Notice2021-25295
Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Meat and Poultry Products Industry Data Collection
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
November 19, 2021
Issuing agencies
Environmental Protection Agency
Abstract
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to submit an information collection request (ICR), "U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Meat and Poultry Products Industry Data Collection" (EPA ICR No. 2701.01, OMB Control No. 2040-NEW) 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 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.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 221 (Friday, November 19, 2021)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 221 (Friday, November 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64931-64932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25295]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0736; FRL-9261-01-OW]
Proposed Information Collection Request; Comment Request; Meat
and Poultry Products Industry Data Collection
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is planning to
submit an information collection request (ICR), ``U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency Meat and Poultry Products Industry Data Collection''
(EPA ICR No. 2701.01, OMB Control No. 2040-NEW) 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 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 January 18, 2022.
ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OW-
2021-0736, 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#dd928af099b2beb6b8a99db8adbcf3bab2ab"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="7d322a5039121e1618093d180d1c531a120b">[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: Stephen Whitlock, Engineering and
Analysis Division, Office of Science and Technology, (4303T),
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington,
DC 20460; telephone number: 202-566-1541; email address:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#481f20213c24272b23661b3c2d3e2d082d3829662f273e"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="efb887869b83808c84c1bc9b8a998aaf8a9f8ec1888099">[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="http://www.regulations.gov">www.regulations.gov</a> 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 <a href="http://www.epa.gov/dockets">http://www.epa.gov/dockets</a>.
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA (44 U.S.C. 3501 et
seq), 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: 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 facilities and indirect
dischargers are not included in the current rule.
In EPA's cross-industry review of nutrients in industrial
wastewater, the MPP category ranked among the top two industrial
categories based on 2018 data, and EPA announced a detailed study of
the MPP category in 2020. During the detailed study, EPA collected
publicly available data and met with industry trade associations. Based
on the detailed study, EPA found that there are existing, affordable
technologies that can reduce nutrient concentrations in MPP wastewater.
As part of the detailed study, EPA also found that pretreatment
standards may be needed as publicly available data shows that
pollutants from MPP facilities may passthrough and cause interference
for some POTWs.
Publicly available data on MPP facilities 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 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 if the current regulations
remain appropriate.
The data collection activities described in this Information
Collection Request (ICR) will provide a robust dataset that
characterizes wastewater generation, treatment, and discharge from MPP
facilities. A short questionnaire will be administered as a census of
the industry 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,
[[Page 64932]]
wastewater treatment systems, and treated effluent for pollutants of
interest.
The MPP industry has approximately 7,000 facilities across the
country. The current rule contains 11 subparts, as 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 Clean Water Act and 40 CFR
2.203. Survey respondents are able to and 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: None.
Respondents/affected entities: All Meat and Poultry Products
facilities in the U.S., which includes facilities with the following
NAICS codes: 311611, 311612, 311613, 311615, 311111, 311119, 311999.
1,633 facilities will receive the detailed questionnaire, 5,367
facilities will receive the short questionnaire, and no more than 20
facilities will be asked to conduct specific wastewater sampling
events.
Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (Clean Water Act
section 308) (citing authority).
Estimated number of respondents: 7,000 (total).
Frequency of response: One-time data collection.
Total estimated respondent burden: 70,807 hours. Burden is defined
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
Total estimated respondent cost: $3,219,484 one-time cost.
Changes in Estimates: This is a new data collection request and is
a one-time temporary increase to the Agency's burden.
Deborah Nagle,
Director, Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water.
[FR Doc. 2021-25295 Filed 11-18-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on November 19, 2021.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.