[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 3035-3036]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-1368]
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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Toxic Chemicals; PCBs; Submission of ICR No. 1000 to OMB;
Information Collection Activities
AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
ACTION: Notice of submission to OMB.
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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: Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): Use in Electrical
Equipment and
[[Page 3036]]
Transformers [EPA ICR # 1000.06; OMB Control # 2070-0003] 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 and its estimated cost and burden. The Agency is requesting
that OMB renew for 3 years the existing approval for this ICR, which is
scheduled to expire on April 30, 1997. 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 August 8, 1996 (61 FR
41404). EPA received two comments in response to that notice and has
considered the comments in developing the final ICR. A copy of the
comments received, along with a summary response, are appended to the
ICR submitted to OMB and available in the docket.
DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before February 20,
1997.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA, (202)
260-2740, and refer to EPA ICR No. 1000.06 and OMB Control No. 2070-
0003.
ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1000.06 and OMB
Control No. 2070-0003, to the following addresses:
Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Information
Management Division (Mailcode: 2136), 401 M Street, SW., 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, NW.,
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. 1000.06; OMB Control No. 2070-0003.
Current Expiration Date: Current OMB approval expires on April 30,
1997.
Title: Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs): Use in Electrical
Equipment and Transformers
Abstract: Section 6(e) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA)
generally prohibits the manufacture, processing, distribution in
commerce and use of PCBs. EPA has authority, however, to allow a use of
PCBs to continue if it determines that the use will not present
unreasonable risks to public health and the environment. In the case of
regulating PCB electrical equipment, EPA has promulgated a series of
rules since the 1978 prohibition on the use of PCBs (see 40 CFR part
761).
EPA imposed the reporting requirements contained in these rules to
ensure that the National Response Center is informed immediately of
fires involving PCB transformers. PCB transformer fires generate
hazardous dioxins and furans, substances many times more toxic than
PCBs. The recordkeeping requirements are used to document the use,
location and condition of PCB equipment. The reporting and
recordkeeping requirements are essential to prevent adverse effects to
human health and the environment from leaks or spills of PCB fluids or
from potential exposures to dioxins and furans during transformer
fires. Without such recordkeeping and reporting safeguards, EPA would
not be able to fulfill its responsibility under TSCA of preventing
unreasonable risk to human health and the environment from exposure to
PCBs. Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40
CFR parts 761). 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 annual public reporting burden for this
collection of information is estimated to average approximately 1.0
hours per response for six respondents. The annual recordkeeping burden
is estimated to average approximately 0.166 hours per respondent for
150,000 respondents. 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. 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 owners of PCB-containing transformers used in industry,
utilities, government and private buildings or elsewhere.
Estimated No. of Respondents: 150,000.
Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 24,906 hours.
Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
Changes in Burden Estimates: There is a decrease of 8,300 hours in
the total estimated respondent burden as compared with that identified
in the information collection request most recently approved by OMB,
from 33,206 hours currently to an estimated 24,906 hours. This reflects
the fact that EPA estimates that there are fewer transformers to be
inspected than was the case at the time this collection was last
approved by OMB, and therefore a smaller total respondent burden.
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: January 13, 1997.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 97-1368 Filed 1-17-97; 8:45 am]
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