[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 214 (Wednesday, November 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59862-59863]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-29289]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-5916-9]


Toxic Chemicals; Request for Contractor Access to TSCA CBI; 
Submission of ICR No. 1250.05 to OMB; Agency Information Collection 
Activities

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).


[[Page 59863]]


ACTION: Notice of submission to OMB.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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: Request for Contractor Access to TSCA Confidential 
Business Information (CBI) (EPA ICR No. 1250.05; OMB Control No. 2070-
0075) 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 August 19, 1997 (62 FR 44125). EPA did not receive any 
comments on this ICR during the comment period.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before December 5, 
1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone on (202) 
260-2740, by e-mail: ``[email protected],'' or download off 
the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr/icr.htm and refer to EPA ICR No. 
1250.05.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1250.05 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0075, 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.

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. 1250.05; OMB Control No. 2070-0075.
    Current Expiration Date: Current OMB approval expires on November 
30, 1997.
    Title: Request for Contractor Access to TSCA CBI.
    Abstract: Certain employees of companies working under contract to 
EPA require access to confidential business information collected under 
TSCA authority (``TSCA CBI'') 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 their 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 annual public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to be approximately 31 hours per 
response for an estimated 26 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 companies working under contract for EPA whose 
employees need access to TSCA confidential business information to 
carry out their duties.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 26.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 814 hours.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Changes in Burden Estimates: There is an increase of 234 hours in 
the total estimated respondent burden as compared with that identified 
in the information collection request most recently approved by OMB, 
from 580 hours currently to an estimated 814 hours. This increase 
accounts for time that is required to view the TSCA CBI security 
videotape that was not included in the previous ICR.
    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 
document, as described above.

    Dated: October 30, 1997.
Richard T. Westlund,
Acting Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 97-29289 Filed 11-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P