[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 189 (Friday, September 29, 1995)]
[Notices]
[Pages 50568-50570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-24119]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-00176; FRL-4980-8]


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 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) ``Health and Safety Data Reporting Rule,'' ICR No. 
575, OMB No. 2070-0004; (2) ``Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements 
for Allegations of Significant Adverse Reaction to Human Health or the 
Environment,'' ICR No. 1031, OMB No. 2070-0017; and (3) ``Significant 
New Use Rules for Existing Chemicals,'' ICR No. 1188, OMB No. 2070-
0038. These are not the final draft ICRs. In the absence of final 
drafts of the ICRs as of the date of publication of this notice, EPA is 
extending the required 60-day public notice and comment period, which 
ordinarily would commence with the date of publication of this notice, 
until December 15, 1995. 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 December 15, 
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 
ICR No. 575, ``Health and Safety Data Reporting Rule,'' should 
reference administrative record number 148; comments on ICR No. 1031, 
``Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements for Allegations of 
Significant Adverse Reaction to Human Health or the Environment,'' 
should reference administrative record number 149; and comments on ICR 
No. 1188, ``Significant New Use Rules for Existing Chemicals,'' should 
reference administrative record number 150.
    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 CBI 
should be submitted through e-mail. Electronic comments on this action 
may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries. Additional 
information on electronic submissions can be found in Unit III. of this 
document.
    Draft copies of the ICRs addressed by this notice are available for 
review at, and copies may be obtained through, the public docket 
address and telephone number noted above.

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: Frank Kover, Chemical Control Division (7405), Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-260-8130.

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 that 
manufacture, process, import, or distribute in commerce chemical 
substances or mixtures.
    For each of the collections of information described in Unit II. of 
this preamble, 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: Health and Safety Data Reporting Rule, ICR No. 575, OMB No. 
2070-0004.
    Abstract: Section 8(d) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
and 40 CFR part 716 require manufacturers and processors of chemicals 
to submit lists and copies of health and safety studies relating to the 
health and/or environmental effects of certain chemical substances and 
mixtures. In order to comply with the reporting requirements of section 
8(d), respondents must search their records to identify any health and 
safety studies in their possession, copy and process relevant studies, 
list studies that are currently in progress, and submit this 
information to EPA.
    EPA uses this information to construct a complete picture of the 
known effects of the chemicals in question, leading to determinations 
by EPA of whether additional testing of the 

[[Page 50569]]
chemicals is required. The information enables EPA to base its testing 
decisions on the most complete information available and to avoid 
demands for testing that may be duplicative. EPA will use information 
obtained via this collection to support its investigation of the risks 
posed by chemicals and, in particular, to support its decisions on 
whether to require industry to test chemicals under section 4 of TSCA.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 716). 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 8,100 hours per year at a total annual cost 
of $349,217. These totals are based on an average burden ranging 
between 12 and 26 hours per respondent, depending upon the nature of 
the activities covered by this collection in which respondents are 
engaged. The overall average burden is estimated to be 17 hours per 
respondent. The number of respondents range from approximately 125 to 
approximately 600, again depending upon the activities in which 
respondents are engaged. There are no recordkeeping requirements 
associated with this collection. 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: Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements for Allegations of 
Significant Adverse Reaction to Human Health or the Environment, ICR 
No. 1031, OMB No. 2070-0017.
    Abstract: TSCA section 8(c) requires companies that manufacture, 
process, or distribute chemicals to maintain records of significant 
adverse reactions to health or the environment alleged to have been 
caused by such chemicals. Since section 8(c) includes no automatic 
reporting provision, EPA can obtain and use the information contained 
in company files only by inspecting those files or requiring reporting 
of records that relate to specific substances of concern. Therefore, 
under certain conditions, and using the provisions found in 40 CFR part 
717, EPA may require companies to report such allegations to the 
Agency.
    EPA uses such information on a case-specific basis to corroborate 
suspected adverse health or environmental effects of chemicals already 
under review by EPA. The information is also useful to identify trends 
of adverse effects across the industry that may not be apparent to any 
one chemical company.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 717). 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 approximately 33,300 hours per year, with an 
annual cost of $1,686,963. These totals are based on an average burden 
of about 3.5 hours per respondent, with a total of approximately 9,500 
respondents. 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: Significant New Use Rules for Existing Chemicals, ICR No. 
1188, OMB No. 2070-0038.
    Abstract: Section 5 of TSCA provides EPA with a regulatory 
mechanism to monitor and, if necessary, control significant new uses of 
chemical substances. Section 5 authorizes EPA to determine by rule (a 
significant new use rule (SNUR)), after considering all relevant 
factors, that a use of a chemical substance represents a significant 
new use. If EPA determines that a use of a chemical substance is a 
significant new use, section 5 requires persons to submit a notice to 
EPA at least 90 days before they manufacture, import, or process the 
substance for that use.
    EPA uses the information obtained through this collection to 
evaluate the health and environmental effects of the significant new 
use. EPA may take regulatory actions under TSCA section 5, 6, or 7 to 
control the activities for which it has received a SNUR notice. These 
actions include orders to limit or prohibit the manufacture, 
importation, processing, distribution in commerce, use or disposal of 
chemical substances. If EPA does not take action, section 5 also 
requires EPA to publish a Federal Register notice explaining the 
reasons for not taking action.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 721). 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 approximately 237 hours per year, with an 
annual cost of $17,360. These totals are based on an average burden of 
approximately 118 hours per response for an estimated two annual 
respondents, reporting once annually. 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-00176'' (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 50570]]

    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 25, 1995.
Lynn R. Goldman,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 95-24119 Filed 9-28-95; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F