[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 202 (Friday, October 19, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 59284-59286]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20663]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0853; FRL-8485-2]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping for 
Asbestos Abatement Worker Protection (Renewal); EPA ICR No. 1246.10, 
OMB Control No. 2070-0072

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 an Information Collection 
Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and approval. This is a request to renew an existing 
approved collection. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the 
nature of the

[[Page 59285]]

information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before November 19, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OPPT-2006-0853 to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (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, Mail Code: 7407T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Barbara Cunningham, Director, 
Environmental Assistance Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, Mailcode: 7408-M, 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 1320.12. On February 1, 
2007 (72 FR 4705), EPA sought comments on this renewal ICR. EPA sought 
comments on this ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no 
comments during the comment period. Any comments related to this ICR 
should be submitted to EPA and OMB within 30 days of this notice.
    EPA has established a public docket for this ICR under Docket ID 
No. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2006-0853, which is available for online viewing at 
http://www.regulations.gov, or in person inspection at the OPPT Docket 
in the EPA Docket Center (EPA/DC), EPA West, Room 3334, 1301 
Constitution Ave., NW., Washington, DC. The EPA Docket Center 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 Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics Docket is 202-566-0280.
    Use EPA's electronic docket and comment system at 
www.regulations.gov, to submit or view public comments, access the 
index listing of the contents of the docket, and to access those 
documents in the docket that are available electronically. Once in the 
system, select ``docket search,'' then key in the docket ID number 
identified above. Please note that EPA's policy is that public 
comments, whether submitted electronically or in paper, will be made 
available for public viewing at www.regulations.gov as EPA receives 
them and without change, unless the comment contains copyrighted 
material, confidential business information (CBI), or other information 
whose public disclosure is restricted by statute. For further 
information about the electronic docket, go to www.regulations.gov.
    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement Worker 
Protection (Renewal).
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 1246.10, OMB Control No. 2070-0072.
    ICR Status: This ICR is scheduled to expire on October 31, 2007. 
Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor 
the collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB. 
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's asbestos worker protection rule is designed to 
provide occupational exposure protection to state and local government 
employees who are engaged in asbestos abatement activities in states 
that do not have State plans approved by the Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration (OSHA). The rule provides protection for public 
employees not covered by the OSHA standard from the adverse health 
effects associated with occupational exposure to asbestos. Specifically 
the rule requires State and local governments to monitor employee 
exposure to asbestos, take action to reduce exposure to asbestos, 
monitor employee health and train employees about asbestos hazards.
    The rule includes a number of information reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements. State and local government agencies are 
required to provide employees with information about exposures to 
asbestos and the associated health effects. The rule also requires 
state and local governments to notify EPA before commencing any 
asbestos abatement project. State and local governments must maintain 
medical surveillance and monitoring records and training records on 
their employees, must establish a set of written procedures for 
respirator programs and must maintain procedures and records of 
respirator fit tests. EPA will use the information to monitor 
compliance with the asbestos worker protection rule. This request 
addresses these reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR 763 Subpart G). Respondents may claim all or part of a notice as 
CBI. EPA will disclose information that is covered by a CBI claim only 
to the extent permitted by, and in accordance with, the procedures in 
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 in title 40 of the CFR, after appearing in the Federal 
Register, are listed in 40 CFR part 9 and included on the related 
collection instrument or form, if applicable.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.32 
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: Entities potentially affected by 
this action are state and local government employers in 26 states, the 
District of Columbia, and certain U.S. Territories that have employees 
engaged in asbestos-related construction, custodial and brake and 
clutch repair activities without OSHA-approved State plans.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Estimated average number of responses for each respondent: 50.

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    Estimated No. of Respondents: 25,312.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 402,749 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Costs: $14,980,583.
    Changes in Burden Estimates: This request reflects a net decrease 
of 9,494 hours (from 412,243 hours to 402,749 hours) in the total 
estimated respondent burden from that currently in the OMB inventory. 
This net decrease principally reflects EPA's correction of certain 
training burdens that results from correctly annualizing the training 
requirement over five years rather than over a three-year period. The 
Supporting Statement provides details on the change in burden estimate. 
The change is an adjustment.

    Dated: October 15, 2007.
Sara Hisel-McCoy,
Acting Director, Collection Strategies Division.
 [FR Doc. E7-20663 Filed 10-18-07; 8:45 am]
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