Alternate Threshold for Low Annual Reportable Amounts, Toxic Chemical Release Reporting

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status

No forms / supporting documents in this ICR. Check IC Document Collections.

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
24964	Alternate Threshold for Low Annual Reportable Amounts, Toxic Chemical Release Reporting Form	Migrated

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 2070-0143	ICR Reference No: 199608-2070-002
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 199411-2070-001
Agency/Subagency: EPA/OCSPP	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Alternate Threshold for Low Annual Reportable Amounts, Toxic Chemical Release Reporting
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 10/01/1996
	Date Received in OIRA: 08/02/1996
Terms of Clearance: This collection was first approved in March of 1995 with the understanding that EPA would use the data from the July 1, 1996 reports to recalculate the number of respondents and the estimates of respondent burden and to make a determination whether the alternative threshold level should be changed. EPA's submission on August 2, 1996 claimed that because the reporting deadline was extended to August 1, 1996, the EPA did not have sufficient time with the data to comply with the earlier terms of clearance. Therefore, this collection of information is approved through June 1, 1998, to allow EPA to continue to collect this information and to evaluate its experience with the program. On the basis of this evaluation, EPA should seek to make changes, where appropriate, to the program such that they are effective for the 1997 report filed in July of 1998. Prior to submission of this collection for renewal, the EPA shall analyze the data it received in 1996 and the data that it will receive in 1997 to make the recalculations in burden referenced above and to make a determination whether rule changes are warranted. Specifically, the EPA should check its projections of reductions in paperwork burden against the actual number of the Forms A submitted. EPA should examine the effects of adopting a higher reportable amount such as 1000 or 5000 pounds and of raising the alternate threshold from one million pounds to five or ten million pounds. The EPA should also evaluate the possibility of excluding recycling and energy recovery from the reportable amount and the possibility of using quantities of releases rather than quantities of wastes as the basis for reporting. As part of this submission, the EPA shall assess the practical utility and burden associated with each of these requirements (under Form A and Form R) and respond to the following questions: 1) How many reports were filed using Form A, and how many would be filed if the rule were modified as discussed above? 2) What was the resultant reduction in paperwork burden, and how much would the bruden be reduced if the Form A requirements were modified? 3) What was the reduction in reported releases, and what would the reduction be for the alternatives? 4) What, if any, are the important losses in information associated with the various alternatives? EPA should submit an interim report to OMB by June of 1997 answering these questions for the 1995 Reports. If EPA determines that changes in the regulation are warranted, the Agency shall initiate a rulemaking promptly to make the necessary changes (see 5 CFR 1320.14(f)). OMB also reserves its right to initiate a proposal for change.

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	05/31/1998	05/31/1998	09/30/1996
Responses	20,514	0	23,288
Time Burden (Hours)	709,784	0	803,436
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The Emergency Preparedness and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) requires certain chemical facilities to report their annual environmental releases of specified chemicals if such releases exceed a determined threshold. EPA has established an alternate threshold for facilities with low release amounts of such chemicals. Each facility using the alternate threshold must file an annual certification stating that the total releases given chemical did not exceed 500 pounds for the reporting year and that the chemical was manufactured in an amount not exceeding 1 million pounds during the reporting year.

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Authorizing Statute(s): None

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Alternate Threshold for Low Annual Reportable Amounts, Toxic Chemical Release Reporting	1704.03

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	20,514	23,288	0	-2,843	69	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	709,784	803,436	0	-95,980	2,328	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Increase Due to:

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement:

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002? No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 08/02/1996

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