[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 189 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50565-50568]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24118]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-00177; FRL-4980-7]


Agency Information Collection Activities

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 proposed and/or continuing Information Collection Requests 
(ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting 
the ICRs to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on 
specific aspects of the following information collections as described 
below. The ICRs are: (1) A 

[[Page 50566]]
proposed ICR entitled ``Design for the Environment (DfE) Screen 
Printing Survey,'' (2) a proposed ICR entitled ``Design for the 
Environment (DfE) Collection of Impact Data on Technical Information,'' 
and (3) a continuing ICR entitled ``TSCA Section 12(b) Notification of 
Chemical Exports,'' ICR No. 795, OMB No. 2070-0030. 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 November 28, 
1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit three copies of all written comments to: TSCA 
Document Receipts (7407), Rm. NE-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 the respective administrative record numbers: Comments on 
the proposed ICR entitled ``Design for the Environment (DfE) Screen 
Printing Survey'' should reference administrative record number 145; 
comments on the proposed ICR entitled ``Design for the Environment 
(DfE) Collection of Impact Data on Technical Information'' should 
reference administrative record number 146; and comments on ICR No. 
795, ``TSCA Section 12(b) Notification of Chemical Exports,'' should 
reference administrative record number 147. These ICRs are available 
for public review at, and copies may be requested from, the docket 
address and telephone number listed above.
    Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by sending 
electronic mail (e-mail) to: [email protected]. 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 in 5.1 file format or ASCII file 
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by 
the appropriate administrative record number and ICR number. 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-H[email protected].
    For technical information contact the following individuals:
    For the proposed ICR entitled ``Design for the Environment (DfE) 
Screen Printing Survey,'' contact Jed Meline, Economics, Exposure and 
Technology Division (7406), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, 
Telephone: 202-260-0695.
    For the proposed ICR entitled ``Design for the Environment (DfE) 
Collection of Impact Data on Technical Information,'' contact Irina 
Vaysman, Economics, Exposure and Technology Division (7406), Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-260-1312.
    For ICR No. 795, ``TSCA Section 12(b) Notification of Chemical 
Exports,'' contact Wanda Woodburn, Environmental Assistance Division 
(7408), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 
202-260-3795.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability: Electronic copies of each ICR are available 
from the EPA Public Access Gopher (gopher.epa.gov) at the Environmental 
Sub-Set entry for this document under ``Rules and Regulations.''

I. Background

    Entities potentially affected by this action are those: which 
export or engage in wholesale sales of chemicals; which are engaged in 
screen printing or other graphics imaging activities; or which are part 
of industry sectors that may interact with EPA in the Agency's Design 
for the Environment (DfE) program. For the collections 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

    This unit addresses three ICRs, which are identified and discussed 
separately below.
    Title: Design for the Environment (DfE) Screen Printing Survey 
(proposed collection; ICR number, OMB control number, and expiration 
date not applicable).
    Abstract: EPA's Design for the Environment program, administered by 
the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, is a voluntary, non-
regulatory approach to encourage industry to adopt technologies and use 
materials that result in lower levels of pollution, lessened reliance 
on toxic materials, higher energy efficiency and lower environmental 
health risks. Through DfE, EPA creates partnerships with industry, 
professional organizations, state and local governments, other federal 
agencies, and the public to develop and disseminate technical 
information.
    The proposed study will focus on facilities that print graphic arts 
materials, such as fine art prints, billboard advertisements, posters, 
and electronic equipment. EPA, the Screen Printing and Graphic Imaging 
Association International (SGIA, the principal association of the 
screen printing industry), and the University of Tennessee Center for 
Clean Products and Clean Technologies have developed technical 
information for screen printing facilities on the use of screen 
reclamation processes and other workplace practices that may lower 
health risks to workers and prevent pollution. The purpose of the study 
is to evaluate the impact of such DfE technical information on screen 
printing industry practices, use of materials, and waste generation. 
The proposed study would involve two telephone surveys of owners or 
operators of screen printing establishments: an initial survey of a 
sample of 350 screen printing establishments, and a follow-up survey to 
be administered about 2 years later. This notice addresses burden 
estimates only for the initial survey.
    Responses to the collection of information are voluntary. EPA and 
the EPA contractor administering the survey 

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will observe strict confidentiality precautions, based on the Privacy 
Act of 1974, which are outlined in detail in the ICR.
    Burden Statement: The burden to respondents for complying with this 
ICR is estimated to total 438 hours at a total cost of $10,938. These 
totals are based on an average burden of approximately 1.25 hours per 
response for 350 respondents, responding once to this survey. There are 
no recordkeeping requirements associated with this collection. This 
estimate 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.
    Title: Design for the Environment (DfE) Collection of Impact Data 
on Technical Information (proposed collection; ICR number, OMB control 
number, and expiration date not applicable).
    Abstract: This is a generic ICR for a series of studies to 
undertake data collection in support of EPAs DfE program. The concept 
of the DfE program is detailed above. These studies are referred to as 
the DfE Technical Information Impact Studies. The studies will focus on 
various industrial sectors such as printing, printed wiring board 
circuitry, and dry cleaning. (The ICR entitled ``DfE Screen Printing 
Survey,'' described above, is a specific example of the type of 
collection envisioned by this generic ICR.) The purpose of all DfE 
Technical Information Impact Studies will be to evaluate the impact of 
DfE technical information on industry practices, use of materials and 
waste generation. In each case, EPA, often in collaboration with 
industry associations and universities, will have developed technical 
information for industry on the use of product reclamation processes 
and other workplace practices that may lower health risks to workers 
and prevent pollution. The proposed studies would each involve two 
separate surveys of owners or operators of target industry 
establishments. The initial survey would establish a baseline 
representing pre-technical information receipt. A follow-up survey will 
be administered approximately 2 years later to establish longer-term 
impacts of the technical materials. The overall goal of this before-
and-after design is to understand the impacts of DfE technical 
information on workplace practices and technologies that generate or 
prevent pollution. This generic ICR will allow EPA to conduct a series 
of small conceptually interrelated surveys. It will permit the DfE 
program the ability to collect information in a timely manner and to 
evaluate the effectiveness of the technical materials EPA provides to 
industry. EPA will be the principal user of information developed from 
the survey findings, but EPA expects that tens of thousands of small 
businesses in a variety of industry sectors will benefit from the 
results of the studies.
    Responses to the collection of information are voluntary. EPA and 
any EPA contractor administering the surveys will observe strict 
confidentiality precautions, based on the Privacy Act of 1974, which 
are outlined in detail in the ICR.
    Burden Statement: Because it is not known how many surveys will be 
conducted, it is not possible to estimate the total burden or cost of 
the information collection. However, EPA expects that there will be an 
average burden of approximately 1.25 hours per response, and that the 
number of respondents will be in the range of 300 to 500 for each 
survey, with each respondent responding once to a given survey. There 
are no recordkeeping requirements associated with these surveys. 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 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.
    Title: Notification of Chemical Exports, ICR No. 795, OMB No. 2070-
0030, expires February 28, 1996.
    Abstract: Section 12(b)(2) of the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA) requires that any person who exports or intends to export to a 
foreign country a chemical substance or mixture that is regulated under 
TSCA sections 4, 5, 6 and/or 7 submit to EPA notification of such 
export or intent to export. Upon receipt of notification, EPA will 
advise the government of the importing country of the U.S. regulatory 
action with respect to that substance. EPA uses the information 
obtained from the submitter via this collection to advise the 
government of the importing country.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 707). 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. However, 
notwithstanding any claims of confidentiality, the government of the 
importing country will be notified of the export of the substances in 
question.
    Burden Statement: The burden to respondents for complying with this 
ICR is estimated to total 3,800 hours per year, with an annual cost of 
$111,856. These totals are based on an average burden of approximately 
0.5 hours per response for an estimated 200 annual respondents, 
reporting generally once annually per each country to which the 
respondent exports chemicals. There are no recordkeeping requirements 
associated with this collection. This estimate 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.

III. Public Docket

    A record has been established for this action under docket number 
``OPPTS-00177'' (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:
    [email protected]


    Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the 
use of special characters and any form of encryption. 

[[Page 50568]]

    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: September 22, 1995.
Lynn R. Goldman,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 95-24118 Filed 9-28-95; 8:45 am]
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