[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 230 (Thursday, November 29, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 59591]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-29659]



[[Page 59591]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-7109-6]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Correction of 
Misreported Chemical Substances on the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory; Submission to OMB

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: Correction of Misreported 
Chemical Substances on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical 
Substance Inventory (EPA ICR No. 1741.03; OMB Control No. 2070-0145). 
The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the 
information collection and its estimated cost and burden. The Federal 
Register document required under 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments 
on this collection of information, was published on February 12, 2001 
(66 FR 9842). EPA received no comments on this ICR during the comment 
period.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before December 31, 
2001.

ADDRESSES: Send comments, referencing EPA ICR No. 1741.03 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0145, 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. 
1741.03 and/or OMB Control No. 2070-0145.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    Title: Correction of Misreported Chemical Substances on the Toxic 
Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Substance Inventory (EPA ICR No. 
1741.03; OMB Control No. 2070-0145). This is a request for extension of 
an existing approved collection that is currently scheduled to expire 
on December 31, 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 the TSCA requires EPA to compile and keep 
current an Inventory of Chemical Substances in Commerce, which is a 
listing of chemical substances manufactured, imported, and processed 
for commercial purposes in the United States. The purpose of the 
Inventory is to define, for the purpose of TSCA, what chemical 
substances exist in U.S. commerce. Since the Inventory thereby performs 
a regulatory function by distinguishing between existing chemicals and 
new chemicals, which TSCA regulates in different ways, it is imperative 
that the Inventory be accurate.
    However, from time to time, EPA or respondents discover that 
substances have been incorrectly described by reporting companies. 
Reported substances have been unintentionally misidentified as a result 
of simple typographical errors, the misidentification of substances, or 
the lack of sufficient technical or analytical capabilities to 
characterize fully the exact chemical substances. EPA has developed 
guidelines (45 FR 50544, July 29, 1980) under which incorrectly 
described substances listed in the Inventory can be corrected. The 
correction mechanism ensures the accuracy of the Inventory without 
imposing an unreasonable burden on the chemical industry. Without the 
Inventory correction mechanism, a company that submitted incorrect 
information would have to file a premanufacture notification (PMN) 
under TSCA section 5 to place the correct chemical substance on the 
Inventory whenever the previously reported substance is found to be 
misidentified. This would impose a much greater burden on both EPA and 
the submitter than the existing correction mechanism.
    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. 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.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to average 1.0 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 and importers of 
chemical substances, mixtures or categories.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 200.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 200 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Costs: $16,150.
    Changes in Burden Estimates: There is no change in the estimated 
burden associated with this ICR as compared with the ICR most recently 
approved by OMB.
    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: November 19, 2001.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 01-29659 Filed 11-28-01; 8:45 am]
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