[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 27 (Monday, February 10, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 5979-5980]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-3156]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5686-6]
Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB
Review; Comment Request; Environmental Leadership 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 the following Information
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Environmental Leadership
Program, EPA ICR number 1794.01. The ICR describes the nature of the
information collection and its expected burden and cost; where
appropriate, it includes the actual data collection instrument.
DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before March 12, 1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CALL: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 260-
2740, and refer to EPA ICR no. 1794.01.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title: Environmental Leadership Program, EPA ICR number 1794.01.
This is a new collection.
Abstract: The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP) is a voluntary
program designed to accomplish several goals, including better
protecting the environment and human health, encouraging environmental
enhancement activities, and increasing identification and timely
resolution of environmental compliance issues by ELP participants. The
Program should foster constructive and open relationships between
agencies, the regulated community, and the public.
As part of the application process for the ELP, facilities will be
asked to submit information about their environmental management
systems (EMS), compliance and EMS auditing programs, and community
outreach and employee involvement programs. Federal facilities applying
to the ELP must submit a statement affirming they endorse the Code of
Environmental Management Principles.
EPA will assess each applicant's information and determine whether
they meet ELP requirements. EPA will conduct a compliance screening of
qualifying facilities and provide a 30-day public comment period. On-
site visits will be conducted at facilities that pass the initial
eligibility requirements.
Upon acceptance to the ELP, facilities will be required to submit
Annual Environmental Performance Reports for each of the 6 years of
participation. The Annual Report should contain information on EMS
activities, objectives, goals, and measures; a table of information on
the formal audit (EMS and compliance) for years 2 and 5 of the 6-year
performance period; an EMS performance evaluation (results and
measures); information on agency inspections; compliance issues and
status summary for the year; other environmental enhancement
activities; and highlights from community outreach/ employee
involvement and mentoring programs.
The submission of information for the purposes of application to
the ELP is voluntary. The ELP will use a disclosure and confidentiality
policy that includes 40 CFR Part 2 and reference to any State-specific
regulations of confidentiality. Submission of the Annual Report is
required for participation in the Program. The Annual Report will be
made available to the public. 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 Federal Register Notice required under 5 CFR
1320.8(d), soliciting comments on this collection of information was
published on 11/18/96 (61 FR 58750); no comments were received.
Burden Statement: It is estimated that approximately 75 facilities
may voluntarily apply to the ELP annually. EPA estimates that
participating facilities may need to spend up to 85 hours to prepare
the application and supplemental information. EPA also estimates that
facilities that pass the initial application/compliance screening may
need to spend 32 hours during the on-site visit. Participating
facilities will need an estimate of 166 hours for preparing the Annual
Report.
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
[[Page 5980]]
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: Public, Private, or Federal
facilities applying to the ELP.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 75 in application phase, 50 in the
Annual Report phase.
Frequency of Response: Yearly.
Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 17,070 hours.
Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: Application--$293,625, On-
site review--$135,600; Annual Report--$384,550.
Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any suggested methods
for minimizing respondent burden, including through the use of
automated collection techniques to the following addresses. Please
refer to EPA ICR No. 1794.01 in any correspondence.
Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OPPE Regulatory
Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, SW., Washington, DC 20460
and
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW.,
Washington, DC 20503.
Dated: February 4, 1997.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 97-3156 Filed 2-7-97; 8:45 am]
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