[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33113-33114]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16198]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-00189; FRL-5379-6]


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 new 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 new ICR 
entitled ``Voluntary Cover Sheet for TSCA Submissions,'' EPA ICR No. 
1780, OMB control number to be assigned. 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 August 26, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit three copies of all written comments to: TSCA 
Document Receipts (7407), Room 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-160. This ICR is 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 administrative record number AR-160 and ICR number 1780. 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: TSCAH[email protected]. For technical information 
contact: Gerry Brown, Information Management Division (7407), Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-

[[Page 33114]]

260-7248; Fax: 202-260-4659; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    Entities potentially affected by this action are companies that 
manufacture, process, use or import chemical substances and that are 
subject to reporting requirements under sections 4, 8(d) or 8(e) of the 
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). 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: Voluntary Cover Sheet for TSCA Submissions, EPA ICR No. 
1780; proposed collection: OMB control number and expiration date not 
applicable.
    Abstract: TSCA requires industry to submit information and studies 
for existing chemical substances under sections 4, 6, and 8. Under 
normal reporting conditions, EPA receives approximately 1,700 
submissions each year; each submission represents on average three 
studies. In addition, specific data call-ins can be imposed on 
industry.
    As a follow-up to industry experience with a 1994 TSCA data call-
in, the Chemical Manufacturers Association (CMA), the Specialty 
Organics Chemical Manufacturers Association (SOCMA), and the Chemical 
Industry Data Exchange (CIDX), in cooperation with EPA, have taken an 
interest in pursuing electronic transfer of TSCA summary data and of 
full submissions to EPA. In particular, CMA has developed a 
standardized cover sheet for voluntary use by industry as a first step 
to an electronic future and to begin familiarizing companies with 
standard requirements and concepts of electronic transfer. This form is 
designed for voluntary use as a cover sheet for submissions of 
information under TSCA sections 4, 8(d), and 8(e). The cover sheet will 
facilitate submission of information by displaying certain basic data 
elements, permitting EPA more easily to identify, log, track, 
distribute, review and index submissions, and to make information 
publicly available more rapidly and at reduced cost, to the mutual 
benefit of both the respondents and EPA. The information collection 
request referenced in this notice applies to the use of this form/cover 
sheet.
    Responses to the collection of information are voluntary. 
Respondents may claim all or part of a response 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 1,348 hours per year, based on an average 
burden of approximately 0.5 hour per response for an estimated 2,229 
respondents submitting one or more reports of information annually. 
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.

III. Public Record

    A record has been established for this action under docket number 
``OPPTS-00189'' (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 unit at the beginning of this document.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection and Information collection requests.

    Dated: June 20, 1996.
Susan H. Wayland,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 96-16198 Filed 6-25-96; 8:45 am]
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