Rules and Regulations. Notice

Agency: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
Action: Notice
Citation: FR Doc. 2022-11790 · EPA-HQ-OLEM-2022-0440; FRL-9885-01-OLEM

Summary

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), “Gathering Data on Results of Annual and Triennial Testing To Evaluate the Impacts of EPA's 2015 Federal Underground Storage Tank Regulation” (EPA ICR No. 2650.01, OMB Control No. 2050-NEW) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq. ). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described below. This is a request for approval of a new collection. 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.

Dates

Comments must be submitted on or before August 1, 2022.

Supplementary Information

Supporting documents which explain in detail the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW, Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets. Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments and information to enable it 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 through 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. EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for review and approval. At that time, EPA will issue another Federal Register notice to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. Abstract: This information collection request will allow U.S. E.P.A. to employ a contractor to compile data from private companies providing compliance testing to owners of federally regulated underground storage tank systems (USTs). The completed dataset of test results will allow EPA to evaluate the effectiveness of several of the newly required measures to prevent fuel releases included in the 2015 federal UST regulation: Spill containment liquid tightness testing, containment sump liquid tightness testing (for containment sumps used for interstitial monitoring of piping of single-wall construction), overfill equipment inspections, and two types of annual leak detection equipment testing. EPA is interested in quantitatively assessing if passing rates improve between initial and subsequent rounds of testing in the 15 states from which data will be collected. EPA will use the data to identify if, and by how much, testing required by the regulation impacts equipment performance over time. EPA will use this information to enhance national UST program performance. EPA will share the information gathered from this collection with all state implementing agencies, who could use the results to better inform their future regulations, policies, and guidance for preventing UST releases. Sharing this information will help states implement their programs better, which will help EPA execute national UST program goals and better protect human health and the environment. Form Numbers: None. Respondents/affected entities: UST testing and compliance companies, UST facility owners and operators. Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary. Estimated number of respondents: 60. Frequency of response: One-time collection. Total estimated burden: 1,275 hours per year. Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b) Total estimated cost: $53,398.75 (per year), includes $0 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs. Changes in Estimates: This is a request for a new collection. Mark Barolo, Acting Office Director, Office of Underground Storage Tanks. [FR Doc. 2022-11790 Filed 6-1-22; 8:45 am]