[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 186 (Tuesday, September 25, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 49016-49017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-23919]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7064-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB; 
Comment Request; Partial Updating of TSCA Inventory Data Base, 
Production and Site Reports

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: Partial Updating of TSCA 
Inventory Data Base, Production and Site Reports (EPA ICR No. 1011.05; 
OMB Control No. 2070-0070). The ICR, which is abstracted below, 
describes the nature of the information collection and its estimated 
cost and burden. The Federal Register document required

[[Page 49017]]

under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on this collection of 
information, was published on April 3, 2001 (66 FR 17704). EPA received 
a number of comments on this ICR during the comment period, which are 
addressed in the ICR.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before October 25, 
2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1011.05 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0070, 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. 
1011.05 and/or OMB Control No. 2070-0070.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Partial Updating of TSCA Inventory Data Base, Production and 
Site Reports (EPA ICR No. 1011.05; OMB Control No. 2070-0070). This is 
a request for extension of an existing approved collection that is 
currently scheduled to expire on September 30, 2001. Under 5 CFR 
1320.10(e)(2), the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the 
collection of information while the submission is pending at OMB.
    Abstract: Section 8(b) of TSCA requires EPA to compile and keep 
current a complete list of chemical substances manufactured or 
processed in the United States. EPA uses the Inventory of Chemical 
Substances in Commerce to comply with TSCA section 8(b). This 
inventory, commonly referred to as the TSCA Inventory, is a listing of 
chemical substances manufactured, imported and processed for commercial 
purposes in the United States. EPA updates this inventory of chemicals 
every four years by requiring manufacturers, processors and importers 
to provide production volume, plant site information and site-limited 
status information on about 8,900 of the more than 75,000 chemicals on 
the TSCA Inventory. This information allows EPA to identify what 
chemicals are or are not currently in commerce and to take appropriate 
regulatory action as necessary. EPA also uses the information for 
screening chemicals for risks to human health or the environment, for 
priority-setting efforts, and for exposure estimates.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory. The TSCA 
Inventory Update Rule requires the submission of information on mostly 
organic chemicals produced or imported in volumes greater than 10,000 
pounds per year (see 40 CFR part 710). 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 total public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average about 22 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. 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 ICR provides a detailed explanation of the information 
collection activity and the corresponding burden estimate, which is 
only briefly summarized here.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Manufacturers, processors or 
importers of chemical substances, mixtures or categories.
    Frequency of Collection: Once every four years.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 3,000.
    Estimated Total Burden on Respondents: 65,640 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Costs: $1,140,000.
    Changes in Burden Estimates: The total burden associated with this 
ICR has increased from 34,500 hours in the previous ICR to 65,640 hours 
for this ICR. This adjustment in burden reflects a reassessment of the 
burden associated with complying with this regulation.
    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: September 13, 2001.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 01-23919 Filed 9-24-01; 8:45 am]
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