[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 178 (Thursday, September 12, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48152-48153]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-23398]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-00195; FRL-5393-7]


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 information collections described below. The ICRs are: 
(1) A continuing ICR entitled ``Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): 
Manufacturing, Processing and Distribution in Commerce Exemptions,'' 
EPA ICR No. 0857, OMB No. 2070-0021, and (2) a continuing ICR entitled 
``Lead-Based Paint Abatement and Repair and Maintenance Study in 
Baltimore,'' EPA ICR No. 1603, OMB No. 2070-0123. 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 November 12, 
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 be 
identified by the respective administrative record numbers: comments on 
ICR No. 0857 should reference administrative record number 163, and 
comments on ICR No. 1603 should reference administrative record number 
164. These ICRs are 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 5.1 file format or ASCII file format. 
All comments and data in electronic form with respect to ICR No. 0857 
must be identified by the administrative record number AR-163 and ICR 
0857. All comments and data in electronic form with respect to ICR No. 
1603 must be identified by the administrative record number AR-164 and 
ICR 1603. 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 the following individuals:
    For ICR No. 0857 contact Geraldine Hilton, Chemical Management 
Division (7404), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, 
Telephone: 202-260-3992, Fax: 202-260-1724, e-mail: 
[email protected].
    For ICR No. 1603 contact Benjamin Lim, Chemical Management Division 
(7404), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 
202-260-1509, Fax: 202-260-3453, 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. Background

    Entities potentially affected by this action are: with respect to 
ICR No. 0857, those persons who petition EPA for exemptions from the 
prohibition on the manufacture, processing and distribution in commerce 
of polychlorinated biphenyls, and with respect to ICR No. 1603, those 
private households in Baltimore, Maryland, that are participating in an 
ongoing EPA-sponsored survey to investigate abatement practices and 
low-cost, practical repair and maintenance approaches with respect to 
lead-based paint and lead-contaminated dust in residential housing. 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 Collections

    EPA is seeking comments on two ICRs, which are identified and 
discussed separately below.
    Title: Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): Manufacturing, Processing 
and Distribution in Commerce Exemptions, EPA ICR No. 0857, OMB No. 
2070-0021, expires May 31, 1997.
    Abstract: Section 6(e)(3)(A) of the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA) prohibits the manufacture, processing and distribution in 
commerce of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). TSCA section 6(e)(3)(B) 
provides that any person may petition EPA for an exemption from these 
prohibitions and that EPA may grant such an exemption for a 1-year 
period if (1) An unreasonable risk of injury to health or environment 
would not result, and (2) good-faith efforts have been made to develop 
a substitute chemical substance for PCBs that does not present an 
unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment.
    Interim Procedural Rules at 40 CFR part 750, subparts B and C 
outline the procedures for filing exemption petitions, the procedures 
that EPA will follow when a petition is submitted and the procedures 
for filing a request to renew an exemption previously granted. Under 
these rules, EPA may request information from each petitioner to 
determine whether the petitioner meets the statutory requirements to 
qualify for an exemption.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 750). Respondents may claim all or part of a notice 
confidential. However, if a petition is claimed confidential, a 
sanitized version must also be provided

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for inclusion in the public docket. 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 15 hours per year, with an annual cost of 
$746. These totals are based on an average burden ranging from 2 to 8 
hours per response for an estimated three respondents making one 
response 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.
    Title: Lead-Based Paint Abatement and Repair and Maintenance Study 
in Baltimore, EPA ICR No. 1603, OMB No. 2070-0123, expires January 31, 
1997.
    Abstract: Prevention of childhood lead poisoning is a high priority 
for EPA. EPA's lead abatement program is predicated on the need for a 
comprehensive national approach to reducing exposure to and hazards 
from lead, particularly among children. Children are uniquely 
susceptible to permanent and irreversible neurological damage from 
exposure to lead. Although lead poisoning is one of the most serious 
environmental threats to children in this country, it is also one of 
the most preventable.
    The EPA is sponsoring a study of private households in Baltimore, 
Maryland, to investigate lead-based paint abatement practices. Low-cost 
practical repair and maintenance approaches to the problem of lead-
based paint and lead-contaminated dust in U.S. housing will also be 
examined. Repair and maintenance practices may provide a means of 
reducing lead exposure for future generations of children who occupy 
older housing that cannot be fully abated or rehabilitated.
    From each study household EPA is periodically collecting both 
environmental and biological samples as well as questionnaire data over 
a 3-year period. EPA is collecting samples of interior surface dust, 
exterior soil, and drinking water from study dwellings for lead 
analysis, as well as collecting blood for lead analysis from children 
living in study dwellings. A structured questionnaire is being used to 
collect relevant data on occupational, behavioral, and housing 
characteristics that can influence lead exposure.
    EPA will use this study to evaluate low-cost lead abatement 
strategies. The study findings will also be used by the Department of 
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in preparing a report to Congress. 
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) will use the study findings to 
help provide guidance to state and local childhood lead poisoning 
prevention programs. The final report may also be used directly by 
state and local agencies, private property owners, and managers of 
public and Indian housing to decide on cost-effective methods of 
addressing lead poisoning and lead abatement concerns.
    Responses to the collection of information are voluntary. The 
information collected under this ICR is not considered to be 
confidential.
    Burden Statement: The burden to respondents for complying with this 
ICR is estimated to total 683 hours per year, with an annual cost of 
$6,825. These totals are based on an average burden of approximately 
6.5 total hours for 105 respondents responding to approximately four 
requests for 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-00195'' (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.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection and Information collection requests.
    Dated: August 28, 1996.
Susan H. Wayland,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 96-23398 Filed 9-11-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F