[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 26, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33114-33116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16200]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPP-00441; FRL-5379-4]


Pesticides; Renewal of Information Collection Activities

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces and solicits comments for the renewal of 
the Information Collection Request (ICR) titled ``Application for 
Experimental Use Permit (EUP) to Ship and Use a Pesticide for 
Experimental Purposes Only'' (OMB No. 2070-0040, ICR No. 0276.08) which 
will expire on November 30, 1996.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before August 26, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Submit written comments identified by the docket control 
number OPP-00441 and the appropriate ICR number by mail to: Public 
Response Section, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460. In person, bring comments directly to the OPP 
docket which is located in Rm. 1132 of Crystal Mall #2, 1921 Jefferson 
Davis Highway, Arlington, VA. Copies of the complete ICR and 
accompanying appendices may be obtained from the OPP docket at the 
above address or by contacting the person whose name appears under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

[[Page 33115]]

    Comments and data may also be submitted electronically by sending 
electronic mail (e-mail) to: [email protected]. Electronic 
comments must be submitted as a ASCII file avoiding the use of special 
characters and any form or 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 docket number ``OPP-00441'' and the appropriate 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. Information submitted as a comment 
concerning this document may be claimed confidential by marking any 
part or all of that information as CBI.
    Information so marked will not be disclosed except in accordance 
with procedures set forth in 40 CFR part 2. A copy of the comment that 
does not contain CBI must be submitted for inclusion in the public 
record. Information not marked confidential may be disclosed publicly 
by EPA without prior notice. All written comments will be available for 
public inspection in Rm. 1132 at the Virginia address given above from 
8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ellen Kramer, Policy and Special 
Projects Staff, Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection 
Agency 7501C, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: (703) 
305-6475, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability: Electronic copies of the 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. Information Collection Request (ICR)

    EPA is seeking comments on the following ICR:
    Title: Application for Experimental Use Permit (EUP) to Ship and 
Use a Pesticide for Experimental Purposes Only. ICR No. 0276.08; OMB 
No. 2070-0040. Expiration date: November 30, 1996.
    Affected entities: Producers of pesticide products who seek 
experimental use permits.
    Abstract: Section 5 of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), as amended, authorizes pesticide companies 
temporarily to ship pesticide products for experimental use for the 
purpose of gathering data necessary to support the application for 
their registration. In general, EUPs are either issued for a pesticide 
not registered with EPA or for a registered pesticide for a use not 
registered with EPA.
    The information collected and reported under an EUP is a summary of 
what is routinely submitted in connection with registration. The EUP 
allows for large scale field testing, if necessary, in order to collect 
sufficient data to support registration. An EUP is not required if the 
person conducting the tests does not expect to receive benefits in pest 
control.
    EPA Form 8570-17, ``Application for an Experimental Use Permit to 
Ship and Use a Pesticide for Experimental Purposes Only,'' associated 
with this ICR is filed by the applicant for a permit to generate 
information or data necessary to register a pesticide under section 3 
of FIFRA. This information from the applicant is necessary in order to 
grant and effectively monitor the EUP. Beyond the information as 
supplied on EPA Form 8570-17, is a final report on the results of the 
experimental program which includes information such as: amount of the 
product applied; the crops or sites treated; any observed adverse 
effects; any adverse weather conditions which may have inhibited the 
program; the goals achieved; and the disposition of containers, unused 
pesticide material, and affected food/feed commodities.
    This ICR also contains the amendment of this ICR from September 
1994 regarding the notification for small-scale testing of genetically 
modified microbial pesticides. Title 40 CFR part 172 includes a 
requirement for the submission and review of notifications prior to any 
introduction into the environment of certain genetically modified 
microbial pesticides.
    There are no third party disclosures associated with this activity.
    Burden Statement: This information is collected on occasion when 
seeking an EUP or notification for small scale-testing of genetically 
modified microbial pesticides for experimental purposes and submitting 
the necessary data. The overall respondent burden hours associated with 
this collection for EUPs have remained the same as the current ICR 
estimate of 10.10 hours per applicant (or 1,010 hours for 100 estimated 
applications annually). There are fewer applicants for this program 
than in the previous ICR estimate due, in part, to program changes. The 
notification for small-scale testing of genetically modified microbial 
pesticides expects six respondents per year with the estimate of 78 
hours for initial notifications, 42 hours for resubmission 
notifications, and 6 hours for verification of containment per 
application. The total of hours requested for the Notification for 
Small-Scale Testing of Genetically Modified Microbial Pesticides for 
Experimental Use aspect of the ICR has decreased by 230 hours due to 
the program change discontinuing the need for the rule familiarization 
aspect of the ICR. The hours per application for initial notification 
have also drastically decreased, but the number of applicants is 
expected to increase. The annual cost of this ICR of $757.90 per EUP 
application has increased due to more realistic labor rates supplied by 
the Bureau of Labor Statistics which reflect more accurately the costs 
borne by the pesticide manufacturers. The cost of the initial 
notification for small-scale testing of genetically modified microbial 
pesticides is $5,711, resubmission cost is $3,014, and verification of 
containment cost is $462. The costs reflect the increase in labor 
rates.
    The annual respondent burden for this program includes time for: 
Reading relevant legislation, regulations, and instructions; planning 
activities; creating and gathering information; processing, compiling, 
and reviewing information; completing paperwork; recording disclosing, 
and displaying information; and storing, maintaining, and filing 
information.
    Any 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 contained in 40 CFR part 9.

II. Request for Comments

    EPA solicits comments to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collections of information 
described above are 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 estimates of the burdens 
of the proposed collections of information.
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected.
    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collections of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
or electronic collection technologies or other forms of information 
technology,

[[Page 33116]]

e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.
    Send comments regarding these matters, or any other aspect of these 
information collections, including suggestions for reducing the 
burdens, to the docket under ADDRESSES listed above.

III. Public Record

    A record has been established for this action under docket number 
``OPP-00441'' (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 8 a.m. to 
4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The public 
record is located in Rm. 1132 of the Public Response and Program 
Resources Branch, Field Operations Division (7506C), Office of 
Pesticide Programs, Environmental Protection Agency, Crystal Mall #2, 
1921 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington, VA.
    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.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection and Information collection requests.

    Dated: June 19, 1996.
Lynn R. Goldman,
Assistant Administrator Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 96-16200 Filed 6-25-96; 8:45 am]
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