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 https://www.epa.gov/​dockets.

Abstract: Under the Clean Water Act (CWA), EPA develops effluent limitations guidelines (ELGs) to limit pollutants discharged from industrial point source categories. EPA initially promulgated ELGs for the Meat and Poultry Products (MPP) category in 1974 and amended the regulations in 2004. The current regulation covers wastewater directly discharged by meat and poultry slaughterhouses and further processors as well as independent renderers. Small poultry facilities and indirect dischargers are not included in the current rule.

In EPA's review of nutrients in industrial wastewater, the MPP category ranked among the top two industrial categories discharging nutrients based on 2018 data, and EPA announced a detailed study of the MPP category in 2020. During the study, EPA collected publicly available data and met with industry trade associations. EPA found that there are existing, affordable technologies that can reduce nutrient concentrations in MPP wastewater, and that pretreatment standards may be needed as publicly available data shows pollutants from MPP facilities may passthrough and cause interference for some publicly owned treatment works (POTWs).

Publicly available data on MPP facilities that is needed to support a rulemaking is limited. To identify the base population of approximately 7,000 MPP facilities, EPA collected data from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS). Using this base population, EPA attempted to find data on MPP wastewater, effluent limits, and treatment technologies by collecting publicly available facility permits and consulting the Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS) dataset. Available data was limited to only those facilities directly discharging wastewater or to facilities discharging indirectly through POTWS in individual states that require pretreatment permits to be reported, leaving a large data gap. Thus, a survey of the current MPP industry will be an essential portion of the rulemaking process, necessary for EPA to determine appropriateness of current regulations.

The data collection activities described in this Information Collection Request (ICR) are designed to obtain a robust dataset that characterizes wastewater generation, treatment, and discharge from MPP facilities. A short questionnaire will be administered as an industry census to confirm general information on the type and size (both production and employees) of the facility and gather information on wastewater generation and treatment. To reduce burden on the industry, a statistically representative subset of MPP facilities will complete a detailed survey collecting additional details on processing operations, types and amount of wastewater generated by operation, wastewater treatment details, and economic data. A small number of MPP facilities will also be asked to collect and analyze wastewater samples to characterize raw waste streams, wastewater treatment systems, and treated effluent for pollutants of interest.

The current rule contains 12 subparts, reflecting that the industry engages in a wide range of activities. Facilities range in size from very small (less than 10 employees) to large (over 500 employees). For EPA to complete the detailed technical and economic analysis for the entire industry necessary for the rulemaking process, the short questionnaire, detailed questionnaire, and sampling activities are essential.

Confidential Business Information (CBI) may be collected. In accordance with 40 CFR part 2, subpart B, section 2.203, the MPP Surveys inform respondents of their right to claim information as confidential. Each survey provides instructions for claiming confidentiality and informs respondents of the terms and rules governing the protection of CBI under the CWA and 40 CFR 2.203. Survey respondents are requested to mark any claimed confidential responses as CBI. EPA and its contractors will follow EAD's existing procedures to protect data labeled as CBI.

Form Numbers: 6100-074, 6100-075.

Respondents/affected entities: All Meat and Poultry Products facilities in the U.S.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (Clean Water Act section 308).

Estimated number of respondents: 7,000 (total).

Frequency of response: One-time data collection.

Total estimated burden: 70,807 hours. Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).

Total estimated cost: $3,219,484, which includes $85,708 annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs.

Changes in the Estimates: This is a new data collection request and is a one-time temporary increase to the Agency's burden.

87 FR 14848