Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements under EPA's Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) Program; Request for Comment on New Information Collection Activity

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), EPA is seeking public comment on the following Information Collection Request (ICR): Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements under EPA's Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) Program (EPA ICR No. TBD; OMB Control No. 2070-TBD). This ICR involves a new collection activity not currently approved by OMB. The information collected under this ICR relates to recordkeeping and reporting as part of a voluntary program to help hospitals enhance work place safety, reduce waste and waste disposal costs, and become better environmental stewards and neighbors. Before submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval under the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the collection.

DATES:

Written comments, identified by the docket ID number OPPT-2002-0036, must be received on or before October 18, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as provided in Unit III. of the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket ID number OPPT-2002-0036 in the subject line on the first page of your response.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

For general information contact: Barbara Cunningham, Acting Director, Environmental Assistance Division (7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; e-mail address: TSCA-Hotline@epa.gov.

For technical information contact: Laura Nazef, Pollution Prevention Division (7409M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: (202) 564-7523; fax number: (202) 564-8899; e-mail address: nazef.laura@epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Does this Action Apply to Me?

You may be potentially affected by this action if you are an establishment or organization engaged in furnishing medical, surgical, or other health services to individuals. Potentially affected categories and entities may include, but are not limited to:

This table is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this action. Other types of entities not listed in this table could also be affected. The North American Industrial Classification System (NAICS) codes are provided to assist you and others in determining whether or not this action might apply to certain entities. If you have any questions regarding the applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

II. How Can I Get Additional Information, Including Copies of this Document and Other Related Documents?

A. Electronically

You may obtain electronic copies of this document, and certain other related documents that might be available electronically, from the EPA Internet Home Page at http://www.epa.gov/. On the Home Page select “Laws and Regulations,” “Regulations and Proposed Rules,” and then look up the entry for this document under the “Federal Register—Environmental Documents.” You can also go directly to the Federal Register listings at http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/.

B. Fax-on-Demand

Using a faxphone call (202) 564-3119 and select item 4097 for a copy of the ICR.

C. In Person

The Agency has established an official record for this action under docket ID number OPPT-2002-0036. The official record consists of the documents specifically referenced in this action, any public comments received during an applicable comment period, and other information related to this action, including any information claimed as Confidential Business Information (CBI). This official record includes the documents that are physically located in the docket, as well as the documents that are referenced in those documents. The public version of the official record does not include any information claimed as CBI. The public version of the official record, which includes printed, paper versions of any electronic comments submitted during an applicable comment period, is available for inspection in the TSCA Nonconfidential Information Center, North East Mall Rm. B-607, Waterside Mall, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC. The Center is open from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Center is (202) 260-7099.

III. How Can I Respond to this Action?

A. How and to Whom Do I Submit the Comments?

You may submit comments through the mail, in person, or electronically. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, it is imperative that you identify docket ID number OPPT-2002-0036 on the subject line on the first page of your response.

1. By mail. Submit your comments to: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.

2. In person or by courier. Deliver your comments to: OPPT Document Control Office (DCO) in EPA East Building Rm. 6428, 1201 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The DCO is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the DCO is (202) 564-8930.

3. Electronically. Submit your comments and/or data electronically by e-mail to: oppt.ncic@epa.gov, or mail your computer disk to the address identified in Units III.A.1. and 2. Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data will also be accepted on standard disks in WordPerfect 6.1/8.0 or ASCII file format. All comments in electronic form must be identified by docket ID number OPPT-2002-0036. Electronic comments may also be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

B. How Should I Handle CBI that I Want to Submit to the Agency?

Do not submit any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. You may claim information that you submit to EPA in response to this document as CBI by marking any part or all of that information as CBI. Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. In addition to one complete version of the comment that includes any information claimed as CBI, a copy of the comment that does not contain the information claimed as CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public version of the official record. Information not marked confidential will be included in the public version of the official record without prior notice. If you have any questions about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

C. What Should I Consider when I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your comments:

1. Explain your views as clearly as possible.

2. Describe any assumptions that you used.

3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used that support your views.

4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you arrived at the estimate that you provide.

5. Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.

6. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.

7. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this notice.

8. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the docket ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal Register citation.

D. What Information is EPA Particularly Interested in?

Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically solicits comments and information to enable it to:

1. Evaluate whether the proposed collections of information are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, including whether the information will have practical utility.

2. Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burdens of the proposed collections of information.

3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected.

4. Minimize the burden of the collections of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated or electronic collection technologies or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

IV. What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does this Action Apply to?

EPA is seeking comments on the following ICR:

Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements under EPA's Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) Program.

ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. TBD, OMB No. 2070-TBD.

ICR status: This ICR is a new proposed information collection that has not been approved by OMB. An Agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to a collection of information that is subject to approval under PRA, unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. The OMB control numbers for EPA's information collections appear on the collection instruments or instructions, in the Federal Register notices for related rulemakings and ICR notices, and, if the collection is contained in a regulation, in a table of OMB approval numbers in 40 CFR part 9.

Abstract: The Hospitals for a Healthy Environment (H2E) program is a voluntary partnership program jointly administered by EPA and the American Hospital Association (AHA) that helps hospitals enhance work place safety, reduce waste and waste disposal costs, and become better environmental stewards and neighbors. The program is based on a 1998 Memorandum of Understanding signed by AHA and EPA to provide health care professionals with the tools and information necessary to reduce mercury waste, reduce the overall volume of waste, and identify pollution prevention opportunities.

The H2E program has two elements, the Partners for Change Program and the Champions for Change Program. The Partners for Change Program recognizes health care facilities that pledge support to the H2E mission and develop goals for reducing waste and mercury in their own facilities. The Champions for Change Program recognizes organizations that encourage and aid health care facilities to participate as H2E partners, provide on-going promotional or technical assistance information, or make changes that support the goals of the H2E program in their own institutions. An organization's decision to participate in the H2E program is completely voluntary.

This information collection addresses reporting and recordkeeping activities that support the administration of the H2E program. Responses to the collection of information are voluntary. Respondents may claim all or part of a notice confidential. EPA will disclose information that is covered by a claim of confidentiality only to the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, the procedures in TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2.

V. What are EPA's Burden and Cost Estimates for this ICR?

Under the PRA, “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. For this collection it 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.

The ICR provides a detailed explanation of this estimate, which is only briefly summarized in this notice. The annual public burden for this collection of information is estimated to range between 0.5 and 20 hours per response, depending upon the type of information the respondent provides. The following is a summary of the estimates taken from the ICR:

Respondents/affected entities: 550.

Frequency of response: Annually.

Estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 1.

Estimated total annual burden hours: 10,110.

Estimated total annual burden costs: $343,765.

VI. Are There Changes in the Estimates from the Last Approval?

No. This is a new proposed ICR.

VII. What is the Next Step in the Process for this ICR?

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 pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. EPA will issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

List of Subjects

• Environmental protection
• Reporting and recordkeeping requirements