Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, NESHAP: Benzene Waste Operations

Title: NESHAP: Benzene Waste Operations (OMB Control No. 2060-0183; EPA ICR No. 1541.06) expiring 2/29/2000. This is a request for extension of a currently approved collection. Abstract: Any facility which manages a waste containing benzene must maintain records and submit reports to the Agency. There is a tiered threshold for burden. Facilities managing waste containing less than 1 megagram of benzene must simply certify to that affect and maintain documentation to support their finding. Facilities managing more than 1 megagram and less than 10 megagrams of benzene-containing waste must prepare an initial certification, test annually to verify that their waste stream still falls within this range and maintain documentation to support these findings. Facilities managing more than 10 megagrams of waste must submit quarterly and annual reports documenting the results of continuous monitoring. The Agency uses this information to determine compliance and to select plants or processes for inspection. Owners or operators of the affected facilities described must make one-time-only notifications. Owners or operators are also required to maintain records of the occurrence and duration of any startup, shutdown, or malfunction in the operation of an affected facility, or any period during which the monitoring system is inoperative. Monitoring requirements specific to Benzene Waste Operations provide information on the operation of the vapor control device and compliance with the standard. Quarterly reports of excess emissions are required. These notifications, reports, and records are essential in determining compliance; and are required, in general, of all sources subject to the NESHAPs. Any owner or operator subject to the provisions of this part shall maintain a file of these measurements, and retain the file for at least 2 years following the date of such records. Approximately 240 sources are currently subject to the standard, and 120 of those are estimated to have more than 10 Mg/yr of benzene in the waste. It is estimated that no additional sources will become subject to the standard in the next three years. The cost of this ICR will be 405,266 dollars. All reports are sent to the delegated State or local authority. In the event that there is no such delegated authority, the reports are sent directly to the EPA Regional Office. 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 6/4/99; no comments were received. Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 71 hours per response. 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. Respondents/Affected Entities: Owners/Operators of chemical plants, petroleum refineries, coke by-product recovery plants, and commercial treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. Estimated Number of Respondents: 240. Frequency of Response: quarterly, annually. Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 17,028 hours. Estimated Total Annualized Capital O&M Cost Burden: $0. 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. 1541.06 and OMB Control No. 2060-0183 in any correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Policy, 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: November 9, 1999. Richard T. Westlund, Acting Director, Regulatory Information Division. [FR Doc. 99-30407 Filed 11-19-99; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6560-50-P