2016-06209. Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request; TSCA Section 8(a) Preliminary Assessment Information Rule (PAIR)

AGENCY:

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION:

Notice.

SUMMARY:

EPA has submitted the following information collection request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA): “TSCA Section 8(a) Preliminary Assessment Information Rule (PAIR)” and identified by EPA ICR No. 0586.13 and OMB Control No. 2070-0054. The ICR, which is available in the docket along with other related materials, provides a detailed explanation of the collection activities and the burden estimate that is only briefly summarized in this document. EPA did not receive any comments in response to the previously provided public review opportunity issued in the Federal Register on June 19, 2015 (80 FR 35349). With this submission, EPA is providing an additional 30 days for public review.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before April 20, 2016.

ADDRESSES:

Submit your comments, identified by docket identification (ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0236, to both EPA and OMB as follows:

• To EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our preferred method) or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460.
• To 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 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. Do not submit electronically any information you consider to be CBI or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Colby Lintner, Environmental Assistance Division (7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: [phone]; email address: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Docket: Supporting documents, including the ICR that explains in detail the information collection activities and the related burden and cost estimates that are summarized in this document, are available in the docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, West William Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone number for the Docket Center is [phone]. For additional information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/​dockets.

ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on March 31, 2016. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB.

Under PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., 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 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 for certain EPA regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.

Abstract: Section 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) authorizes EPA to promulgate rules under which manufacturers, importers and processors of chemical substances and mixtures must maintain records and submit reports to EPA. EPA has promulgated the Preliminary Assessment Information Rule (PAIR) under TSCA section 8(a). EPA uses PAIR to collect information to identify, assess and manage human health and environmental risks from chemical substances, mixtures and categories. PAIR requires chemical manufacturers and importers to complete a standardized reporting form to help evaluate the potential for adverse human health and environmental effects caused by the manufacture or importation of identified chemical substances, mixtures or categories. Chemicals identified by EPA or any other federal agency, for which a justifiable information need for production, use or exposure-related data can be satisfied by the use of the PAIR are proper subjects for TSCA section 8(a) PAIR rulemaking. In most instances the information that EPA receives from a PAIR report is sufficient to satisfy the information need in question. This information collection addresses the reporting and recordkeeping requirements associated with TSCA section 8(a).

Respondents/Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this ICR are companies that manufacture, process or import chemical substances, mixtures or categories.

Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (see 40 CFR parts 712, 766, and 792).

Estimated total number of potential respondents: 1.

Frequency of response: On occasion.

Estimated total burden: 31.5 hours (per year). Burden is defined at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).

Estimated total costs: $ 2,388 (per year), includes no annualized capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

Changes in the estimates: There is a decrease of 916 hours in the total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease reflects EPA's reduced estimate of the assumed number of PAIR reports submitted annually, and also reflects burden changes resulting from mandatory electronic submissions of PAIR reports. This change is both an adjustment and the result of a program change.

Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.

Courtney Kerwin,

Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.