[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 146 (Friday, July 30, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41415-41416]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-19589]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6410-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Design for the 
Environment Reporting; Submission of ICR No. 1768.02 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 document announces that the Information Collection 
Request (ICR) entitled: ``DfE Collection of Impact Data on Technical 
Information,'' [EPA ICR No. 1768.02; OMB Control No. 2070-0152] 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 October 31, 
1999. 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 March 12, 1999 (64 FR 12314). EPA did not receive any 
comments on this ICR during the comment period.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before August 30, 
1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone on (202) 
260-2740, by e-mail: ``[email protected],'' or download a 
copy of the ICR off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr/icr.htm and 
refer to EPA ICR No. 1768.02.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1768.02 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0152, to the following addresses:

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Regulatory 
Information Division (Mail Code: 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. 1768.02; OMB Control No. 2070-0152.
    Current Expiration Date: Current OMB approval expires on October 
31, 1999.
    Title: DfE Collection of Impact Data on Technical Information.
    Abstract: EPA's Design for the Environment (DfE) program is a 
voluntary, non-regulatory approach to encourage industry to adopt 
technologies and use materials that result in lower levels of 
pollution, lessened reliance on toxic materials, higher energy 
efficiency and lower environmental health risks. Through DfE, EPA 
creates partnerships with industry, professional organizations, state 
and local governments, other federal agencies and the public to develop 
and disseminate technical information.
    This information collection is a generic ICR for a series of 
surveys, referred to as DfE Technical Information Impact Studies, to 
undertake data collection in support of EPA's DfE program. The studies 
will focus on various industrial sectors such as printing, printed 
wiring board circuitry and dry cleaning. The purpose of all DfE 
Technical Information Impact Studies is to evaluate the impact of DfE 
technical information on industry practices, use of materials and waste 
generation. In each case, EPA, often in collaboration with industry 
associations and universities, will have developed technical 
information for industry on the use of product reclamation processes 
and other workplace practices that may lower health risks to workers 
and prevent pollution. The proposed studies will each involve two 
separate surveys of owners or operators of target industry 
establishments. The initial survey will establish a baseline 
representing pre-technical information receipt. A follow-up survey will 
be administered approximately two years later to establish longer-term 
impacts of the technical materials. The overall goal of this before-
and-after design is to understand the impacts of DfE technical 
information on workplace practices and

[[Page 41416]]

technologies that generate or prevent pollution. This generic ICR will 
allow EPA to conduct a series of small, conceptually interrelated 
surveys. It will permit the DfE program the ability to collect 
information in a timely manner and to evaluate the effectiveness of the 
technical materials EPA provides to industry. EPA will be the principal 
user of information developed from the survey findings, but EPA expects 
that tens of thousands of small businesses in a variety of industry 
sectors will benefit from the results of the studies.
    Responses to the collection of information are voluntary. 
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 be 2 hours per response for 
an estimated 7,500 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 companies or industries that are part of industry 
sectors that may interact with EPA in the Agency's DfE program.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 7,500.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 15,000 hours.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.

Changes in Burden Estimates

    There is an increase (from 1,000 hours to 15,000 hours) in the 
total estimated respondent burden as compared with that identified in 
the information collection request most recently approved by OMB. This 
increase reflects the expectation that greater numbers of respondents 
in more industry sectors will participate in surveys, as EPA's DfE 
program becomes better known and more popular and increases its scope. 
The earlier ICR anticipated 800 annual respondents to surveys, whereas 
the current request projects 7,500 respondents annually.
    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 26, 1999.
Stephen T. Vineski,
Acting Director, Regulatory Information Division.
[FR Doc. 99-19589 Filed 7-29-99; 8:45 am]
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