[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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