[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 149 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41568-41569]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-20775]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6135-3]


Toxic Chemicals; Asbestos Abatement Worker Protection; Submission 
of ICR No. 1246.06 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: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for Asbestos 
Abatement Worker Protection [EPA ICR No. 1246.06; OMB Control No. 2070-
0072] 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 21, 1998 (63 FR 27952). 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. 1246.06.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1246.06 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0072, 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. 1246.06; OMB Control No. 2070-0072.
    Current Expiration Date: Current OMB approval expires on August 31, 
1998.
    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping Requirements for Asbestos 
Abatement Worker Protection.
    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 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 annual public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average approximately 22.7 
hour per response for an estimated 2,080 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

[[Page 41569]]

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 state and local governments without OSHA-approved state 
plans that have employees engaged in asbestos abatement activities.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 2,080.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 47,133 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. 98-20775 Filed 8-3-98; 8:45 am]
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