[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 38 (Wednesday, February 26, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8725-8726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-4777]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
[OPPTS-00207; FRL-5587-5]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Request for Comment

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 Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB). Before submitting the ICR to OMB for 
review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of 
the information collection described below. The ICR is a continuing ICR 
entitled ``Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) Chemical-
Specific Rules,'' EPA ICR No. 1198.05, OMB No. 2070-0067, which relates 
to reporting requirements found at 40 CFR part 704, subpart B. 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 April 28, 1997.

ADDRESSES: Submit three copies of all written comments to: TSCA 
Document Receipts (7407), Room E-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 administrative record number AR-171 and ICR number 
1198.05. This ICR is available for public review at, and copies may be 
requested from, the docket address and phone 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 must be identified by the 
administrative record number AR-171 and ICR number 1198.05. 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. 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 Keith Cronin, Chemical Control Division (7405), Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M 
St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-260-8157, Fax: 202-260-
1096, e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability: Electronic copies of this document and the ICR 
are available from the EPA home page at the Environmental Sub-Set entry 
for this document under ``Regulations''(http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/).

I. Background

    Entities potentially affected by this action are persons who 
manufacture, process or import, or who propose to manufacture, process 
or import, chemical substances and mixtures. 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 the following Information Collection 
Request.
    Title: Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Section 8(a) Chemical-
Specific Rules, EPA ICR No. 1198.05, OMB No. 2070-0067. Expires August 
31, 1997.
    Abstract: TSCA section 8(a) authorizes the Administrator of EPA to 
promulgate rules that require persons who manufacture, import or 
process chemical substances and mixtures, or who propose to 
manufacture, import or process chemical substances and mixtures, to 
maintain such records and submit such reports to EPA as may be 
reasonably required. Any chemical covered by TSCA for which EPA or 
another Federal agency has a reasonable need for information and which 
cannot be satisfied via other sources is a proper potential subject for 
a chemical-specific TSCA section 8(a) rulemaking. Information that may 
be collected under TSCA section 8(a) includes, but is not limited to, 
chemical names, categories of use, production volume, byproducts of 
chemical production, existing data on deaths and environmental effects, 
exposure data, and disposal information. Generally, EPA uses chemical-
specific information under TSCA section 8(a) to evaluate the potential 
for adverse human health and environmental effects caused by the 
manufacture, importation, processing, use or disposal of identified 
chemical substances and mixtures. Additionally, EPA may use TSCA 
section 8(a) information to assess the need or set priorities for 
testing and/or further regulatory action. To the extent that reported 
information is not considered confidential, environmental groups, 
environmental justice advocates, state and local government entities 
and other members of the public will also have access to this 
information for their own use.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 704, subpart B). 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 burden to respondents for complying with this 
ICR is estimated to total 275 hours per year with an annual cost of 
$15,745. These totals are based on an average burden of approximately 
69 hours per response for an estimated four 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

[[Page 8726]]

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 control 
number ``OPPTS-00207'' (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: February 11, 1997.
Susan H. Wayland,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 97-4777 Filed 2-25-97; 8:45 am]
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