81_FR_68604 81 FR 68412 - Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Final Rule at 40 CFR Part 8: Environmental Impact Assessment of Nongovernmental Activities in Antarctica (Renewal)

81 FR 68412 - Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Final Rule at 40 CFR Part 8: Environmental Impact Assessment of Nongovernmental Activities in Antarctica (Renewal)

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 192 (October 4, 2016)

Page Range68412-68413
FR Document2016-23982

The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Final Rule at 40 CFR part 8: Environmental Impact Assessment of Nongovernmental Activities in Antarctica'' (EPA ICR No. 1808.07, OMB Control No. 2020-0007) 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 proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through March 31, 2017. 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.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 192 (Tuesday, October 4, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 192 (Tuesday, October 4, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68412-68413]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23982]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OECA-2007-0468; ER-FRL-9029-4]


Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Final 
Rule at 40 CFR Part 8: Environmental Impact Assessment of 
Nongovernmental Activities in Antarctica (Renewal)

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency is planning to submit an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Final Rule at 40 CFR part 8: 
Environmental Impact Assessment of Nongovernmental Activities in 
Antarctica'' (EPA ICR No. 1808.07, OMB Control No. 2020-0007) 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 
proposed extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through 
March 31, 2017. 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 Monday, December 5, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OECA-
2007-0468 online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method) or by 
mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 
28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie Roemele, Office of Federal 
Activities, Mail Code 2252A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 
564-5632; fax number: (202) 564-0072; email address: 
[email protected].

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: The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) regulations 
at 40 CFR part 8, Environmental Impact Assessment of Nongovernmental 
Activities in Antarctica (Rule), were promulgated pursuant to the 
Antarctic Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act of 1996 (Act), 16 
U.S.C. 2401 et seq., as amended, 16 U.S.C. 2403a, which implements the 
Protocol on Environmental Protection (Protocol) to the Antarctic Treaty 
of 1959 (Treaty). The Rule provides for assessment of the environmental 
impacts of nongovernmental activities in Antarctica, including tourism, 
for which the United States is required to give advance notice under 
Paragraph 5 of Article VII of the Treaty, and for coordination of the 
review of information regarding environmental impact assessments 
received from other Parties under the Protocol. The requirements of the 
Rule apply to operators of nongovernmental expeditions organized or 
proceeding from the territory of the United States to Antarctica and 
include commercial and non-commercial expeditions. Expeditions may 
include ship-based tours; yacht, skiing or mountaineering expeditions; 
privately funded research expeditions; and other nongovernmental 
activities. The Rule does not apply to individual U.S. citizens or 
groups of citizens planning travel to Antarctica on an expedition for 
which they are not acting as an operator. (Operators, for example, 
typically acquire use of vessels or aircraft, hire expedition staff, 
plan itineraries, and undertake other organizational responsibilities.) 
The rule provides nongovernmental operators with the specific 
requirements they need to meet in order to comply with the requirements 
of Article 8 and Annex I to the Protocol. The provisions of the Rule 
are intended to ensure that potential environmental effects of 
nongovernmental activities undertaken in Antarctica are appropriately 
identified and considered by the operator during the planning process 
and that to the extent practicable appropriate environmental safeguards 
which would mitigate or prevent adverse impacts on the Antarctic 
environment are identified by the operator.
    Environmental Documentation. Persons subject to the Rule must 
prepare environmental documentation to support the operator's 
determination regarding the level of environmental impact of the 
proposed expedition.

[[Page 68413]]

Environmental documentation includes a Preliminary Environmental Review 
Memorandum (PERM), an Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE), or a 
Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation (CEE). The environmental 
document is submitted to the Office of Federal Activities (OFA). If the 
operator determines that an expedition may have: (1) Less than a minor 
or transitory impact, a PERM needs to be submitted no later than 180 
days before the proposed departure to Antarctica; (2) no more than 
minor or transitory impacts, an IEE needs to be submitted no later than 
90 days before the proposed departure; or (3) more than minor or 
transitory impacts, a CEE needs to be submitted. Operators who 
anticipate such activities are encouraged to consult with EPA as soon 
as possible regarding the date for submittal of the CEE. (Article 3(4), 
of Annex I of the Protocol requires that draft CEEs be distributed to 
all Parties and the Committee for Environmental Protection 120 days in 
advance of the next Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) at 
which the CEE may be addressed.)
    The Protocol and the Rule also require an operator to employ 
procedures to assess and provide a regular and verifiable record of the 
actual impacts of an activity which proceeds on the basis of an IEE or 
CEE. The record developed through these measures needs to be designed 
to: (a) Enable assessments to be made of the extent to which 
environmental impacts of nongovernmental expeditions are consistent 
with the Protocol; and (b) provide information useful for minimizing 
and mitigating those impacts and, where appropriate, on the need for 
suspension, cancellation, or modification of the activity. Moreover, an 
operator needs to monitor key environmental indicators for an activity 
proceeding on the basis of a CEE. An operator may also need to carry 
out monitoring in order to assess and verify the impact of an activity 
for which an IEE would be prepared. For activities that require an IEE, 
an operator should be able to use procedures currently being 
voluntarily utilized by operators to provide the required information. 
Should an activity require a CEE, the operator should consult with EPA 
to: (a) Identify the monitoring regime appropriate to that activity, 
and (b) determine whether and how the operator might utilize relevant 
monitoring data collected by the U.S. Antarctic Program. The Office of 
Federal Activities (OFA) would consult with the National Science 
Foundation and other interested Federal agencies regarding the 
monitoring regime.
    In cases of emergency related to the safety of human life or of 
ships, aircraft, equipment and facilities of high value, or the 
protection of the environment which would require an activity to be 
undertaken without completion of the documentation procedures set out 
in the Rule, the operator would need to notify the Department of State 
within 15 days of any activities which would have otherwise required 
preparation of a CEE, and provide a full explanation of the activities 
carried out within 45 days of those activities. (During the time the 
Interim Final and Final Rules have been in effect, there were no 
emergencies requiring notification by U.S. operators. An Interim Final 
Rule was in effect from April 30, 1997, until replaced on December 6, 
2001, by the Final Rule).
    Environmental documents (e.g., PERM, IEE, CEE) are submitted to 
OFA. Environmental documents are reviewed by OFA, in consultation with 
the National Science Foundation and other interested Federal agencies, 
and also made available to other Parties and the public as required 
under the Protocol or otherwise requested. OFA notifies the public of 
document availability via the World Wide Web at: https://www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/receipt-environmental-impact-assessments-eias-regarding-nongovernmental.
    The types of nongovernmental activities currently being carried out 
(e.g., ship-based tours, land-based tours, flights, and privately 
funded research expeditions) are typically unlikely to have impacts 
that are more than minor or transitory, thus an IEE is the typical 
level of environmental documentation submitted. For the 1997-1998 
through 2015-2016 austral summer seasons during the time the Rule has 
been in effect, all respondents submitted IEEs with the exception of 
three PERMs. Paperwork reduction provisions in the Rule that are used 
by the operators include: (a) Incorporation of material in the 
environmental document by referring to it in the IEE, (b) inclusion of 
all proposed expeditions by one operator within one IEE; (c) use of one 
IEE to address expeditions being carried out by more than one operator; 
and (d) use of multi-year environmental documentation to address 
proposed expeditions for a period of up to five consecutive austral 
summer seasons.
    Coordination of Review of Information Received from Other Parties 
to the Treaty. The Rule also provides for the coordination of review of 
information received from other Parties and the public availability of 
that information including: (1) A description of national procedures 
for considering the environmental impacts of proposed activities; (2) 
an annual list of any IEEs and any decisions taken in consequence 
thereof; (3) significant information obtained and any action taken in 
consequence thereof with regard to monitoring from IEEs to CEEs; and 
(4) information in a final CEE. This provision fulfills the United 
States' obligation to meet the requirements of Article 6 of Annex I to 
the Protocol. The Department of State is responsible for coordination 
of these reviews of drafts with interested Federal agencies, and for 
public availability of documents and information. This portion of the 
Rule does not impose paperwork requirements on any nongovernmental 
person subject to U.S. regulation.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are all nongovernmental operators with activities in 
Antarctica, including tour operators, for which the United States is 
required to give advance notice under paragraph 5 of Article VII of the 
Antarctic Treaty of 1959; this includes all nongovernmental expeditions 
to and within Antarctica organized in or proceeding from the territory 
of the United States.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (40 CFR part 8).
    Estimated number of respondents: 19.
    Frequency of response: Annual.
    Total estimated burden: 1,273 hours.
    Total estimated cost: $103,891 includes $3,353 annualized capital 
or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in Estimates: There is an increase of 19 hours in the total 
estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently approved by 
OMB. This increase is the result of a change to the level of 
environmental documentation EPA anticipates the operators will submit 
as well as an anticipated increase in the number of operators 
submitting documentation.

    Dated: September 29, 2016.
Karin Leff,
Acting Director, NEPA Compliance Division, Office of Federal 
Activities.
[FR Doc. 2016-23982 Filed 10-3-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE P



                                                  68412                        Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 192 / Tuesday, October 4, 2016 / Notices

                                                  supplemental letter supersedes that                     ADDRESSES:    Submit your comments,                   will issue another Federal Register
                                                  action on NESHAP-related issues.                        referencing Docket ID No. EPA–HQ–                     notice to announce the submission of
                                                     Enclosed with the supplemental letter                OECA–2007–0468 online using                           the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to
                                                  is a revised document titled ‘‘Denial of                www.regulations.gov (our preferred                    submit additional comments to OMB.
                                                  Petitions for Reconsideration of Certain                method) or by mail to: EPA Docket                        Abstract: The Environmental
                                                  Issues: Oil and Natural Gas New Source                  Center, Environmental Protection                      Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) regulations
                                                  Performance Standards (40 CFR part 60,                  Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200                        at 40 CFR part 8, Environmental Impact
                                                  subpart OOOO).’’ The document sets                      Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington,                    Assessment of Nongovernmental
                                                  forth the EPA’s reasons for denying the                 DC 20460.                                             Activities in Antarctica (Rule), were
                                                  above mentioned petitions with respect                     EPA’s policy is that all comments                  promulgated pursuant to the Antarctic
                                                  to NSPS issues not otherwise addressed                  received will be included in the public               Science, Tourism, and Conservation Act
                                                  in previous reconsideration actions. The                docket without change including any                   of 1996 (Act), 16 U.S.C. 2401 et seq., as
                                                  NSPS reconsideration denial supporting                  personal information provided, unless                 amended, 16 U.S.C. 2403a, which
                                                  document that accompanied the July 29,                  the comment includes profanity, threats,              implements the Protocol on
                                                  2016 letters has been revised to remove                 information claimed to be Confidential                Environmental Protection (Protocol) to
                                                  two erroneous references: (1) Replaced                  Business Information (CBI) or other                   the Antarctic Treaty of 1959 (Treaty).
                                                  No. 4591 with No. 4575 as the Petitioner                information whose disclosure is                       The Rule provides for assessment of the
                                                  for Issue 26; and (2) removed No. 4591                  restricted by statute.                                environmental impacts of
                                                  from the list of NSPS Petitioners in                    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Julie
                                                                                                                                                                nongovernmental activities in
                                                  Appendix A.                                             Roemele, Office of Federal Activities,                Antarctica, including tourism, for which
                                                                                                          Mail Code 2252A, Environmental                        the United States is required to give
                                                    Dated: September 26, 2016.
                                                                                                          Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania                  advance notice under Paragraph 5 of
                                                  Janet G. McCabe,                                                                                              Article VII of the Treaty, and for
                                                  Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air           Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460;
                                                                                                          telephone number: (202) 564–5632; fax                 coordination of the review of
                                                  and Radiation.                                                                                                information regarding environmental
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–23972 Filed 10–3–16; 8:45 am]
                                                                                                          number: (202) 564–0072; email address:
                                                                                                          roemele.julie@epa.gov.                                impact assessments received from other
                                                  BILLING CODE 6560–50–P                                                                                        Parties under the Protocol. The
                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                                                                                                                                                                requirements of the Rule apply to
                                                                                                             Supporting documents which explain                 operators of nongovernmental
                                                  ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION                                in detail the information that the EPA                expeditions organized or proceeding
                                                  AGENCY                                                  will be collecting are available in the               from the territory of the United States to
                                                                                                          public docket for this ICR. The docket                Antarctica and include commercial and
                                                  [EPA–HQ–OECA–2007–0468; ER–FRL–                         can be viewed online at
                                                  9029–4]                                                                                                       non-commercial expeditions.
                                                                                                          www.regulations.gov or in person at the               Expeditions may include ship-based
                                                  Proposed Information Collection                         EPA Docket Center, WJC West, Room                     tours; yacht, skiing or mountaineering
                                                  Request; Comment Request; Final                         3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW.,                     expeditions; privately funded research
                                                  Rule at 40 CFR Part 8: Environmental                    Washington, DC. The telephone number                  expeditions; and other nongovernmental
                                                  Impact Assessment of                                    for the Docket Center is 202–566–1744.                activities. The Rule does not apply to
                                                  Nongovernmental Activities in                           For additional information about EPA’s                individual U.S. citizens or groups of
                                                  Antarctica (Renewal)                                    public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/              citizens planning travel to Antarctica on
                                                                                                          dockets.                                              an expedition for which they are not
                                                  AGENCY: Environmental Protection                           Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of               acting as an operator. (Operators, for
                                                  Agency (EPA).                                           the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments                   example, typically acquire use of vessels
                                                  ACTION: Notice.                                         and information to enable it to: (i)                  or aircraft, hire expedition staff, plan
                                                                                                          Evaluate whether the proposed                         itineraries, and undertake other
                                                  SUMMARY:   The Environmental Protection                 collection of information is necessary                organizational responsibilities.) The rule
                                                  Agency is planning to submit an                         for the proper performance of the                     provides nongovernmental operators
                                                  information collection request (ICR),                   functions of the Agency, including                    with the specific requirements they
                                                  ‘‘Final Rule at 40 CFR part 8:                          whether the information will have                     need to meet in order to comply with
                                                  Environmental Impact Assessment of                      practical utility; (ii) evaluate the                  the requirements of Article 8 and Annex
                                                  Nongovernmental Activities in                           accuracy of the Agency’s estimate of the              I to the Protocol. The provisions of the
                                                  Antarctica’’ (EPA ICR No. 1808.07, OMB                  burden of the proposed collection of                  Rule are intended to ensure that
                                                  Control No. 2020–0007) to the Office of                 information, including the validity of                potential environmental effects of
                                                  Management and Budget (OMB) for                         the methodology and assumptions used;                 nongovernmental activities undertaken
                                                  review and approval in accordance with                  (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and               in Antarctica are appropriately
                                                  the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C.                  clarity of the information to be                      identified and considered by the
                                                  3501 et seq.). Before doing so, EPA is                  collected; and (iv) minimize the burden               operator during the planning process
                                                  soliciting public comments on specific                  of the collection of information on those             and that to the extent practicable
                                                  aspects of the proposed information                     who are to respond, including through                 appropriate environmental safeguards
                                                  collection as described below. This is a                the use of appropriate automated                      which would mitigate or prevent
                                                  proposed extension of the ICR, which is                 electronic, mechanical, or other                      adverse impacts on the Antarctic
                                                  currently approved through March 31,                    technological collection techniques or
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                                                                                                                                                                environment are identified by the
                                                  2017. An Agency may not conduct or                      other forms of information technology,                operator.
                                                  sponsor and a person is not required to                 e.g., permitting electronic submission of                Environmental Documentation.
                                                  respond to a collection of information                  responses. EPA will consider the                      Persons subject to the Rule must prepare
                                                  unless it displays a currently valid OMB                comments received and amend the ICR                   environmental documentation to
                                                  control number.                                         as appropriate. The final ICR package                 support the operator’s determination
                                                  DATES: Comments must be submitted on                    will then be submitted to OMB for                     regarding the level of environmental
                                                  or before Monday, December 5, 2016.                     review and approval. At that time, EPA                impact of the proposed expedition.


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                                                                               Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 192 / Tuesday, October 4, 2016 / Notices                                                 68413

                                                  Environmental documentation includes                    interested Federal agencies regarding                 information including: (1) A description
                                                  a Preliminary Environmental Review                      the monitoring regime.                                of national procedures for considering
                                                  Memorandum (PERM), an Initial                              In cases of emergency related to the               the environmental impacts of proposed
                                                  Environmental Evaluation (IEE), or a                    safety of human life or of ships, aircraft,           activities; (2) an annual list of any IEEs
                                                  Comprehensive Environmental                             equipment and facilities of high value,               and any decisions taken in consequence
                                                  Evaluation (CEE). The environmental                     or the protection of the environment                  thereof; (3) significant information
                                                  document is submitted to the Office of                  which would require an activity to be                 obtained and any action taken in
                                                  Federal Activities (OFA). If the operator               undertaken without completion of the                  consequence thereof with regard to
                                                  determines that an expedition may                       documentation procedures set out in the
                                                                                                                                                                monitoring from IEEs to CEEs; and (4)
                                                  have: (1) Less than a minor or transitory               Rule, the operator would need to notify
                                                                                                                                                                information in a final CEE. This
                                                  impact, a PERM needs to be submitted                    the Department of State within 15 days
                                                                                                          of any activities which would have                    provision fulfills the United States’
                                                  no later than 180 days before the                                                                             obligation to meet the requirements of
                                                  proposed departure to Antarctica; (2) no                otherwise required preparation of a CEE,
                                                                                                          and provide a full explanation of the                 Article 6 of Annex I to the Protocol. The
                                                  more than minor or transitory impacts,                                                                        Department of State is responsible for
                                                                                                          activities carried out within 45 days of
                                                  an IEE needs to be submitted no later                                                                         coordination of these reviews of drafts
                                                                                                          those activities. (During the time the
                                                  than 90 days before the proposed                                                                              with interested Federal agencies, and for
                                                                                                          Interim Final and Final Rules have been
                                                  departure; or (3) more than minor or                    in effect, there were no emergencies                  public availability of documents and
                                                  transitory impacts, a CEE needs to be                   requiring notification by U.S. operators.             information. This portion of the Rule
                                                  submitted. Operators who anticipate                     An Interim Final Rule was in effect from              does not impose paperwork
                                                  such activities are encouraged to consult               April 30, 1997, until replaced on                     requirements on any nongovernmental
                                                  with EPA as soon as possible regarding                  December 6, 2001, by the Final Rule).                 person subject to U.S. regulation.
                                                  the date for submittal of the CEE.                         Environmental documents (e.g.,
                                                  (Article 3(4), of Annex I of the Protocol                                                                        Form Numbers: None.
                                                                                                          PERM, IEE, CEE) are submitted to OFA.
                                                  requires that draft CEEs be distributed to              Environmental documents are reviewed                     Respondents/affected entities: Entities
                                                  all Parties and the Committee for                       by OFA, in consultation with the                      potentially affected by this action are all
                                                  Environmental Protection 120 days in                    National Science Foundation and other                 nongovernmental operators with
                                                  advance of the next Antarctic Treaty                    interested Federal agencies, and also                 activities in Antarctica, including tour
                                                  Consultative Meeting (ATCM) at which                    made available to other Parties and the               operators, for which the United States is
                                                  the CEE may be addressed.)                              public as required under the Protocol or              required to give advance notice under
                                                     The Protocol and the Rule also require               otherwise requested. OFA notifies the                 paragraph 5 of Article VII of the
                                                  an operator to employ procedures to                     public of document availability via the               Antarctic Treaty of 1959; this includes
                                                  assess and provide a regular and                        World Wide Web at: https://                           all nongovernmental expeditions to and
                                                  verifiable record of the actual impacts of              www.epa.gov/international-cooperation/                within Antarctica organized in or
                                                  an activity which proceeds on the basis                 receipt-environmental-impact-                         proceeding from the territory of the
                                                  of an IEE or CEE. The record developed                  assessments-eias-regarding-                           United States.
                                                  through these measures needs to be                      nongovernmental.
                                                                                                             The types of nongovernmental                          Respondent’s obligation to respond:
                                                  designed to: (a) Enable assessments to                                                                        Mandatory (40 CFR part 8).
                                                                                                          activities currently being carried out
                                                  be made of the extent to which
                                                                                                          (e.g., ship-based tours, land-based tours,               Estimated number of respondents: 19.
                                                  environmental impacts of
                                                                                                          flights, and privately funded research
                                                  nongovernmental expeditions are                                                                                  Frequency of response: Annual.
                                                                                                          expeditions) are typically unlikely to
                                                  consistent with the Protocol; and (b)                   have impacts that are more than minor                    Total estimated burden: 1,273 hours.
                                                  provide information useful for                          or transitory, thus an IEE is the typical
                                                  minimizing and mitigating those                                                                                  Total estimated cost: $103,891
                                                                                                          level of environmental documentation                  includes $3,353 annualized capital or
                                                  impacts and, where appropriate, on the                  submitted. For the 1997–1998 through
                                                  need for suspension, cancellation, or                                                                         operation & maintenance costs.
                                                                                                          2015–2016 austral summer seasons
                                                  modification of the activity. Moreover,                 during the time the Rule has been in                     Changes in Estimates: There is an
                                                  an operator needs to monitor key                        effect, all respondents submitted IEEs                increase of 19 hours in the total
                                                  environmental indicators for an activity                with the exception of three PERMs.                    estimated respondent burden compared
                                                  proceeding on the basis of a CEE. An                    Paperwork reduction provisions in the                 with the ICR currently approved by
                                                  operator may also need to carry out                     Rule that are used by the operators                   OMB. This increase is the result of a
                                                  monitoring in order to assess and verify                include: (a) Incorporation of material in             change to the level of environmental
                                                  the impact of an activity for which an                  the environmental document by                         documentation EPA anticipates the
                                                  IEE would be prepared. For activities                   referring to it in the IEE, (b) inclusion             operators will submit as well as an
                                                  that require an IEE, an operator should                 of all proposed expeditions by one                    anticipated increase in the number of
                                                  be able to use procedures currently                     operator within one IEE; (c) use of one               operators submitting documentation.
                                                  being voluntarily utilized by operators                 IEE to address expeditions being carried                Dated: September 29, 2016.
                                                  to provide the required information.                    out by more than one operator; and (d)
                                                  Should an activity require a CEE, the                                                                         Karin Leff,
                                                                                                          use of multi-year environmental
                                                  operator should consult with EPA to: (a)                documentation to address proposed                     Acting Director, NEPA Compliance Division,
                                                  Identify the monitoring regime                          expeditions for a period of up to five                Office of Federal Activities.
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                                                  appropriate to that activity, and (b)                   consecutive austral summer seasons.                   [FR Doc. 2016–23982 Filed 10–3–16; 8:45 am]
                                                  determine whether and how the                              Coordination of Review of                          BILLING CODE P
                                                  operator might utilize relevant                         Information Received from Other Parties
                                                  monitoring data collected by the U.S.                   to the Treaty. The Rule also provides for
                                                  Antarctic Program. The Office of Federal                the coordination of review of
                                                  Activities (OFA) would consult with the                 information received from other Parties
                                                  National Science Foundation and other                   and the public availability of that


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Document Created: 2016-10-04 03:03:58
Document Modified: 2016-10-04 03:03:58
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionNotices
ActionNotice.
DatesComments must be submitted on or before Monday, December 5, 2016.
ContactJulie Roemele, Office of Federal Activities, Mail Code 2252A, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202)
FR Citation81 FR 68412 

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