[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 144 (Wednesday, July 28, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40865-40867]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19274]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-00272; FRL-6084-1]
TSCA Existing Chemical Test Rules, Consent Orders, Exemptions and
Voluntary Test Data Submissions; Request for Comment on Renewal
Information Collection
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice.
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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 et
seq.), EPA is seeking public comment and information on the following
Information Collection Request (ICR): TSCA Existing Chemical Test
Rules, Consent Orders, Exemptions and Voluntary Test Data Submissions
(EPA ICR No. 1139.06, OMB No. 2070-0033). This ICR involves a
collection activity that is currently approved and scheduled to expire
on September 30, 1999. The ICR describes the nature of the information
collection activity and its expected burden and costs. Before
submitting this ICR to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for
review and approval under the PRA, EPA is soliciting comments on
specific aspects of the collection.
DATES: Written comments, identified by the docket control number
``OPPTS-00272'' and administrative record number 212, must be received
on or before September 27, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted by mail, electronically, or in
person. Please follow the detailed instructions for each method as
provided in Unit III. of the ``SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'' section of
this notice.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For general information contact:
Christine M. Augustyniak, Associate 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@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@epa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Does This Notice Apply to Me?
You may be potentially affected by this notice if you manufacture,
distribute, process, import, use or dispose of chemical substances or
mixtures. Potentially affected categories and entities may include, but
are not limited to the following:
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Standard Industrial
Type of Business Classification (SIC) Code
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Industrial organic chemicals 2819
Adhesives and sealants 2891
Paints and allied products 2851
Textile goods 2299
Petroleum products 5172
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This table is not intended to be exhaustive but rather provides a
guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this
action. Other types of entities not listed in this table could also be
affected. To determine whether you or your business is affected by this
action, you should carefully examine the applicability provisions at 40
CFR 790.2 and in section 4(a) of the Supporting Statement of the
information collection. If you have any questions regarding the
applicability of this action to a particular entity, consult the
technical person listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT''
section.
II. How Can I Get Additional Information or Copies of This Document
or Other Support Documents?
A. Electronic Availability
Electronic copies of this ICR are available from the EPA website at
the ``Federal Register-Environmental Documents'' entry for this
document under ``Laws and Regulations'' (http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/).
You can follow the menu to find this Federal Register notice using the
publication date or the Federal Register citation for this notice.
Although a copy of the ICR is posted with the Federal Register notice,
you can also access a copy of the ICR by going directly to http://
www.epa.gov/icr. You can then follow the menu to locate this ICR by the
EPA ICR number, the OMB control number, or the title of the ICR.
B. Fax-on-Demand
You may request to receive a faxed copy of the ICR by using a
faxphone to call (202) 401-0527 and selecting item 4067. You may also
follow the automated menu.
C. In Person or By Phone
If you have any questions or need additional information about this
notice or the ICR referenced, please contact the person identified in
the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section.
In addition, the official record for this notice, including the
public version, has been established under docket control number
``OPPTS-00272'' (including comments and data submitted electronically
as described below). A public version of this record, including
printed, paper versions of any electronic comments, which does not
include any information claimed as Confidential Business Information
(CBI), is available for inspection in the TSCA Nonconfidential
Information Center, Rm. NE B-607, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC. The
Center is open from 12 noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding
legal holidays. The telephone number of the Center is 202- 260-7099.
III. How Can I Respond to This Notice?
A. How and to Whom Do I Submit the Comments?
You may submit comments through the mail, in person, or
electronically. Be sure to identify the appropriate docket control
number ``OPPTS-00272'' and administrative record number 212 in your
correspondence.
1. By mail. Submit written comments to: Document Control Office
(7407), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460.
2. In person or by courier. Deliver written comments to: Document
Control Office in Rm. G-099, Waterside Mall,
[[Page 40866]]
401 M St., SW., Washington, DC, Telephone: 202-260-7093.
3. Electronically. Submit your comments and/or data electronically
by e-mail to: oppt.ncic@epa.gov. Please note that you should not submit
any information electronically that you consider to be CBI. Electronic
comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the use of special
characters and any form of encryption. Comment and data will also be
accepted on standard computer disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII
file format. All comments and data in electronic form must be
identified by the docket control number ``OPPTS-00272'' and
administrative record number 212. Electronic comments on this notice
may also be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.
B. How Should I Handle CBI Information That I Want to Submit to the
Agency?
You may claim information that you submit in response to this
notice as CBI by marking any part or all of that information as CBI.
Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance with
procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. A copy of the comment that does
not contain CBI must also be submitted for inclusion in the public
record. Information not marked confidential will be included in the
public docket by EPA without prior notice. If you have any questions
about CBI or the procedures for claiming CBI, please consult with the
technical person, listed in the ``FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT''
section.
C. What Information is EPA Particularly Interested in?
Pursuant to section 3506(c)(2)(a) of the PRA, EPA specifically
solicits comments and information to enable it to:
1. Evaluate whether the proposed collections of information are
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility.
2. Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burdens
of the proposed collections of information.
3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected.
4. Minimize the burden of the collections of information on those
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated
or electronic collection technologies or other forms of information
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
D. What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?
We invite you to provide your views on the various options we
propose, new approaches we haven't considered, the potential impacts of
the various options (including possible unintended consequences), and
any data or information that you would like the Agency to consider
during the development of the final action. You may find the following
suggestions helpful for preparing your comments:
Explain your views as clearly as possible.
Describe any assumptions that you used.
Provide solid technical information and/or data to support
your views.
If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you
arrived at the estimate.
Provide specific examples to illustrate your concerns.
Offer alternative ways to improve the rule or collection
activity.
Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline in this
notice.
At the beginning of your comments (e.g., as part of the
``Subject'' heading), be sure to properly identify the document on
which you are commenting. You can do this by providing the docket
control number assigned to the notice, along with the name, date, and
Federal Register citation, or by using the appropriate EPA or OMB ICR
number.
IV. To What Information Collection Activity or ICR Does This Notice
Apply?
EPA is seeking comments on the following ICR:
Title: TSCA Existing Chemical Test Rules, Consent Orders,
Exemptions and Voluntary Test Data Submissions.
ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1139.06, OMB No. 2070-0033.
ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on September
30, 1999. 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
information collections appear on the collection instruments or
instructions, in the Federal Register notices for related rulemakings
and ICR notices, and, if the collection is contained in a regulation,
in a table of OMB approval numbers in 40 CFR part 9.
Abstract: Section 4 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) is
designed to assure that chemicals that may pose serious risks to human
health or the environment undergo testing by manufacturers or
processors, and that the results of such testing is made available to
EPA. EPA uses the information collected under the authority of TSCA
section 4 activity to assess risks associated with the manufacture,
processing, distribution, use or disposal of a chemical, and to support
any necessary regulatory action with respect to that chemical.
EPA must assure that appropriate tests are performed on a chemical
if it decides: (1) That a chemical being considered under TSCA section
4(a) may pose an ``unreasonable risk'' or is produced in
``substantial'' quantities that may result in substantial or
significant human exposure or substantial environmental release of the
chemical; (2) that additional data are needed to determine or predict
the impacts of the chemical's manufacture, processing, distribution,
use or disposal; and (3) that testing is needed to develop such data.
Rules and consent orders under TSCA section 4 require that one
manufacturer or processor of a subject chemical perform the specified
testing and report the results of that testing to EPA. TSCA section 4
also allows a manufacturer or processor of a subject chemical to apply
for an exemption from the testing requirement if that testing will be
or has been performed by another party.
Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40
CFR part 790). 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.
V. What are EPA's Burden and Cost Estimates for This ICR?
Under the PRA, ``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. For this
collection it 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.
[[Page 40867]]
The ICR provides a detailed explanation of this estimate, which is
only briefly summarized in this notice. The annual public burden for
this collection of information is estimated to average 133 hours per
response. The following is a summary of the estimates taken from the
ICR:
Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by
this action are persons in the United States who manufacture,
distribute, process, import, use or dispose of chemical substances or
mixtures.
Estimated total number of potential respondents: 40.
Frequency of response: On occasion.
Estimated total/average number of responses for each respondent:
235 (average).
Estimated total annual burden hours: Approximately 1,110,800 hours.
Estimated total annual burden costs: Approximately $263.5 million.
VI. Are There Changes in the Estimates from the Last Approval?
The major change from the information collection most recently
approved by OMB is a significant increase in the estimated burden hours
to respondents, from an average annual total burden of 76,450 hours
currently approved to an average annual total burden of 1,110,782 hours
in this request. This increase reflects the addition of a proposed High
Production Volume (HPV) test rule that will review 3,000 chemicals over
a 3 year period, or 1,000 chemicals annually, and a children's health
test rule that will review 44 chemicals in the first year of this ICR.
EPA assumes that half the chemicals targeted for these TSCA section 4
rulemakings will be enrolled in the voluntary testing program. Only
those costs and burdens associated with the voluntary program are
considered in this ICR. EPA is particularly interested in receiving
comments on these changes.
VII. What is the Next Step in the Process for This ICR?
EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as
appropriate. The final ICR package will then be submitted to OMB for
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. EPA will issue another
Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce
the submission of the ICR to OMB and the opportunity to submit
additional comments to OMB. If you have any questions about this ICR or
the approval process, please contact the person listed in the ``FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT'' section.
List of Subjects
Environmental protection, Information collection requests,
Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Dated: July 13, 1999.
Susan H. Wayland,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic
Substances.
[FR Doc. 99-19274 Filed 7-27-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F
