[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 149 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41566-41567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20773]


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

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6135-1]


Toxic Chemicals; Collection of Economic and Regulatory Support 
Data; Submission of ICR No. 1170.06 to OMB; Agency Information 
Collection Activities

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

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: Collection of Emergency Economic and Regulatory Support 
Data: Request for Generic Clearance [EPA ICR No. 1170.06; OMB Control 
No. 2070-0034] 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 August 31, 1998. 
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 May 14, 1998 (63 FR 26794). EPA did not receive any comments 
on this ICR during the comment period.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before September 3, 
1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR A COPY 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. 1170.06.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1170.06 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0034, to the following addresses:

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regulatory 
Information Division (Mailcode: 2137), 401 M Street, SW, 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, NW, 
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. 1170.06; OMB Control No. 2070-0034.
    Current Expiration Date: Current OMB approval expires on August 31, 
1998.
    Title: Collection of Emergency Economic and Regulatory Support 
Data: Request for Generic Clearance.
    Abstract: Staff of EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics 
(OPPT) are obliged to provide a wide array of analyses in support of 
Agency activities. These analyses allow OPPT staff to provide 
statistically valid information to assist in the development of 
regulations and voluntary activities that minimize costs and maximize 
net societal benefits. While some questions can be answered 
satisfactorily through information that EPA has in its possession or 
through existing secondary sources of data, there are others for which 
no relevant sources exist. Moreover, much of the work OPPT does 
requires information in a timely manner. Because of various pressures, 
the Agency often has to make decisions quickly. The ability for OPPT to 
collect information in relatively short periods to support such 
decisions is

[[Page 41567]]

essential in ensuring that EPA makes sound decisions.
    OPPT is required, through statute, to consider the economic impacts 
of actions taken to control the manufacture, distribution, processing, 
use, or disposal of chemical substances or mixtures that present 
unreasonable risks of injury to human health or the environment. OPPT 
uses cost-benefit analyses to determine that a proposed regulatory 
action maximizes the net benefits to society when compared to the 
alternatives. Given the record regarding the lack of publicly available 
information on many chemicals, and other situations that arise during 
the course of determining regulatory options, an information collection 
activity often is required to collect the needed data. OPPT and other 
EPA staff then use these data to evaluate the regulatory options 
available, to determine the impact of a specific program, or to develop 
non-regulatory, voluntary options.
    Responses to this collection of information are voluntary.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average 1.5 hours per 
response for an estimated 4,000 respondents making one or more 
submissions of information. 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 persons in the United States who manufacture, 
distribute, process, import, use or dispose of chemical substances or 
mixtures.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 4,000.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 6,000 hours.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Changes in Burden Estimates

    There is no change in the total estimated respondent burden as 
compared with that identified in the information collection request 
most recently approved by OMB.
    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: July 29, 1998.
Richard T. Westlund,
Acting Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 98-20773 Filed 8-3-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P