[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8725-8726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4777]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-00207; FRL-5587-5]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comment
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.), this notice announces that EPA is planning to submit the
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office
of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for
review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of
the information collection described below. The ICR is a continuing ICR
entitled ``Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) Chemical-
Specific Rules,'' EPA ICR No. 1198.05, OMB No. 2070-0067, which relates
to reporting requirements found at 40 CFR part 704, subpart B. 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
are listed in 40 CFR part 9.
Dates: Written comments must be submitted on or before April 28, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit three copies of all written comments to: TSCA
Document Receipts (7407), Room E-G99, Office of Pollution Prevention
and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW.,
Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-260-7099. All comments should be
identified by administrative record number AR-171 and ICR number
1198.05. This ICR is available for public review at, and copies may be
requested from, the docket address and phone number listed above.
Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by sending
electronic mail (e-mail) to: oppt.ncic@epamail.epa.gov. Electronic
comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special
characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data will also be
accepted on disks in WordPerfect 5.1 file format or ASCII file format.
All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by the
administrative record number AR-171 and ICR number 1198.05. No
confidential business information (CBI) should be submitted through e-
mail. Electronic comments on this document may be filed online at many
Federal Depository Libraries. Additional information on electronic
submissions can be found in Unit III. of this document.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact: Susan
B. Hazen, Director, Environmental Assistance Division (7408), Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M
St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-554-1404, TDD: 202-554-
0551, e-mail: TSCA-Hotline@epamail.epa.gov. For technical information
contact Keith Cronin, Chemical Control Division (7405), Office of
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M
St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-260-8157, Fax: 202-260-
1096, e-mail: cronin.keith@epamail.epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability: Electronic copies of this document and the ICR
are available from the EPA home page at the Environmental Sub-Set entry
for this document under ``Regulations''(http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/).
I. Background
Entities potentially affected by this action are persons who
manufacture, process or import, or who propose to manufacture, process
or import, chemical substances and mixtures. For the collection of
information addressed in this notice, EPA would like to solicit
comments 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.
(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.
II. Information Collections
EPA is seeking comments on the following Information Collection
Request.
Title: Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) Chemical-
Specific Rules, EPA ICR No. 1198.05, OMB No. 2070-0067. Expires August
31, 1997.
Abstract: TSCA section 8(a) authorizes the Administrator of EPA to
promulgate rules that require persons who manufacture, import or
process chemical substances and mixtures, or who propose to
manufacture, import or process chemical substances and mixtures, to
maintain such records and submit such reports to EPA as may be
reasonably required. Any chemical covered by TSCA for which EPA or
another Federal agency has a reasonable need for information and which
cannot be satisfied via other sources is a proper potential subject for
a chemical-specific TSCA section 8(a) rulemaking. Information that may
be collected under TSCA section 8(a) includes, but is not limited to,
chemical names, categories of use, production volume, byproducts of
chemical production, existing data on deaths and environmental effects,
exposure data, and disposal information. Generally, EPA uses chemical-
specific information under TSCA section 8(a) to evaluate the potential
for adverse human health and environmental effects caused by the
manufacture, importation, processing, use or disposal of identified
chemical substances and mixtures. Additionally, EPA may use TSCA
section 8(a) information to assess the need or set priorities for
testing and/or further regulatory action. To the extent that reported
information is not considered confidential, environmental groups,
environmental justice advocates, state and local government entities
and other members of the public will also have access to this
information for their own use.
Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40
CFR part 704, subpart B). Respondents may claim all or part of a notice
confidential. 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 section 14 and 40 CFR part 2.
Burden Statement: The burden to respondents for complying with this
ICR is estimated to total 275 hours per year with an annual cost of
$15,745. These totals are based on an average burden of approximately
69 hours per response for an estimated four respondents making one
response annually. These estimates include 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
[[Page 8726]]
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.
III. Public Record
A record has been established for this action under docket control
number ``OPPTS-00207'' (including comments and data submitted
electronically as described below). A public version of this record,
including printed, paper versions of electronic comments, which does
not include any information claimed as CBI, is available for inspection
from noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.
The public record is located in the TSCA Nonconfidential Information
Center, Rm. NE-B607, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460.
Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:
oppt.ncic@epamail.epa.gov
Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the
use of special characters and any form of encryption.
The official record for this action, as well as the public version,
as described above will be kept in paper form. Accordingly, EPA will
transfer all comments received electronically into printed, paper form
as they are received and will place the paper copies in the official
record which will also include all comments submitted directly in
writing. The official record is the paper record maintained at the
address in ADDRESSES at the beginning of this document.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection and Information collection requests.
Dated: February 11, 1997.
Susan H. Wayland,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances.
[FR Doc. 97-4777 Filed 2-25-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
