[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 52 (Friday, March 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10748-10749]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-6243]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5440-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Pretesting and Evaluation of Risk Communication 
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 Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (EPA ICR Number 1552.03; OMB Control Number 
2010-0022: Pretesting and Evaluation of Risk Communication Activities, 
expires 04/30/96). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and 
approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the 
proposed information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before May 14, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Interested persons may obtain a copy of the ICR, without 
charge, by contacting Dr. Lynn Desautels, Office of Policy, Planning 
and Evaluation, U.S. EPA, 401 M Street SW., Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dr. Lynn Desautels, 202-260-6995 
(phone); 202-260-7875 (FAX).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those which would be audiences for risk communication messages from 
EPA.
    Title: Pretesting and Evaluation of Risk Communication Activities, 
OMB Control Number 2010-0022. Expires 4/30/96.
    Abstract: The U.S. EPA continues to use risk communication as a 
risk management tool. EPA uses risk communication (1) to encourage 
individuals to make voluntary behavior changes which will reduce their 
level of personal risk from exposure to specific environmental 
contaminants or conditions, and (2) to improve compliance with 
environmental regulations. Evaluating the effectiveness of risk 
communication activities is important; such evaluations allow EPA to 
learn from its efforts, improve them, and conduct them as effectively 
as possible. A number of low cost risk communication evaluation methods 
are available for pretesting materials, evaluating risk communication 
processes, and evaluating outcomes and impacts. These methods require 
only a modest respondent burden, and participation is entirely 
voluntary. There is no cost to respondents. Since many of EPA's risk 
communication activities are relatively low cost and do not warrant 
extensive or costly evaluations, this information collection request 
(ICR) seeks continued approval for conducting small scale evaluations 
of risk communication activities. 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 and 
48 CFR Chapter 15.
    The 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,

[[Page 10749]]
including the validity of the methodology and assumptions used;
    (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (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.
    Burden Statement: EPA estimates that costs for any given year would 
be approximately $32,000 (EPA staff time) and $664,000 (contractor 
support). There are no costs to respondents, since participation is 
entirely voluntary. The hour burden for respondents is estimated at no 
more than 870 per year, with an average time per respondent of 1 hour 
per year. 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. This 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.

    Dated: March 7, 1996.
Wendy Cleland-Hamnett,
Director, Office of Sustainable Ecosystems and Communities.
[FR Doc. 96-6243 Filed 3-14-96; 8:45 am]
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