[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 18 (Thursday, January 27, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4423-4424]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-1964]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6530-4]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; National Volatile Organic Compound Emission 
Standards for Consumer Products

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 the following Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: ``Reporting and Recordkeeping 
Requirements for National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards 
for Consumer Products,'' EPA No. 1764.02, OMB No. 2060-0348, expires 
March 31, 2000. The ICR describes the nature of the information 
collection and its expected burden and cost; where appropriate, it 
includes the actual data collection instrument.

DATES:  Comments must be submitted on or before February 28, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Sandy Farmer at EPA by phone at (202) 
260-2740, by email at [email protected], or download a copy 
of the ICR off the Internet at http://www.epa.gov/icr and refer to EPA 
ICR No. 1764.02. For technical questions about the ICR contact Bruce 
Moore at 919-541-5460.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards for 
Consumer Products, OMB No. 2060-0348, EPA No. 1764.02, expires March 
31, 2000. This is a request for an extension of a currently approved 
collection.
    Abstract: The information collection includes initial reports and 
periodic recordkeeping necessary for EPA to ensure compliance with 
Federal standards for volatile organic compounds in consumer products. 
Respondents are manufacturers, distributors, and importers of consumer 
products. Responses to the collection are mandatory under 40 CFR part 
59, subpart C--National Volatile Organic Compound Emission Standards 
for Consumer Products. The EPA is required under section 183(e) of the 
Clean Air Act (Act) to regulate VOC emissions from the use of consumer 
and commercial products. Pursuant to section 183(e)(3), the EPA 
published a list of consumer and commercial products and a schedule for 
their regulation on March 23, 1995 (60 FR 15264). Consumer products 
were included in Group I of the list, and standards were promulgated on 
September 11, 1998.
    In the Administrator's judgment, VOC emissions from the use of 
consumer products contribute to ground-level ozone formation in ozone 
non-attainment areas.The reports and recordkeeping activities required 
under the rule enable the EPA to determine whether or not consumer 
products manufactured or imported for use in the U.S. meet the VOC 
content limits. Minimal reporting is required. Initial reporting 
consists of information needed by EPA to (1) identify the universe of 
manufacturers and importers subject to the rule; (2) determine the date 
of manufacture of products; (3) ascertain the location of formulation 
and batch records for purposes of compliance assurance; and (4) have on 
record a responsible company official as a primary contact. 
Notification of the use of revised date codes enables EPA to have 
access to the most current codes. All information submitted to the EPA 
for which a claim of confidentiality is made will be safeguarded 
according to the Agency policies set forth in 40 CFR part 2, subpart 
B--Confidentiality of Business Information.
    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 
Federal Register document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting 
comments on this collection of information was published on June 18, 
1999 (64 FR 32856); no comments were received.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 79 
hours per response. 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 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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Manufacturers, distributors, and 
importers of consumer products.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 375.
    Frequency of Response: Initial notification and on occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 29,695 hours.
    Estimated Total Annualized Capital, Operating/Maintenance Cost 
Burden: $0.
    Send comments on the Agency's need for this information, the 
accuracy of the provided burden estimates, and any

[[Page 4424]]

suggested methods for minimizing respondent burden, including through 
the use of automated collection techniques to the following addresses. 
Please refer to EPA ICR No. 1764.02 and OMB Control No. 2060-0348 in 
any correspondence.

Ms. Sandy Farmer, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of 
Environmental Information, Collection Strategies Division (2822), 1200 
Pennsylvania, NW, Washington, DC 20460;

          and

Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and 
Budget, Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW, 
Washington, DC 20503.

    Dated: January 20, 2000.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 00-1964 Filed 1-26-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-P