Agency information collection activities; proposals, submissions, and approvals,

[Federal Register: November 22, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 224)]

[Notices]

[Page 67904-67905]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr22no04-52]

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[SFUND-2004-0008, FRL-7840-2]

Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Cooperative Agreements and Superfund State Contracts for Superfund Response Actions (Renewal), EPA ICR Number 1487.08, OMB Control Number 2050-0179

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2004. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. This ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before December 22, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID number SFUND- 2004-0008, to (1) EPA online using EDOCKET (our preferred method), by e-mail to superfund.docket@epa.gov, or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response (OSWER), Superfund Docket, Mail Code 5305T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kirby Biggs, Office of Emergency and Remedial Response, Mail Code 5204G, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 703-308-8506; fax number: 703-308-2358; e-mail address: Biggs.Kirby@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On July 2, 2004, (69 FR 40369), EPA sought comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received one comment.

EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID number SFUND-2004-0008, which is available for public viewing at the Superfund Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8:30 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 the Superfund Docket is (202) 566-0276. An electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA Dockets (EDOCKET) at http://www.epa.gov/edocket. Use EDOCKET to obtain a copy of the draft

collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public 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 above.

Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice. EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing in EDOCKET as EPA receives them and without change, unless the

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comment contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that material in the version of the comment that is placed in EDOCKET. The entire printed comment, including the copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket. Although identified as an item in the official docket, information claimed as CBI, or whose disclosure is otherwise restricted by statute, is not included in the official public docket, and will not be available for public viewing in EDOCKET. For further information about the electronic docket, see EPA's Federal Register notice describing the electronic docket at 67 FR 38102 (May 31, 2002), or go to http://www.epa.gov/edocket.

Title: Cooperative Agreements and Superfund State Contracts for Superfund Response Actions (Renewal).

Abstract: This ICR authorizes the collection of information under 40 CFR part 35, subpart O, which establishes the administrative requirements for cooperative agreements funded under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA) for State, Federally-recognized Indian tribal governments, and political subdivision response actions. This regulation also codifies the administrative requirements for Superfund State Contracts for non-State lead remedial responses. This regulation includes only those provisions mandated by CERCLA, required by OMB Circulars, or added by EPA to ensure sound and effective financial assistance management under this regulation. The information is collected from applicants and/or recipients of EPA assistance and is used to make awards, pay recipients, and collect information on how Federal funds are being utilized. EPA requires this information to meet its Federal stewardship responsibilities. Recipient responses are required to obtain a benefit (Federal funds) under 40 CFR part 31, ``Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants and Cooperative Agreements to State and Local Governments'' and under 40 CFR part 35, ``State and Local Assistance.''

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 40 CFR are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and are identified on the form and/or instrument, if applicable.

Burden Statement: The estimated annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection is estimated to average 10.5 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; 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.

Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are States, Federally-recognized Indian tribes and Tribal Consortia, and political subdivisions which apply to EPA for financial assistance under a Superfund cooperative agreement or a Superfund State Contract.

Estimated Number of Respondents: 581.

Frequency of Response: Annually, On-occasion.

Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 6,063 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Cost: $215,000, includes $0 annualized capital/startup and O&M costs.

Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 948 hours from the most recently approved ICR. This increase is due to the correction of calculation errors in the prior ICR and revised Regional input.

Dated: November 13, 2004. Oscar Morales, Director, Collection Strategies Division.

[FR Doc. 04-25817 Filed 11-19-04; 8:45 am]

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