E8-3230. Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; Lead-Based Paint Pre-Renovation Information Dissemination-TSCA Sec. 406(b); EPA ICR No. 1669.05, OMB No. 2070-0158

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that an Information Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection activity and its expected burden and costs.

DATES:

Additional comments may be submitted on or before March 24, 2008.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, referencing docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-0271 to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method), by e-mail to [e-mail] or by mail to: Document Control Office (DCO), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: 7407T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB at: Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20503.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Barbara Cunningham, Director, Environmental Assistance Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 7408-M, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-554-1404; e-mail address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12. On June 13, 2007 (72 FR 32642), EPA sought comments on this renewal ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received one comment during the comment period. The comment is addressed in Attachment 4 of the Supporting Statement. Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.

EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-0271 which is available for online viewing at http://www.regulations.gov, or in person inspection at the OPPT Docket in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone number for the Reading Room is 202-566-1744, and the telephone number for the Pollution Prevention and Toxics Docket is 202-566-0280.

Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at www.regulations.gov to submit or view public comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public docket, and to access those documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the system, select “docket search,” then key in the docket ID number identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing in http://www.regulations.gov as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted material, Confidential Business Information (CBI), or other information whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further information about the electronic docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov.

Title: Lead-Based Paint Pre-Renovation Information Dissemination—TSCA Sec. 406(b).

ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1669.05, OMB Control No. 2070-0158.

ICR Status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on February 29, 2008. 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. The OMB control numbers for EPA's regulations in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when approved, are listed in 40 CFR part 9, are displayed either by publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.

Abstract: This information collection involves third-party notification to owners and occupants of housing that will allow these individuals to avoid exposure to lead-contaminated dust and lead-based paint debris that are sometimes generated during renovations of housing where lead-based paint is present, thereby protecting public health. Since young children are especially susceptible to the hazards of lead, owners and occupants with children can take action to protect their children from lead poisonings. Section 406(b) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requires EPA to promulgate regulations requiring certain persons who perform renovations of target housing for compensation to provide a lead hazard information pamphlet (developed under TSCA section 406(a)) to the owner and occupants of such housing prior to beginning the renovation. Those who fail to provide the pamphlet as required may be subject to both civil and criminal sanctions.

Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 CFR part 745). Respondents may claim all or part of a notice as CBI. EPA will disclose information that is covered by a CBI claim only to the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, the procedures in 40 CFR part 2.

Burden Statement: The annual public notification and recordkeeping burden for this collection of information is estimated to be 0.09 hours per response. Burden means the total time, effort or financial resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain or disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This includes the time needed to review instructions; develop, acquire, install and utilize technology and systems for the purposes of collecting, validating and verifying information, processing and maintaining information, and disclosing and providing information; adjust the existing ways to comply with any previously applicable instructions and requirements; train personnel to be able to respond to a collection of information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.

Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are persons who perform renovations of certain types of housing, constructed prior to 1978, for compensation.

Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Estimated No. of Respondents: 2,625,500.

Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,122,486 hours.

Estimated Total Annual Materials Costs: $9,428,849.

There is a net decrease of 339,056 hours (from 3,461,542 hours to 3,122,486 hours) in the total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease primarily reflects EPA's revised estimates in the number of renovation events in rental housing units. A more detailed analysis of the change in burden appears in the Supporting Statement. This change is an adjustment.

Dated: February 12, 2008.

Sara Hisel-McCoy,

Director, Collection Strategies Division.