[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 155 (Friday, August 9, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41605-41606]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-20367]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5550-3]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Environmental
Protection Agency/Chemical Manufacturers Association Root Cause
Analysis Pilot Project
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 and/or continuing Information Collection Request
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB): Environmental
Protection Agency/Chemical Manufacturers Association Root Cause
Analysis Pilot Project. 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 8, 1996.
ADDRESSES: Tracy Back (2224A) or Sally Sasnett (2224A), U.S. EPA, 401 M
St., SW., Washington DC 20460. Interested persons may obtain a copy of
the ICR without charge by calling Tracy Back at (202) 564-7076.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tracy Back, (202) 564-7076, or Sally
Sasnett, (202) 564-7074. Facsimile number: (202) 564-0009.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are
Chemical Manufacturers Association member companies that voluntarily
choose to participate in the pilot project.
Title: Environmental Protection Agency/Chemical Manufacturers
Association Root Cause Analysis Pilot Project.
Abstract: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in conjunction
with the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA), is developing a
pilot project to improve environmental performance and regulatory
compliance. To achieve this goal, EPA and CMA will analyze past
compliance information of
[[Page 41606]]
CMA member companies to: (1) Identify fundamental causes of
noncompliance; (2) identify common features or trends among these
causes; and (3) develop innovative compliance management
recommendations and potential pollution prevention opportunities to
help facilities achieve and maintain compliance. The pilot project will
focus on areas of noncompliance that have been addressed through a
Federal civil administrative or judicial enforcement actions that were
commenced and closed between fiscal years 1990-1995.
To identify the fundamental causes of noncompliance, EPA and CMA
will develop a survey tool for participating CMA member companies. The
survey will seek responses regarding the fundamental causes of
identified noncompliance, actions taken by facilities to remedy the
noncompliance, and additional recommendations for compliance activities
or potential pollution prevention opportunities to continuously improve
compliance. In addition, the survey may also seek information regarding
CMA's Responsible Care program and its impact on compliance.
To support completion of the survey and help identify the fundamental
causes of noncompliance, EPA will supply participating CMA member
companies with compliance data for fiscal years 1990-1995 from closed
Federal civil administrative or judicial enforcement actions specific
to their facilities. Participating CMA member companies will be
afforded the opportunity to review and verify compliance data provided
to them. Participation by CMA member companies in this pilot project is
voluntary. 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 is soliciting 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 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: It is estimated that approximately 100 facilities
may voluntarily participate on the EPA/CMA Root Cause Analysis Pilot
Project. Each participant will be asked to complete the EPA/CMA-
developed ``one-time'' survey. In addition, participating facilities
will be provided the opportunity to review and verify EPA-supplied
compliance data. EPA estimates that participating facilities may need
to spend up to seven hours to research compliance files and complete
the survey. Therefore, a total of 700 facility hours may be expended to
provide EPA and CMA with data for use in the pilot project. This burden
hour estimate translates to a cost of $308.70 per facility and a total
cost to industry of $30,870. The respondent costs were calculated based
on $21.00 per hour, plus 110 percent overhead. 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.
Dated: August 2, 1996.
Elaine Stanley,
Director, Office of Compliance.
[FR Doc. 96-20367 Filed 8-8-96; 8:45 am]
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