[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 245 (Friday, December 20, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 77977-77978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-32131]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[OPPT-2002-0005; FRL-7425-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission of EPA ICR 
No. 2055.01 to OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request

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 new Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Voluntary Children's Chemical 
Evaluation Program (VCCEP) (EPA ICR No. 2055.01). The ICR, which is 
abstracted below, describes the nature of the information collection 
and its estimated cost and burden.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before January 21, 
2002.

ADDRESSES: Follow the detailed instructions in the SUPPLEMENTARY 
INFORMATION section.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Cunningham, Acting Director, 
Environmental Assistance Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 7408M, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-
554-1404; e-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: EPA has submitted the following ICR to OMB 
for review and approval according to the procedures prescribed in 5 CFR 
1320.10. On April 16, 2002 (67 FR 18609), and May 15, 2002 (67 FR 
34703), EPA sought comments in this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). 
EPA received a number of comments, which are addressed in the body of 
and attachments to the ICR.
    EPA has established a public document for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. OPPT-2002-0005, which is available for public viewing at the EPA 
Public Reading Room, Room B102, EPA West Building, 1301 Constitution 
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, excluding legal holidays ((202) 566-0280). An 
electronic version of the public docket is available through EPA's 
electronic public docket and comment system, EPA Dockets (EDOCKET) at 
http://www.epa.gov/edocket. Use EDOCKET to submit or view public 
comments, access the index listing of the contents of the public 
docket, and to access those documents in the public docket that are 
available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,'' then 
key in the docket ID number identified above.
    Any comments related to this ICR should be submitted to EPA and OMB 
within 30 days of this notice, and according to the following detailed 
instructions: (1) Submit your comments to EPA online using EDOCKET (our 
preferred method), by e-mail to [email protected], or by mail to: 
Document Control Office (DCO), Office of Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 7407T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, Attention Docket ID No. 
OPPT-2002-0005, and (2) Mail a copy of your comments to OMB at: Office 
of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), Attention: Desk Officer for EPA, 725 17th Street, NW., 
Washington, DC 20503.
    EPA's policy is that public comments, whether submitted 
electronically or in paper, will be made available for public viewing 
in EDOCKET as EPA receives them and without change, unless the comment 
contains copyrighted material, CBI, or other information whose public 
disclosure is restricted by statute. When EPA identifies a comment 
containing copyrighted material, EPA will provide a reference to that 
material in the version of the comment that is placed in EDOCKET. The 
entire printed comment, including the copyrighted material, will be 
available in the public docket.

[[Page 77978]]

 Although identified as an item in the official docket, information 
claimed as CBI, or whose disclosure is otherwise restricted by statute, 
is not included in the official public docket, and will not be 
available for public viewing in EDOCKET.
    Title: Voluntary Children's Chemical Evaluation Program (VCCEP) 
(EPA ICR No. 2055.01). This is a request to establish a new collection.
    Abstract: VCCEP is a voluntary program intended to provide data to 
enable the public to understand the potential health risks to children 
associated with certain chemical exposures. EPA has asked companies 
which manufacture and/or import 23 chemicals which have been found in 
human tissues and the environment to volunteer to sponsor their 
evaluation in VCCEP. VCCEP consists of three tiers which a sponsor may 
commit to separately. Thus far, EPA has received Tier 1 commitments for 
20 chemicals. As part of their sponsorship, companies would submit 
commitment letters, collect and/or develop health effects and exposure 
information on their chemical(s), integrate that information in a risk 
assessment, and develop a ``Data Needs Assessment.'' The Data Needs 
Assessment would discuss the need for additional data, which could be 
provided by the next tier, to fully characterize the risks the chemical 
may pose to children.
    The information submitted by the sponsor will be evaluated by a 
group of scientific experts with extensive, relevant experience in 
toxicity testing and exposure evaluations, a Peer Consultation Group. 
This Group will forward its opinions to EPA and the sponsor(s) 
concerning the adequacy of the assessments and the need for development 
of any additional information to fully assess risks to children. EPA 
will consider the opinions of the Peer Consultation Group and announce 
whether additional higher tier information is needed. Sponsors and the 
public will have an opportunity to comment on EPA's decision concerning 
data needs. EPA will consider these comments and issue a final 
decision. If the final decision is that additional information is 
needed, sponsors will be asked to volunteer to provide the next tier of 
information. If additional information is not needed, the risk 
communication and, if necessary, risk management phases of the program 
will be initiated.
    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, and are 
identified on the form and/or instrument, if applicable.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting burden for this 
collection of information is estimated to be about 520 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, processors, 
importers, or distributors in commerce of certain chemical substances 
or mixtures who have volunteered to sponsor a chemical under the VCCEP.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 23.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 154,332 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Costs: $12,553,894.
    Changes in Burden Estimates: This is a new ICR; therefore there is 
no change in burden estimates from that previously approved by OMB.

    Dated: December 3, 2002.
Oscar Morales,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 02-32131 Filed 12-19-02; 8:45 am]
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