EPA keeps online pollution reports flowing smoothly—renewal notice drops
Published Date: 2/28/2025
Notice
Summary
The EPA is asking to extend its Cross-Media Electronic Reporting Rule, which helps businesses and organizations report environmental info online. This extension keeps the current system running smoothly without extra costs or big changes. If you want to share your thoughts, you have until March 31, 2025, to comment!
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
EPA electronic reporting burden and cost
EPA estimates 77,716 entities report electronically and that the Cross‑Media Electronic Reporting Rule (CROMERR) imposes a total respondent burden of 65,319 hours per year and total annual costs of $4,614,717 (including $1,283,547 in annualized capital or operation & maintenance costs).
Information submission tied to benefit access
The notice states that "responses to the collection of information are voluntary," but also states respondents are "Required to obtain or retain a benefit" because CROMERR ensures compliance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act. In other words, providing the information is linked to obtaining or retaining program benefits or approvals under CROMERR.
Continued federal and state electronic reporting framework
The ICR covers the electronic reporting components of CROMERR, which are designed to let EPA comply with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act, provide a uniform, technology‑neutral framework for electronic reporting, allow EPA programs to offer electronic reporting as they become ready, and give states a streamlined, uniform process for approval of their electronic reporting provisions.
Estimated respondent burden decreased by 81,985 hours
EPA reports a decrease of 81,985 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with the currently approved ICR. The decrease is attributed to fewer direct reporters registering with EPA's electronic document receiving system and fewer indirect reporters complying with certain paper subscriber agreement and ESA provisions.
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Key Dates
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