[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 29 (Friday, February 12, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7188-7189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3530]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6233-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; EPA Indoor Environmental Quality Questionnaire

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 document announces that EPA is planning to submit the 
following continuing Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office 
of Management and Budget (OMB): EPA Indoor Environmental Quality 
Occupant Questionnaire; EPA No. 1619.02; OMB No. 2060-0244; with 
current expiration date of 1/31/99. Before submitting the ICR to OMB 
for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects 
of the proposed information collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before April 13, 1999.

ADDRESSES: USEPA, Indoor Environments Division (6604J), 401 M St., SW, 
Washington, DC 20460.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Garvin Heath, Indoor Environments 
Division (6607J), 401 M St, SW, Washington, DC 20460; FAX 202-565-2071; 
email: [email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Affected entities: Entities potentially 
affected by this action are not limited to particular categories of 
respondents. However, volunteer respondents will be workers in 
buildings that could include a wide variety of fields and SIC codes.
    Title: EPA Indoor Environmental Quality Occupant Questionnaire (OMB 
Control No. 2060-0244; EPA ICR No. 1619.02), expiring: 1/31/99.
    Abstract: The Indoor Environmental Quality Questionnaire is a 
component of the EPA indoor air quality (IAQ) research program, used in 
the Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation (BASE) and related 
intervention studies. In this program, EPA is studying up to 200 large 
commercial and public buildings. The purpose of this program is to 
develop a national baseline assessment of the indoor air in such 
buildings and to test the effectiveness of current EPA guidance for 
improving IAQ. The activities EPA will conduct under this program 
include an Indoor Environmental Quality Questionnaire, building 
inspections, interviews with building maintenance workers, 
environmental measurements (e.g., ventilation rates, concentrations of 
indoor air pollutants), and other quantitative and qualitative 
assessments. By conducting this research, EPA will begin to be able to 
assess the key building parameters that affect IAQ, the incidence of 
certain IAQ-related health and comfort problems and effectiveness of 
strategies to improve IAQ and avoid IAQ problems. The Indoor 
Environmental Quality Questionnaire is a voluntary questionnaire asking 
for information pertaining to work station characteristics, working 
conditions, exposure to pollutants, health and well-being, and stress. 
Data from the Indoor Environmental Quality Questionnaire will be used 
to compare the measured building parameters and health effects.
    Under the existing ICR authority, EPA has used this Questionnaire 
in 113 buildings to date.
    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 and 48 CFR Chapter 15.
    The EPA would like to solicit comments to:
    (i) 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;
    (ii) 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;
    (iii) enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (iv) 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.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 14 
minutes per response, at a cost of $4.61 per response.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Occupants of commercial and public 
facilities in a wide variety of fields and SIC codes.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 2520.
    Frequency of Response: one-time response for 60% of respondents; 
40% of respondents will complete questionnaire twice with a one-year 
interval between responses.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 208 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Cost Burden: $4,104.
    There are no capital or start-up costs associated with respondent 
burden , no operation and maintenance costs, and no purchase of 
services cost. Burden means the total time, effort, or financial 
resources expended by persons to generate, maintain, retain, or 
disclose or provide information to or for a Federal agency. This 
includes 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

[[Page 7189]]

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.

    Dated: December 17, 1998.
Mary T. Smith,
Director, Indoor Environments Division, OAR.
[FR Doc. 99-3530 Filed 2-11-99; 8:45 am]
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