Document ID: EPA-HQ-UST-2010-0625-0001
Agency: epa
Document Type: Notice
Title: Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposals, Submissions, and Approvals: Underground Storage Tanks; Technical and Financial Requirements, and State Program Approval Procedures
Posted Date: 2010-08-10T04:00Z

[Federal Register: August 10, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 153)]
[Notices]               
[Page 48325-48327]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10au10-38]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-UST-2010-0625, FRL-9187-2]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Underground Storage Tanks: Technical and Financial 
Requirements, and State Program Approval Procedures (Renewal), EPA ICR 
Number 1360.12, OMB Control Number 2050-0068

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 a 
continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). This is a request to renew an existing 
approved collection which is scheduled to expire on March 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 12, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-
UST-2010-0625 to EPA by one of the following methods:
     www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line instructions for 
submitting comments.
     E-mail: rcra-docket@epa.gov.
     Fax: (202) 566-9744.
     Mail: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA Docket 
Center, Underground Storage Tanks Docket, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, EPA 
Docket Center, Underground Storage Tanks Docket, 1200 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20460, Phone: (202) 566-0270.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-UST-
2010-0625. EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included 
in the public docket without change and may be made available online at 
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 www.regulations.gov or e-mail. 
The 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 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/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hal White, Office of Underground 
Storage Tanks, Mail Code 5403P, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (703) 
603-7177; fax number: (703) 603-0175; e-mail address: 
white.hal@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-UST-2010-0625, which is available for online viewing at 
www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the UST 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 UST Docket is 202-566-0270.
    Use www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft collection of

[[Page 48326]]

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;
    (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 
those facilities that own and operate underground storage tanks (USTs) 
and those states that implement the UST programs.
    Title: ``Underground Storage Tanks: Technical and Financial 
Requirements, and State Program Approval Procedures (Renewal).''
    ICR numbers: ICR Number 1360.12, OMB Control Number 2050-0068.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on March 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: Subtitle I of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act 
(RCRA), as amended, requires that EPA develop standards for 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.
    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 recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 25 
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 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:
    Respondents/Affected Entities: UST facilities and states.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 237,589.
    Frequency of Response: once, on occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 5,969,217.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $743,453,178 ($453,047,585 in labor 
costs; $95,975,266 in annualized capital/startup costs; and 
$194,430,327 in operation and maintenance costs).

[[Page 48327]]

    Dated: August 2, 2010.
Carolyn Hoskinson,
Director, Office of Underground Storage Tanks.
[FR Doc. 2010-19712 Filed 8-9-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P