Notice2021-18240
Proposed Information Collection Request Extension; Comment Request; Information Request for the Underground Injection Control Program
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
August 25, 2021
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), "Information Collection Request for the Underground Injection Control (UIC) program" (EPA ICR No. 0370.27, OMB Control No. 2040-0042) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)). Before doing so, EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed information collection as described in the SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION section of this document. This is a proposed 3-year extension of the ICR, which is currently approved through April 30, 2022. 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 162 (Wednesday, August 25, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 162 (Wednesday, August 25, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47494-47495]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18240]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2014-0359; FRL 8868-01-OW]
Proposed Information Collection Request Extension; Comment
Request; Information Request for the Underground Injection Control
Program
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``Information
Collection Request for the Underground Injection Control (UIC)
program'' (EPA ICR No. 0370.27, OMB Control No. 2040-0042) to the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in
accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA)). Before doing so,
EPA is soliciting public comments on specific aspects of the proposed
information collection as described in the SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
section of this document. This is a proposed 3-year extension of the
ICR, which is currently approved through April 30, 2022. 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 October 25, 2021.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2014-0359 online using <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> (our preferred method), by
email to <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fcb3abd1b8939f979988bc998c9dd29b938a"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3f7068127b505c545a4b7f5a4f5e11585049">[email protected]</span></a>, 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: Kyle Carey, Drinking Water Protection
Division, Office of Groundwater and Drinking Water, 4606M,
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington,
DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-2322; fax number: (202) 564-3756;
email address: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#44272536213d6a2f3d2821042134256a232b32"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="98fbf9eafde1b6f3e1f4fdd8fde8f9b6fff7ee">[email protected]</span></a>.
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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>. The EPA is temporarily suspending its Docket
Center and Reading Room for public visitors, with limited exceptions,
to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19. Our Docket Center staff
will continue to provide remote customer service via email, phone, and
webform. We encourage the public to submit comments, go to https://
[[Page 47495]]
<a href="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a>. For additional information about EPA's public
docket, visit <a href="http://www.epa.gov/dockets">http://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
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 extension request 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 extension request
package to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to
OMB.
Abstract: EPA developed the Underground Injection Control (UIC)
Program under the authority of the Safe Drinking Water Act to establish
a federal-state regulatory system to protect underground sources of
drinking water (USDWs) from injection fluids and injection-related
activities. Injected fluids include hazardous waste, oil field brines
or produced water, mineral processing fluids, various types of
industrial fluids, automotive, sanitary, and other wastes, and carbon
dioxide injected for geologic sequestration. Owners or operators of
injection wells must obtain permits, conduct environmental monitoring,
maintain records, and report results to the EPA or the state agency (if
the state has UIC primary enforcement responsibility (primacy)). States
must report to the EPA on permittee compliance and related information.
This mandatory information is reported using standardized forms and
annual reports. The governing regulations are codified in the Code of
Federal Regulations (CFR) at 40 CFR parts 144 through 148. Reporting
data are used by UIC authorities to ensure the protection of USDWs.
Form Numbers: 7520-1, 7520-2A, 7520-28. 7520-3, 7520-4, 7520-6,
7520-7, 7520-8, 7520-9, 7520-10, 7520-11, 7520-12, 7520-14, 7520-16,
and 7520-17.
Respondents/affected entities: Owners or operators of underground
injection wells and state UIC primacy agencies.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (40 CFR parts 140
through 148).
Estimated number of respondents: 35,385 (total).
Frequency of response: Annual, semi-annual, and quarterly.
Total estimated burden: 1,617,274 hours (per year). Burden is
defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated cost: $319,605,059 (per year), includes
$243,531,752 annualized capital or operation and maintenance costs.
Changes in estimates: Changes and developments in many aspects of
the UIC program during the previous ICR period directly impact the
estimates used in this ICR extension. For example, variations in
permitting and closures across well classes and well inventory,
revisions to UIC primacy programs, efforts to streamline the permit
application process, alterations to state and operator reporting
systems and other factors all cause variations in the ICR estimates.
For the UIC ICR extension there is an increase of 325,014 hours in the
total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently
approved by OMB. This increase is due to changes in the injection well
inventory and adjustments to the number of permit applications
(particularly for Class VI wells) that are expected to be prepared and
reviewed.
Jennifer L. McLain,
Director, Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water.
[FR Doc. 2021-18240 Filed 8-24-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
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