[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 79 (Wednesday, April 25, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 20534-20536]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-7894]



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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OARM-2007-0341; EPA-HQ-OARM-2007-0342; FRL-8305-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Conflict of Interest Rule 1, EPA ICR Number 
1550.06, OMB Control Number 2030-0023; and Invitation for Bids and 
Request for Proposals (IFBs and RFPs), EPA ICR Number 1038.11, OMB 
Control Number 2030-0006

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this document announces that EPA is planning to 
submit a request to renew existing approved Information Collection 
Requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). These 
ICRs are scheduled to expire on 07/31/2007. Before submitting the ICRs 
to OMB for review and approval, EPA is soliciting comments on specific 
aspects of the proposed information collections as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before June 25, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by the Docket ID numbers 
provided for each item in the text, by one of the following methods:
     http://www.regulations.gov: Follow the on-line 
instructions for submitting comments.
     E-mail: [email protected].
     Mail: OEI Docket, Environmental Protection Agency, 
Mailcode: 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460.
     Hand Delivery: EPA Docket Center, Environmental Protection 
Agency, OEI Docket, EPA/DC, EPA West, Room B102, 1301 Constitution 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC. Such deliveries are only accepted during the 
Docket's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements should be 
made for deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to the Docket ID number provided 
for each item in the text. EPA's policy is that all comments received 
will be included in the public docket without change and may be made 
available online at http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
information provided, unless the comment includes information claimed 
to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other information 
whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not submit information 
that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected through http://www.regulations.gov or e-mail. The http://www.regulations.gov Web site 
is an ``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an e-mail comment directly to EPA without 
going through http://www.regulations.gov, your e-mail address will be 
automatically captured and included as part of the comment that is 
placed in the public docket and made available on the Internet. If you 
submit an electronic comment, EPA recommends that you include your name 
and other contact information in the body of your comment and with any 
disk or CD-ROM you submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to 
technical difficulties and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA 
may not be able to consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid 
the use of special characters, any form of encryption, and be free of 
any defects or viruses. For additional information about EPA's public 
docket, visit the EPA Docket Center homepage at http://www.epa.gov/epahome/dockets.htm.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tiffany Schermerhorn, Policy, Training 
and Oversight Division, Office of Acquisition Management, Mail Code 
3802R, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., 
Washington, DC 20460; e-mail address: [email protected], 
telephone (202) 564-9902.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

How Can I Access the Docket and/or Submit Comments?

    EPA has established a public docket for each of the ICRs identified 
in this document (see the Docket ID numbers for each ICR that is 
provided in the text), which is available for online viewing at http://www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the OEI Docket in the EPA 
Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave., 
NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room is open from 8 a.m. 
to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The 
telephone number for the Reading Room is 202-566-1744 and the telephone 
number for the OEI Docket is 202-566-1752.
    Use http://www.regulations.gov to obtain a copy of the draft 
collection of information, submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the 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 in this document.

What Information Is EPA Particularly Interested In?

    Pursuant to Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the PRA, EPA specifically 
solicits comments and information to enable it to:
    (i) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the Agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (ii) Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimate of the burden 
of the proposed collection of information, including the validity of 
the methodology and assumptions used;
    (iii) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information 
to be collected; and
    (iv) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated 
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or 
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic 
submission of responses. In particular, EPA is requesting comments from 
very small businesses (those that employ less than 25 employees) for 
examples of specific additional efforts that EPA could make to reduce 
the paperwork burden for very small businesses affected by this 
collection.

What Should I Consider When I Prepare My Comments for EPA?

    You may find the following suggestions helpful for preparing your 
comments:
    1. Explain your views as clearly as possible and provide specific 
examples.
    2. Describe any assumptions that you used.
    3. Provide copies of any technical information and/or data you used 
that support your views.
    4. If you estimate potential burden or costs, explain how you 
arrived at the estimate that you provide.
    5. Offer alternative ways to improve the collection activity.
    6. Make sure to submit your comments by the deadline identified 
under DATES.
    7. To ensure proper receipt by EPA, be sure to identify the Docket 
ID number assigned to this action in the subject line on the first page 
of your response. You may also provide the name, date, and Federal 
Register citation.

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What Information Collection Activities or ICRs Does This Apply To?

[Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OARM-2007-0341]

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those businesses or organizations performing contracts for the Agency.
    Title: Conflict of Interest, Rule 1.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1550.06, OMB Control No. 2030-0023.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on 07/31/07. 
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 
in Title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when 
approved, are listed in 40 CFR Part 9, are displayed either by 
publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such 
as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The 
display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is 
consolidated in 40 CFR Part 9.
    Abstract: EPA contractors will be required to disclose business 
relationships and corporate affiliations to determine whether EPA's 
interests are jeopardized by such relationships. Because EPA has the 
dual responsibility of cleanup and enforcement and because its 
contractors are often involved in both activities, it is imperative 
that contractors are free from conflicts of interest so as not to 
prejudice response and enforcement actions. Contractors will be 
required to maintain a database of business relationships and report 
information to EPA on either an annual basis or when each work order is 
issued.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1,078 
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 which have subsequently changed; 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.
    The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, 
which is only briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 135.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 145,640.
    Estimated total annual costs: $8,144,585. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $8,144,585 and an estimated cost of $0 for 
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

Are There Changes in the Estimates From the Last Approval?

    Although the number of respondents has increased since the ICR was 
last renewed and approved by OMB in 2004, the total annual burden hours 
and annual costs are not expected to increase. The number of 
respondents has increased due to a need to include non-Superfund as 
well as Superfund contractors in our information collection activities 
related to conflicts of interest. While this ICR was initiated due to 
the need to ensure that contractors supporting work under the 
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act 
of 1980 (CERCLA), commonly known as ``Superfund,'' are free from 
conflict so as not to prejudice CERCLA actions, it has become clear in 
the past few years that the potential for conflict is not limited to 
contracts supporting Superfund activities, but includes all Agency 
contracts involving support of regulatory activities. Other 
environmental laws besides Superfund that give the Agency the authority 
for its programs and regulatory activities include, but are not limited 
to, the Clean Water Act (CWA); Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA); Marine 
Protection, Research and Sanctuary Act (MPRSA); Clean Air Act (CAA); 
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA); Oil Pollution Act (OPA); 
Pollution Prevention Act (PPA); Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA); Superfund Reauthorization and Amendments Act 
(SARA); Toxic Substance Control Act (TSCA); Federal Facility Compliance 
Act (FFCA); National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA); Emergency 
Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA); Comprehensive 
Environmental Response, Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA); 
and the Mercury-Containing and Rechargeable Battery Management Act 
(Battery Act). Despite the increase in the number of respondents, the 
total annual burden hours are not expected to increase because this is 
an established information collection effort and most of the 
respondents are engaged primarily in the recurring maintenance and 
reporting activities rather than the one-time activities of greater 
burden that were necessary when the ICR was initiated. Also, the 
processes for storing, retrieving, and reporting information on a 
recurring basis have been streamlined in recent years through greater 
use of electronic methods.

[Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OARM-2007-0342]

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by this action are 
those businesses or organizations that want to provide the EPA with 
supplies or services.
    Title: Invitation for Bids and Request for Proposals.
    ICR numbers: EPA ICR No. 1038.11, OMB Control No. 2030-0006.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on 07/31/07. 
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 
in Title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal Register when 
approved, are listed in 40 CFR Part 9, are displayed either by 
publication in the Federal Register or by other appropriate means, such 
as on the related collection instrument or form, if applicable. The 
display of OMB control numbers in certain EPA regulations is 
consolidated in 40 CFR Part 9.
    Abstract: EPA requires contractors to submit information in order 
to be considered for the award of a contract. Information requested 
includes: prices for the supplies/services requested, information on 
past performance, technical and cost information, and general financial 
and organizational information. Information provided by vendors in 
response to an RFP/IFB is used to evaluate which vendor will provide 
the best product in terms of quality, timeliness and price. Responses 
to IFBs/RFPs are required to be considered for a contract award. The 
legal authority for this collection is 41 U.S.C. 253. Contractor 
confidential business information submitted in connection with an IFB 
or RFP response is protected from public release in accordance with 40 
CFR 2.201 et seq.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 8 
hours per response for IFBs and 251 hours per response for RFPs. Burden 
means the

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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 which have 
subsequently changed; 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.
    The ICR provides a detailed explanation of the Agency's estimate, 
which is only briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 981.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 219,015.
    Estimated total annual costs: $14,251,635. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $14,251,635 and an estimated cost of $0 for 
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

What Is the Next Step in the Process for These ICRs?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICRs as 
appropriate. The final ICR packages will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. At that time, EPA will 
issue another Federal Register notice pursuant to 5 CFR 
1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to announce the submission of the ICRs to OMB and the 
opportunity to submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any 
questions about this ICR or the approval process, please contact the 
technical person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Dated: April 19, 2007.
Daniel Humphries,
Acting Manager, Acquisition Policy and Training Service Center.
 [FR Doc. E7-7894 Filed 4-24-07; 8:45 am]
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