This ICR is approved. EPA is to be commended for revising the survey to significantly reduce the burden on respondents, in response to public comment received following the 60-day notice required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d)(1). During OMB review of the ICR, EPA agreed to further reduce the burden by conducting a survey rather than a census of some categories of facilities, allowing respondents to attach a copy of a facility's permit in lieu of completing survey questions requesting permit-related information, allowing all eligible to be designated as CBI at once, removing all monthly production data from the main survey and including it instead in a follow-up survey to no more than 100 sites, and removing a number of other questions that the agency subsequently decided were not absolutely necessary to rule development. As a result of these changes, OMB believes that all of the remaining questions in the revised survey have practical utility, are necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, and reduce to the extent practicable and appropriate the burden on persons who shall provide information to or for the agency, as required by 5 CFR 1320.9. EPA has also agreed to extend the time limits for completion of the survey by some categories of respondents. Specifically, integrated mills will have 180 days to complete the survey, non- integrated sites with and without finishing and stand-alone finishing sites will have 120 days to complete the survey, and all other sites will have 90 days to complete the survey. While these deadlines are an improvement over those originally proposed and OMB recognizes the tight rulemaking schedule under which the agency is operating, OMB remains concerned that the deadlines may impose an unreasonable burden on some respondents, particularly in cases where a single individual is responsible for the surveys from multiple sites. OMB thus notes with approval the provisions in the survey instructions for respondents to request an extension for their own site or discuss a delivery schedule for a company with multiple sites by so notifying EPA in writing within 30 days of receipt of the survey. OMB encourages EPA to allow reasonable deadline extensions in such cases. OMB also notes that the ICR supporting statement at p 78 indicates EPA's intention to conduct workshops for survey respondents as budget permits. Given the technical complexity of the survey and the considerable time investment that respondents must make to complete it, OMB encourates EPA to offer such workshops to respondents who want them.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
08/31/2001
08/31/2001
824
0
0
76,988
0
0
40,000
0
0
EPA will administer the Collection of 1997 Iron and Steel Industry Data as a census of the iron and steel industry. The iron and steel industry includes 901 sites engaged in the following manufacturing processes: Cokemaking, sintering, briquetting (and other agglomeration processes), ironmaking, steelmaking, vacuum degassing, ladle metallurgy (and other refining processes), casting, hot forming, acid pickling, descaling, acid regeneration, cold forming, and surface cleaning and coating (including alkaline cleaning, hot dip coating, and electroplating.
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:
(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;
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.
Collection of 1997 Iron and Steel Industry Data