[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 11 (Friday, January 16, 1998)] [Notices] [Pages 2674-2675] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 98-1134] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY [FRL-5950-7] Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request; Exports From and Imports to the United States Under the OECD Decision 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 the following Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: ``Exports From and Imports To the United States Under the OECD Decision,'' EPA ICR Number 1647.02, OMB Control Number 2050-0143, which expires on January 31, 1998. 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 February 17, 1998. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 260-2740, by email at [email protected], or download off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr/icr.htm and refer to EPA ICR No.1647.02. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title: Exports from and imports to the United States under the OECD Decision OMB Control Number 2050-0143; EPA ICR No. 1647.02 expiring 1/ 31/98. This [[Page 2675]] is a request for extension of a currently approved collection. Abstract: Authority to promulgate this rule is found in sections 2002(a) and 3017(a)(2) and (f) of the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, and as amended by the Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments, 42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq. The OECD Decision is considered legally binding on the United States under Articles 5(a) and 6(2) of the OECD Convention, 12 U.S.T. 1728. In addition, the OECD Decision and the rule implementing the OECD Decision (61 FR 16290-16316, April 12, 1996) ensure that exports and imports of recoverable hazardous waste between the U.S. and OECD member countries may proceed even though the U.S. is not yet a ``Party'' to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal. The Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, U.S. EPA, uses the information provided by each U.S. exporter and U.S. importer to determine compliance with the applicable OECD regulatory provisions. In addition, the information will be used to determine the number, origin, destination, and type of exports from and imports to the U.S. for tracking purposes and for reporting to the OECD. This information also will be used to assess the efficiency of the program. 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 document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on this collection of information was published on 8/26/97 (62 FR 45248); no comments were received. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 8.74 hours for the U.S. exporter and 5.83 hours for the U.S. importer. These estimates include all aspects of the information collection including the time necessary to obtain and read the regulations and assess applicability, to complete a notification of intent to export hazardous waste, to complete the tracking document, sign and transmit copies of the tracking document, as well as the reduced response time (3 working days as compared to 30 days) to transmit a signed copy of a tracking document. 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. Estimated Number of Notification of Intent to Export: 437. Estimated Number of Notification of Intent to Import: 771. Estimated Total Annual Burden for Respondents: 8,314 hours. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $391,000. 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.1647.02 and OMB Control No. 2050-0143 in any correspondence. Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, OPPE Regulatory Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, SW, Washington, DC 20460, or Email: [email protected]; 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: January 12, 1998. Joseph Retzer, Director, Regulatory Information Division. [FR Doc. 98-1134 Filed 1-15-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P