[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 150 (Thursday, August 3, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 47722-47723]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-19684]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-6845-1]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission for OMB 
Review; Comment Request; Voluntary Cover Sheet for TSCA Submissions

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: Voluntary Cover Sheet for 
TSCA Submissions; EPA ICR No. 1780.02; OMB Control No. 2070-0156. The 
ICR is abstracted below and describes the nature of the information 
collection and its estimated cost and burden.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before September 5, 
2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1780.02 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0156, to the following addresses: Sandy Farmer, U.S. 
Environmental Protection Agency, Collection Strategies Division (Mail 
Code: 2822), 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 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. 
1780.02.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Voluntary Cover Sheet for TSCA Submissions (OMB Control No. 
2070-0156; EPA ICR No. 1780.02) expiring 09/30/2000. This is a request 
for extension of a currently approved collection.
    Abstract: The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) requires industry 
to submit information and studies for existing chemical substances 
under sections 4, 6, and 8. Under normal reporting conditions, EPA 
receives approximately 1,700 submissions each year; each submission 
represents on average three studies. In addition, specific data call-
ins can be imposed on industry.
    The Agency, in cooperation with industry stakeholders, is pursuing 
the electronic transfer of TSCA summary data and of full submissions to 
EPA. The Chemical Manufacturers Association developed a standardized 
cover sheet for voluntary use by industry to begin familiarizing 
companies with standard requirements and concepts of electronic 
transfer. This form was designed for voluntary use as

[[Page 47723]]

a cover sheet for submissions of information under TSCA sections 4, 
8(d) and 8(e). The cover sheet facilitates submission of information by 
displaying certain basic data elements, permitting EPA more easily to 
identify, log, track, distribute, review and index submissions, and to 
make information publicly available more rapidly and at reduced cost, 
to the mutual benefit of both the respondents and EPA. The information 
collection request referenced in this notice applies to the use of this 
form/cover sheet.
    Responses to the collection of information are voluntary. 
Respondents may claim all or part of a document 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. 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 October 1, 1999 (64 FR 53377). EPA received no 
comments on this ICR during the comment period.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average 0.5 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: Companies that manufacture, process, 
use or import chemical substances and that are subject to reporting 
requirements under TSCA sections 4, 8(d) or 8(e).
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 1,830.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 915 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Non-Labor Costs: $0.
    Changes in Burden Estimates: The total burden associated with this 
ICR has decreased from 1,348 hours in the previous ICR to 915 for this 
ICR. This decrease in burden represents an adjustment resulting from a 
net decrease in the number of submissions expected.
    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 20, 2000.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 00-19684 Filed 8-2-00; 8:45 am]
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