[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 221 (Friday, November 19, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64931-64932]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[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 www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by 
email to [email protected], 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: 
[email protected].

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 
www.regulations.gov 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 http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    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


