naturally. Issuance of this general permit is necessary because the pier must be towed out to sea for disposal at the end
of its effective life. In accordance with Section 104(c) of the MPRSA, 33 U.S.C. 1414(c) and implementing regulations at 40 CFR 220.3, the terms and conditions of this general permit are designed to protect the marine environment, including through specification of operating conditions applicable over the life of the pier, as well as required clean-up actions, with which the NSF must comply before the disposal of any ice pier.

A. Background on McMurdo Station Ice

Pier

The construction of the ice pier at McMurdo Sound Station was explained
in the Federal Register notice of January 7, 2003 (68 FR 775), and remains largely similar today. The current pier, however, contains fewer materials and
is about half the size of the 2003 ice pier, and measures 354 feet long, 200 feet wide, and 15 feet thick. The current pier contains the following types and approximate quantities of materials: (a) 11,500 feet of one-inch steel cable embedded 5 feet from the bottom; (b) a 6 inch by 6 inch steel mesh embedded 10 feet from the bottom; (c) 650 feet of two-inch steel pipe; (d) eight steel bollards; and (e) 1,750 cubic yards of local gravel, 2 cm or smaller in size. When the pier has deteriorated to the point that it is not capable of being used the following season, the gravel is scraped off for use in the following season; all transportable equipment, materials, and debris are removed; and the pier is physically separated from its
attachment to McMurdo Base at the end of the austral summer. The defunct pier is then towed by a U.S. Coast Guard cutter into McMurdo Sound past the distal end of the open channel in the ice, as near to the Ross Sea currents as possible. The pier is released in a
direction that allows it to flow with the Ross Sea currents, away from the open channel in the ice. The pier then floats free within the ice pack, where it mixes with the annual sea ice and eventually disintegrates. The materials dumped under this general permit (other than ice, which melts naturally) include
those materials used in construction of the ice pier that cannot be removed prior to disposal.

For background information on the McMurdo Station ice pier, the reader is
referred to the Federal Register notice of January 7, 2003 (68 FR 775), which is