Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5111-9]

Agency Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review

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 the Information Collection Request

(ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management

and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature

of the information collection and its expected cost and burden; where

appropriate, it includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before December 27, 1994.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 260-2740.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response

Title: National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency

Plan (EPA ICR #1463.03; OMB #2050-0096). This ICR requests renewal of

the existing clearance.

Abstract: The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation,

and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA), and as amended in 1986, establishes

broad Federal authority to undertake removal and remedial actions in

response to releases or threats of releases of hazardous substances and

certain pollutants and contaminants into the environment. The NCP

establishes procedures for data collection, analysis, and reporting to

be conducted during remedial and removal actions at Superfund sites.

The Response Program is comprised of activities that fall into two

phases: the pre-remedial phase, during which the extent of

contamination at a site is assessed and those sites that represent the

highest priority cleanup are identified; and the remedial phase, during

which investigations are conducted to determine viable remedies for a

site, a remedy is chosen and constructed, and the long-term operation

and maintenance of the remedy is conducted.

This information collection addresses only the reporting and

recordkeeping requirements in the remedial phase of the response

program under the current NCP.

The remedial phase begins once a site plan is proposed for listing

on the National Priorities List. A detailed project plan is developed,

and a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility study (RI/FS) is begun.

The RI/FS is a detailed site evaluation and analysis conducted to

determine the alternatives to be used to clean up a site. A progress

report summarizes the results, and a proposed plan is developed which

identifies the preferred alternatives and informs the public about how

to participate in the remedy selection process. The final action is

selected based on the RI/FS and public comment, and is documented in a

Record Decision (ROD). Remedial action begins following Agency signoff

on the ROD.

Burden Statement: The average annual reporting burden for a state

government that has the lead at a Superfund site is estimated to be

5,620 hours per site. This estimate includes time required to review

instructions, search existing data sources gather and maintain the

needed data, estimate the information required, and complete and review

the collection of information. The average recordkeeping burden for a

state government that has the lead at a Superfund site is estimated to

be 620 hours per site.

The reporting burden for community members is estimated to average

330 hours per site. This reporting burden includes time required to

attend public meetings, interviews, or other review activities. There

is no recordkeeping burden for community members.

States are not required to take on the role of the lead agency in

remedial actions, and if they do accept the lead role in a Superfund

financed action, they are reimbursed by the Fund for their work.

Respondents: Any state which has the lead in remedial activities

(in compliance with Federal standards at Superfund sites), and

community members participating in the determination of remedial

activities at a Superfund site.

Estimated No. of Respondents: 168 (8 state-lead sites, 160

communities).

Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.

Frequency of Collection: As needed to determine an optimal remedial

action at a Superfund site.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 191,000 hours.

Send comments regarding the burden estimate, or any other aspect of

this information collection, including suggestions for reducing the

burden, too:

Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Information Policy

Branch (2136), 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460.

and

Jonathan Gledhill, Office of Management and Budget, Office of

Information and Regulatory Affairs, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington,

DC 20530.

Dated: November 16, 1994.

Paul Lapsley,

Director, Regulatory Management Division.

[FR Doc. 94-28962 Filed 11-23-94; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560-50-M