[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 65 (Wednesday, April 3, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 14771-14772]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-8141]



=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-00182; FRL-5360-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 (OMB). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for 
review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of 
the information collection as described below. The ICR is a continuing 
ICR entitled ``TSCA Section 4 Test Rules, Consent Orders and Test Rule 
Exemptions,'' EPA ICR No. 1139, OMB No. 2070-0033. 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 June 3, 1996.

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 
reference administrative record number AR-155. This ICR is available 
for public review at, and copies may be requested from, the docket 
address and phone 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 administrative record number ``AR-155'' and ICR number ``1139.'' No 
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: 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: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Entities potentially affected by this action are those companies 
that manufacture, process, use, distribute or dispose of chemicals. For 
the collection 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 Collection

    EPA is seeking comments on the following Information Collection 
Request.
Title: TSCA Section 4 Test Rules, Consent Orders and Test Rule 
Exemptions, EPA ICR No. 1139, OMB No. 2070-0033, expires August 31, 
1996.
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.
Burden Statement: The burden to respondents for complying with this ICR 
is estimated to total 95,728 hours per year, with an annual cost of 
$3,865,600. These totals are based on an average burden of 
approximately 486 hours per test rule and consent order response for an 
estimated 152 respondents, submitting one or more reports of 
information annually. There are also 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

[[Page 14772]]
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 Record

    A record has been established for this action under docket number 
``OPPTS-00182'' (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.
    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.

Lists of Subjects

    Environmental protection and Information collection requests.

    Dated: March 27, 1996.
Lynn R. Goldman,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 96-8141 Filed 4-2-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F