[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 27952-27953]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-13629]



[[Page 27952]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPTS-00237; FRL-5781-4]


Toxic Chemicals; Asbestos and PCBs; 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) a 
continuing ICR entitled ``Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for 
Asbestos Abatement Worker Protection,'' EPA ICR No. 1246.06, OMB No. 
2070-0072, which relates to reporting requirements found at 40 CFR part 
763, subpart G, and (2) a continuing ICR entitled ``PCB Notification 
and Manifesting of PCB Waste Activities, and Records of PCB Storage and 
Disposal,'' EPA ICR No. 1446.06, OMB No. 2070-0112, which relates to 
reporting requirements found at 40 CFR part 761. 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 July 20, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Each comment must bear the respective docket control number 
and administrative record numbers, as follows: comments on ICR No. 
1246.06 should reference docket control number ``OPPTS-00237'' and 
administrative record number 192; comments on ICR No. 1446.06 should 
reference docket control number ``OPPTS-00237'' and administrative 
record number 193. All comments should be sent in triplicate to: OPPT 
Document Control Officer (7407), Office of Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Rm. G099, 
Washington, DC 20460. Comments and data may also be submitted 
electronically to: [email protected]. Follow the instructions 
under Unit III. of this document. No TSCA Confidential Business 
Information (CBI) should be submitted through e-mail.
    All comments that contain information claimed as CBI must be 
clearly marked as such. Three sanitized copies of any comments 
containing information claimed as CBI must also be submitted and will 
be placed in the public record for this document. Persons submitting 
information any portion of which they believe is entitled to treatment 
as CBI by EPA must assert a business confidentiality claim in 
accordance with 40 CFR 2.203(b) for each such portion. This claim must 
be made at the time that the information is submitted to EPA. If a 
submitter does not assert a confidentiality claim at the time of 
submission, EPA will consider this as a waiver of any confidentiality 
claim and the information may be made available to the public by EPA 
without further notice to the submitter.

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: Tony Baney, National Program Chemicals Division (7404), Office 
of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 
401 M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460, Telephone: 202-260-3933; Fax: 
202-260-1724; e-mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Electronic Availability:
Internet
    Electronic copies of the ICRs are available from the EPA Home Page 
at the Federal Register - Environmental Documents entry for this 
document under ``Laws and Regulations'' (http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/).
Fax-on-Demand
    Use a faxphone to call 202-401-0527 and select item 4059 for a copy 
of ICR No. 1246.06, or select item 4060 for a copy of ICR No. 1446.06.

I. Background

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action 
are: with respect to ICR No. 1246.06, state and local governments 
without OSHA-approved state plans that have employees engaged in 
asbestos abatement; and, with respect to ICR No. 1446.06, persons who 
own or operate equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or 
who own or operate PCB storage and disposal facilities. For each 
collection of information addressed in this notice, EPA would like to 
solicit comments to:
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected.
    4. 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 two ICRs, as well as the 
Agency's intention to renew the corresponding OMB approvals.
    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for Asbestos 
Abatement Worker Protection.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1246.06, OMB No. 2070-0072.
    Approval expiration date: August 31, 1998.
    Abstract: EPA's asbestos worker protection rule (40 CFR 763, 
subpart G) is designed to provide occupational exposure protection to 
state and local government employees who are engaged in asbestos 
abatement activities in states that do not have state plans approved by 
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The rule 
provides protection for public employees not covered by the OSHA 
standard from the adverse health effects associated with occupational 
exposure to asbestos.
    This rule requires state and local governments to monitor employee 
exposure to asbestos, take action to reduce exposure, to monitor 
employee health, train employees about asbestos hazards, and provide 
employees with information about exposures to asbestos and the 
associated health effects. The rule also requires state and local 
governments to notify EPA before commencing any asbestos abatement 
project. State and local governments must maintain medical surveillance 
and monitoring records and training records on their employees, must 
establish a set of written procedures for respirator programs, and must 
maintain procedures and records of respirator fit tests. EPA will use 
the information to

[[Page 27953]]

monitor compliance with the asbestos worker protection rule.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 763, subpart G). 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 47,133 hours at a cost of $2,394,000. These 
totals are based on an average burden of approximately 22.7 hours per 
response for an estimated 2,080 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.
    Title: PCB Notification and Manifesting of PCB Waste Activities, 
and Records of PCB Storage and Disposal.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1446.06, OMB No. 2070-0112.
    Approval expiration date: September 30, 1998.
    Abstract: Section 6(e) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
directs EPA to regulate the marking, disposal, manufacturing, 
processing, distribution in commerce, and use of PCBs. EPA has 
promulgated rules prescribing methods for disposal of PCBs and criteria 
for the storage and handling of PCBs prior to disposal. These 
regulations require persons who own or operate equipment containing 
PCBs, or persons who own and operate facilities that store or dispose 
of PCB waste, to maintain records and submit certain reports, including 
third-party notifications, on the handling and disposition of such PCBs 
and PCB Items. This ICR addresses the burden associated with such 
recordkeeping and reporting requirements.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 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 burden to respondents for complying with this 
ICR is estimated to total 175,453 hours per year with an annual cost of 
$7,337,200. These totals are based on an average burden ranging between 
approximately 1 hour and 428 hours per response, depending upon the 
category of respondent, for an estimated 50,955 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 and Electronic Submissions

    The official record for this document, as well as the public 
version, has been established for this document under docket number 
``OPPTS-00237'' (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 12 
noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
official 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. Comments and data 
will also be accepted on disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file 
format. All comments and data in electronic form addressing ICR No. 
1246.06 must be identified by docket control number ``OPPTS-00237'' and 
administrative record number 192. All comments and data in electronic 
form addressing ICR No. 1446.06 must be identified by docket control 
number ``OPPTS-00237'' and administrative record number 193. Electronic 
comments on this document may be filed online at many Federal 
Depository Libraries.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Information collection requests, 
Reporting and recordkeeping.

    Dated: May 13, 1998.
Lynn R. Goldman,
Assistant Administrator for Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic 
Substances.

[FR Doc. 98-13629 Filed 5-20-98; 8:45 am]
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