Recognizing that the evolving COVID-19 public health emergency may result in potential worker shortages and that social distancing restrictions to limit the spread of COVID-19 may impede normal operations of regulated facilities and laboratories, on March 26, 2020, the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA) issued a memorandum entitled COVID-19 Implications for EPAs Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Program (Temporary COVID-19 Enforcement Policy), a temporary policy regarding enforcement of environmental obligations by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) during this time. The policy also notes that EPA may provide additional enforcement guidance applicable to specific programs on an ongoing basis. Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM) and OECA are issuing additional policy to provide guidance with respect to generator signatures on paper hazardous waste manifests under RCRA resulting from the COVID-19 public health emergency. This policy supplements and incorporates by reference the Temporary COVID-19 Enforcement Policy.
Pursuant to section 3507(j) of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), as implemented in Office of Management and Budget (OMB) regulations at 5 CFR 1320.13, the Agency is hereby requesting emergency processing of a submission of the collection of information necessary for the timely and efficient implementation of 40 CFR 262.23(a) pursuant to EPAs authority in Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA). More specifically, the Agency seeks emergency authorization to deviate from the use and associated instruction of EPA form 8700-22/22A, which is used to obtain written generator signatures on paper hazardous waste manifests under RCRA. The deviations will allow required paperwork in a manner that is consistent with social distancing restrictions associated with the COVID-19 public health emergency.
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.