[Federal Register: June 21, 2002 (Volume 67, Number 120)]
[Notices]               
[Page 42251-42253]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr21jn02-59]                         

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7232-8]

 
Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; National Waste Minimization Partnership Program

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 notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following proposed Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): National Waste Minimization Partnership 
Program, EPA ICR No. 2076.01. 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 August 20, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Commenters must send an original and two copies of their 
comments referencing docket number F-00-XXXX-FFFFF to: RCRA Docket 
Information Center, Office of Solid Waste (5305G), U.S. EPA, 401 M 
Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460. Hand deliveries of comments should be 
made to the Arlington, VA, address below. Comments may also be 
submitted electronically through the Internet to: rcradocket @epamail. 
epa.gov. Comments in electronic format should also be identified by the 
docket number F-00-XXXX-FFFFF. All electronic comments must be 
submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and 
any form of encryption.
    Commenters should not submit electronically any confidential 
business information (CBI). An original and two copies of CBI must be 
submitted under separate cover to: RCRA CBI Document Control Officer, 
Office of Solid Waste (5305W), U.S. EPA, 401 M Street, SW, Washington, 
DC 20460.
    Public comments and supporting materials are available for viewing 
in

[[Page 42252]]

the RCRA Information Center (RIC), located at Crystal Gateway I, First 
Floor, 1235 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. The RIC is open 
from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal 
holidays. To review docket materials, it is recommended that the public 
make an appointment by calling (703) 603-9230. The public may copy a 
maximum of 100 pages from any regulatory docket at no charge. 
Additional copies cost $0.15/page. This notice and the supporting 
documents that detail the National Waste Minimization Partnership 
Program ICR are also available electronically. See the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section for information on accessing them.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information on specific aspects of 
this information collection, contact Newman Smith, Office of Solid 
Waste (5302W), U.S. EPA, Ariel Rios Building, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC 20460, telephone: (703) 308-8757, e-mail: 
smith.newman@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which generate, treat, and store hazardous waste.
    Title: National Waste Minimization Partnership Program; EPA ICR No. 
2076.01.
    Abstract: EPA is establishing a national program to encourage the 
minimization of hazardous waste through source reduction and recycling. 
Participation in the National Waste Minimization Partnership Program is 
completely voluntary. EPA will use four forms to collect information 
from participants, called partners, which can be prepared and submitted 
by hard copy or electronically. Participation begins when an Enrollment 
Form is submitted and accepted by EPA. The form asks for basic site 
identification information as well as information on the company's 
waste minimization goals under the program.
    Once in the program, partners will also have an opportunity to 
complete and submit an optional, one-time Application for Certificate 
of Past Accomplishments. This form enables partners to notify the 
Agency of waste minimization accomplished in the past. Partners also 
can submit a one-time Application for Certificate of Accomplishment 
when they accomplish the goals the established for their participation 
in the program. These certificates will enable the Agency to confirm a 
partners' progress and measure the overall success of the program. 
Certificates provide the basis for the Agency to recognize partner 
accomplishments in a formal (e.g., at an awards ceremony or by 
congratulatory letter) manner, if appropriate. Recognizing partner 
achievements is important to help EPA spur other partners on to reduce 
more waste.
    Partners also may submit an optional, one-time Case Studies 
Submission Form. The form enables a partner to describe its waste 
minimization techniques, implementation problems, lessons learned, 
benefits, and relevant implications. The case studies will assist the 
Agency in better understanding waste minimization approaches and 
technologies. The information may also help the Agency in sharing 
lessons learned and effective strategies among the facilities 
generating hazardous waste, in order to promote continued and effective 
waste minimization efforts. Sharing effective waste reduction 
strategies with others is a fundamental objective of the partnership 
program.
    Because the program is voluntary, EPA expects that companies would 
enroll only if their benefits under the program outweigh the costs. 
Although EPA expects partners to experience a minor burden under the 
paperwork requirements of the program, the Agency fully expects many 
companies to realize substantial cost savings (typically more than 
enough to offset their paperwork costs) through implementation of their 
waste reduction initiatives. (EPA evidence suggests that cost savings 
of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars is not unusual 
for a large corporation.)
    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 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: EPA estimates the annual respondent burden for 
the National Waste Minimization Partnership Program to be 3,280 hours 
and $203,306. EPA expects that, in the first year, 60 companies will 
enroll, and 90 will enroll in each subsequent year. Thus, at the end of 
the first year, there will be 60 existing partners, 150 at the end of 
the second year, and 240 at the end of the third year. For purposes of 
the ICR's burden calculations, EPA has averaged the number of new and 
existing partners over the three-year period to conclude that there 
will be, on average, 80 new partners annually and 150 existing partners 
annually. The disaggregated burden per form is estimated below:
    (1) Enrollment Form--EPA estimates that, on average, 80 new 
partners will fill out this form each year. EPA further estimates that 
ten percent of existing partners will notify EPA to modify their waste 
minimization goals each year (i.e., 10% x 150 = 15 partners per year). 
The total annual hourly burden for this form is estimated to be 2,723 
hours. The total annual cost for this form is estimated to be $168,221.
    (2) Application for Certificate of Past Accomplishments--EPA 
estimates that two-thirds of new partners will submit an application 
each year, or 54 partners per year. The total annual hourly burden for 
this form is estimated to be 109 hours. The total annual cost for this 
form is estimated to be $6,878.
    (3) Application for Certificate of Accomplishment--EPA estimates 
that 80 percent of existing facilities will submit this one-time form, 
or 64 partners per year. The total annual hourly burden for this one-
time form is estimated to be 128 hours. The total annual cost for this 
one-time form is estimated to be $8,152.
    (4) Case Studies Submission Form--EPA expects that 50 percent of 
existing facilities will submit this one-time form, or 40 partners per 
year. The total annual hourly burden for this one-time form is 
estimated to be 320 hours. The total annual cost for this one-time form 
is estimated to be $20,055.
    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

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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.

    Dated: May 23, 2002.
Elizabeth Cotsworth,
Director, Office of Solid Waste.
[FR Doc. 02-15725 Filed 6-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P