[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 190 (Monday, September 30, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Page 51110]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-24999]



[[Page 51110]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[FRL-5618-4]


Toxic Chemicals; PMNs; Submission of EPA ICR No. 574 to OMB; 
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 the Information Collection Request 
(ICR) entitled: Pre-Manufacture Review Reporting and Exemption 
Requirements for New Chemical Substances and Significant New Use 
Reporting Requirements for Chemical Substances [EPA ICR #574.09; OMB 
Control #2070-0012] has been forwarded to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval pursuant to the OMB procedures in 
5 CFR 1320.12. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature 
of the information collection, its estimated cost and burden, and 
includes a copy of the actual data collection instrument.
    The Agency is requesting that OMB renew for 3 more years the 
existing approval for this ICR, which is scheduled to expire on October 
31, 1996. A Federal Register notice announcing the Agency's intent to 
seek the renewal of this ICR and the 60 day public comment opportunity, 
requesting comments on the request and the contents of the ICR, was 
issued on June 28, 1996 (61 FR 33732). EPA did not receive any comments 
on this ICR during the comment period. Additional comments may be 
submitted on or before October 30, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202) 
260-2740, and refer to EPA ICR No. 574.09 or OMB Control No. 2070-0012.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 574.09 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0012, to the following addresses:
Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regulatory 
Information Division (2137), 401 M Street, S.W., Washington, DC 20460
      And to:

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, N.W., 
Washington, DC 20503.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Review Requested: This is a request to renew a currently approved 
information collection pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12.
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 574.09; OMB Control No. 2070-0012.
    Current Expiration Date: Current OMB approval expires on October 
31, 1996.
    Title: Pre-Manufacture Review Reporting and Exemption Requirements 
for New Chemical Substances and Significant New Use Reporting 
Requirements for Chemical Substances.
    Abstract: Section 5 of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
requires manufacturers and importers of new chemical substances to 
submit to EPA notice of intent to manufacture or import a new chemical 
substance 90 days before manufacture or import begins. EPA reviews the 
information contained in the notice to evaluate the health and 
environmental effects of the new chemical substance. On the basis of 
the review, EPA may take further regulatory action under TSCA, if 
warranted. If EPA takes no action within 90 days, the submitter is free 
to manufacture or import the new chemical substance without 
restriction.
    TSCA section 5 also authorizes EPA to issue Significant New Use 
Rules (SNURs). EPA uses this authority to take follow-up action on new 
or existing chemicals that may present an unreasonable risk to human 
health or the environment if used in a manner that may result in 
different and/or higher exposures of a chemical to humans or the 
environment. Once a use is determined to be a significant new use, 
persons must submit a notice to EPA 90 days before beginning 
manufacture, processing or importation of a chemical substance for that 
use. Such a notice allows EPA to receive and review information on such 
a use and, if necessary, regulate the use before it occurs.
    Finally, TSCA Sec. 5 also permits applications for exemption from 
section 5 review under certain circumstances. An applicant must provide 
information sufficient for EPA to make a determination that the 
circumstances in question qualify for an exemption. In granting an 
exemption, EPA may impose appropriate restrictions.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR parts 720, 721 and 723). 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 Sec. 14 and 40 CFR part 2.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average approximately 101.5 
hours per response, and to require 8,100 hours of recordkeeping. 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 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. No person is 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 displayed in 40 CFR 
Part 9.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are manufacturers or importers of new chemical substances, 
as defined by TSCA, or manufacturers, processors or importers of a 
chemical substance for a use that has been determined a significant new 
use, as defined by TSCA.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 432.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 241,611 hours.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    According to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 1320.12, EPA has 
submitted this ICR to OMB for review and approval. Any comments related 
to the renewal of this ICR should be submitted as described above.

    Dated: September 24, 1996.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 96-24999 Filed 9-27-96; 8:45 am]
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