[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 88 (Tuesday, May 6, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24975-24976]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-9949]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2007-0670; FRL-8562-3]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; TSCA Section 8(a) Preliminary 
Assessment Information Rule (PAIR); EPA ICR No. 0586.11, OMB No. 2070-
0054

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 information collection activity and its expected burden 
and costs.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before June 5, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OPPT-2007-0670 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 December 21, 2007 (72 FR 72704), 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-2007-0670, 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 http://www.regulations.gov to submit or view public comments, access the index 
listing of the contents of the public 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 in http://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 http://www.regulations.gov.
    Title: TSCA Section 8(a) Preliminary Assessment Information Rule 
(PAIR).
    ICR Numbers: EPA ICR No. 0586.11, OMB Control No. 2070-0054.
    ICR Status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on May 31, 
2008. 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: Section 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
authorizes EPA to promulgate rules under which manufacturers, importers 
and processors of chemical substances and mixtures must maintain 
records and submit reports to EPA. EPA has promulgated the Preliminary 
Assessment Information Rule (PAIR) under TSCA section 8(a). EPA uses 
PAIR to collect information to identify, assess and manage human health 
and environmental risks from chemical substances, mixtures and 
categories. PAIR requires chemical manufacturers and importers to 
complete a standardized reporting form to help evaluate the potential 
for adverse human health and environmental effects caused by the 
manufacture or importation of identified chemical substances, mixtures 
or categories. Chemicals identified by EPA or any other federal agency, 
for which a justifiable information need for production, use or 
exposure-related data can be satisfied by the use of the PAIR are 
proper subjects for TSCA section 8(a) PAIR rulemaking. In most 
instances the information that EPA receives from a PAIR report is 
sufficient to satisfy the information need in question. This 
information collection addresses the reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements associated with TSCA section 8(a).
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR parts 712, 766 and 792). 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.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 29.0 
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

[[Page 24976]]

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 companies that manufacture or import chemical 
substances, mixtures or categories.
    Estimated No. of Respondents: 26.
    Frequency of Collection: On occasion.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden on Respondents: 1,568 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Costs: $89,593 that includes $2,746 in 
Operations and Maintenance costs.
    Changes in Burden Estimates: There is a net increase of 988 hours 
(from 580 hours to 1,568 hours) in the total estimated respondent 
burden compared with that currently in the OMB inventory. This increase 
reflects EPA's revised estimates of the number of PAIR reports filed 
annually. There is also a corresponding $1,746 increase in associated 
non-labor costs (e.g., photocopying and mailing costs). The Supporting 
Statement includes detailed analyses of these revised estimates. These 
changes are adjustments.

    Dated: April 28, 2008.
Sara Hisel-McCoy,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
 [FR Doc. E8-9949 Filed 5-5-08; 8:45 am]
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