[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 199 (Wednesday, October 15, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 53625]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-27269]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5909-1]


Toxic Chemicals; Preliminary Assessment Information Rule (PAIR); 
Submission of ICR No. 586 to OMB; Agency 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: TSCA Section 8(a) Preliminary Assessment Information 
Rule (PAIR) [EPA ICR No. 0586.08; OMB Control No. 2070-0054] 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 November 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 June 23, 1997 (62 FR 33860). EPA did not receive any comments 
on this ICR during the comment period.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before November 14, 
1997.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 0586.08 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0054, to the following addresses: Ms. Sandy Farmer, 
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regulatory Information Division 
(Mailcode: 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone 
on (202) 260-2740 or by e-mail: ``[email protected],'' and 
refer to EPA ICR No. 0586.08 and OMB Control No. 2070-0054.

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. 0586.08; OMB Control No. 2070-0054.
    Current Expiration Date: Current OMB approval expires on November 
30, 1997.
    Title: TSCA Section 8(a) Preliminary Assessment Information Rule 
(PAIR).
    Abstract: Section 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
authorizes EPA to promulgate rules under which manufacturers, importers 
and processors of chemical substances and mixtures must maintain 
records and submit reports to EPA. One of the rules EPA has promulgated 
under TSCA section 8(a) is the Preliminary Assessment Information Rule 
(PAIR). EPA uses PAIR to collect information to identify, assess and 
manage human health and environmental risks from chemical substances, 
mixtures and categories. PAIR requires chemical manufacturers and 
importers to complete a standardized reporting form to help evaluate 
the potential for adverse human health and environmental effects caused 
by the manufacture or importation of identified chemical substances, 
mixtures or categories. Chemicals identified by EPA or any other 
federal agency, for which a justifiable information need for 
production, use or exposure-related data can be satisfied by the use of 
the PAIR are proper subjects for TSCA section 8(a) PAIR rulemaking. In 
most instances the information that EPA receives from a PAIR report is 
sufficient to satisfy the information need in question.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 712). 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 be approximately 30 hours per 
response for an estimated 48 respondents making one or more submissions 
of information 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. 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 these regulations are 
displayed in 40 CFR part 9.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are those persons who manufacture or import chemical 
substances, mixtures or categories.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 48.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 3,489 hours.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Changes in Burden Estimates: There is an increase of 1,543 hours in 
the total estimated respondent burden as compared with that identified 
in the information collection request most recently approved by OMB, 
from 1,946 hours currently to an estimated 3,489 hours. This increase 
is due to both an increase in the number of respondents and an increase 
in the number of forms submitted to EPA in recent years.
    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 within 30 days of this 
notice, as described above.

    Dated: October 8, 1997.
Joseph Retzer,
Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 97-27269 Filed 10-14-97; 8:45 am]
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