[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 160 (Tuesday, August 19, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44125-44126]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-21923]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-00217; FRL-5736-8]


Toxic Chemicals; 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 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) An 
expired ICR for which EPA is seeking reinstatement entitled ``Partial 
Updating of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Inventory Data Base, 
Production and Site Reports,'' EPA ICR No. 1011.04, OMB No. 2070-0070, 
which relates to reporting requirements found at 40 CFR part 710, and 
(2) a continuing ICR entitled ``Request for Contractor Access to TSCA 
CBI,'' EPA ICR No. 1250.05, OMB No. 2070-0075, which relates to 
reporting requirements authorized by section 14 of the Toxic Substances 
Control Act (TSCA). 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 October 20, 
1997.
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. 1011.04 should reference administrative record number 183 and 
comments on ICR No. 1250.05 should reference administrative record 
number 184. 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 following 
instructions under Unit III. of this document. No TSCA confidential 
business information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail.

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. 1011.04, contact Scott Sherlock, Information Management 
Division (7407), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, 
Telephone: 202-260-1536; Fax: 202-260-1657; e-mail: 
[email protected]. For ICR No. 1250.05, contact Deborah 
Williams, Information Management Division (7407), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-260-1734; Fax: 202-260-1657; e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability:
Internet
    Electronic copies of the ICRs are available from the EPA home page 
at the Environmental Sub-Set entry for this document under 
``Regulations'' (http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/).
Fax on Demand
    Using a faxphone call 202-401-0527 and select item 4053 for a copy 
of ICR No. 1011.04, or select item 4054 for a copy of ICR No. 1250.05.

I. Background

    Entities potentially affected by this action are: with respect to 
ICR No. 1011.04, persons who manufacture, process, or import chemical 
substances in the United States; and, with respect to ICR No. 1250.05, 
companies working under contract for EPA whose employees need access to 
TSCA CBI to carry out their duties. For each 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 Information Collection Requests, 
which are identified and discussed separately below.
    Title: Partial Updating of Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
Inventory Data Base, Production and Site Reports, EPA ICR No. 1011.04, 
OMB No. 2070-0070.
    Abstract: TSCA requires EPA to compile and keep current a complete 
list of chemical substances manufactured or processed in the United 
States. EPA updates this inventory of chemicals every 4 years by 
requiring manufacturers, processors, and importers to provide 
production volume, plant site information, and site-limited status 
information. This information allows EPA to identify what chemicals are 
or are not currently in commerce and to take appropriate regulatory 
action as necessary. EPA also uses the information for screening 
chemicals for risks to human health or the environment, for priority-
setting efforts, and for exposure estimates. Note that since this 
information collection takes place once every 4 years, EPA typically 
allows it to expire between collection periods.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 710). 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 34,500 hours at a cost of $2,163,780. These 
totals are based on an average burden of approximately 11.5 hours per 
response for an estimated 3,000 respondents making one response. 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

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information; search data sources; complete and review the collection of 
information; and transmit or otherwise disclose the information.
    Title: Request for Contractor Access to TSCA CBI, EPA ICR No. 
1250.05, OMB No. 2070-0075. Expires November 30, 1997.
    Abstract: Certain employees of companies working under contract to 
EPA require access to CBI collected under TSCA authority in order to 
perform their official duties. The Office of Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics (OPPT), which is responsible for maintaining the security of 
TSCA confidential business information, requires that all individuals 
desiring access to TSCA CBI obtain and annually renew official 
clearance to TSCA CBI. As part of the process for obtaining TSCA CBI 
clearance, OPPT requires certain information about the contracting 
company and about each contractor employee requesting TSCA CBI 
clearance, primarily the name, Social Security Number and EPA 
identification badge number of the employee, the type of TSCA CBI 
clearance requested and the justification for such clearance, and the 
signature of the employee to an agreement with respect to access to and 
use of TSCA CBI.
    Responses to the collection of information are voluntary, but 
failure to provide the requested information will prevent a contractor 
employee from obtaining clearance to TSCA CBI. EPA will observe strict 
confidentiality precautions with respect to the information collected 
on individual employees, based on the Privacy Act of 1974, as outlined 
in the ICR and in the collection instrument.
    Burden Statement: The burden to respondents for complying with this 
ICR is estimated to total 814 hours per year with an annual cost of 
$27,423. These totals are based on an average burden of approximately 
31 hours per response for an estimated 26 respondents making one or 
more responses 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-00217'' (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 12, 1997.
Susan H. Wayland,
Acting Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 97-21923 Filed 8-18-97; 8:45 am]
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