2014-02039. Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement Worker Protection

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted a new information collection request (ICR), “Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement Worker Protection” (EPA ICR No. 1246.12, OMB Control No. 2070-0072) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Public comments were previously requested via the Federal Register (78 FR 48431) on August 8, 2013, during a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its estimated burden and cost to the public. 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:

Additional comments may be submitted on or before March 3, 2014.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2012-0915, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by email to [e-mail] or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via email to [e-mail]. Address comments to OMB Desk Officer for EPA.

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:

Pamela Myrick, Deputy Director, Environmental Assistance Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Mail code: 7408-M, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-554-1404; fax number: 202-564-8251; email address: [e-mail].

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, EPA 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.

Abstract: EPA's asbestos worker protection rule is designed to provide occupational exposure protection to state and local government employees who are engaged in asbestos abatement activities in states that do not have state plans approved by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The rule provides protection for public employees not covered by the OSHA standard from the adverse health effects associated with occupational exposure to asbestos. Specifically the rule requires state and local governments to monitor employee exposure to asbestos, take action to reduce exposure to asbestos, monitor employee health and train employees about asbestos hazards.

The rule includes a number of information reporting and recordkeeping requirements. State and local government agencies are required to provide employees with information about exposures to asbestos and the associated health effects. The rule also requires state and local governments to notify EPA before commencing any asbestos abatement project. State and local governments must maintain medical surveillance and monitoring records and training records on their employees, must establish a set of written procedures for respirator programs and must maintain procedures and records of respirator fit tests. EPA will use the information to monitor compliance with the asbestos worker protection rule. This request addresses these reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 CFR 763 Subpart G). 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 and 40 CFR Part 2.

Form Numbers: None.

Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are state and local government employers in 25 states, the District of Columbia, and certain U.S. Territories that have employees engaged in asbestos-related construction, custodial and brake and clutch repair activities without OSHA-approved state plans.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory.

Estimated number of respondents: 22,488 (total).

Frequency of response: On occasion.

Total estimated burden: 363,517 hours per year. Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).

Total estimated cost: $14,548,910 per year, includes $0 annualized capital or operation and maintenance costs.

Changes in the estimates: There is a very minor decrease of 6 burden hours per year compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB (from 363,523 hours to 363,517 hours). This change is an adjustment and is explained in the supporting statement.

John Moses,

Director, Collection Strategies Division.