[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 193 (Wednesday, October 5, 2011)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61689-61690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-25760]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2010-0896; FRL-9475-5]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Submission to OMB for 
Review and Approval; Comment Request; Worker Protection Standard 
Training and Notification

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 an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) has been forwarded to the Office of Management 
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval: Worker Protection Standard 
Training and Notification; EPA ICR No. 1759.06, OMB Control No. 2070-
0148. The ICR, which is abstracted below, describes the nature of the 
information collection and its estimated burden and cost.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before November 4, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OPP-
2010-0896, to (1) EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by e-mail to [email protected], or by mail to: EPA 
Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide 
Programs (OPP) Regulatory Public Docket (7502P), 1200 Pennsylvania 
Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB by mail 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: Lily Negash, (7506P), Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460; 
telephone number: 703-347-8515; fax number: 703-305-5884; 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 March 16, 2011 (76 FR 14390), EPA sought comments on this 
ICR pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.8(d). EPA received no comments. Any 
additional comments on 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-OPP-2010-0896, which is available for online viewing at 
http//:www.regulations.gov, or in person viewing at the OPP Regulatory 
Public 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 OPP Regulatory Public Docket is 
(703) 305-5805. Use 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 public docket that are

[[Page 61690]]

available electronically. Once in the system, select ``search,'' then 
key in the docket ID number identified above.
    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. 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 http://www.regulations.gov. The entire printed comment, including the 
copyrighted material, will be available in the public docket. 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 http://www.regulations.gov. For further information 
about the electronic docket, go to http://www.regulations.gov.
    Title: Worker Protection Standard Training and Notification.
    ICR Status: This is a request to renew an existing approved 
collection. This ICR is scheduled to expire on November 30, 2011. Under 
5 CFR 1320.12(b)(2), the Agency may continue to conduct or sponsor the 
collection of information while this submission is pending at OMB.
    Abstract: EPA is responsible for the regulation of pesticides under 
the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). The 
Worker Protection Standard (WPS), codified at 40 CFR part 170, 
established requirements to protect agricultural workers and pesticide 
handlers from hazards of pesticides used on farms, on forests, in 
nurseries, and in greenhouses. EPA regulations in 40 CFR part 170 
contain the standard and workplace practices, which are designed to 
reduce or eliminate exposure to pesticides and establish procedures for 
responding to exposure-related emergencies. The practices include 
prohibitions against applying pesticides in a way that would cause 
exposure to workers and others; a waiting period before workers can 
return to areas treated with pesticides (restricted entry interval); 
basic safety training (and voluntary training verification) and posting 
of information about pesticide hazards, as well as pesticide 
application information; arrangements for the supply of soap, water, 
and towels in case of pesticide exposure; and provisions for emergency 
assistance.
    The training verification program facilitates compliance with the 
training requirements by providing a voluntary method for employers to 
verify that the required safety information has been provided to 
workers and handlers. Responses to all other aspects of this 
information collection activity are mandatory. 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.
    This renewal ICR estimates the third party response burden from 
complying with the WPS requirements. Information is exchanged between 
agricultural employers and employees at farm, forest, nursery and 
greenhouse establishments to ensure worker safety. No information is 
collected by the Agency under this ICR.
    Burden Statement: The total annual respondent burden for providing 
the training and notifications associated with the Worker Protection 
Standard is estimated to be 1,827,493 hours, with the incremental 
burden of the various activities ranging from 2 minutes per respondent 
to provide initial basic safety information to 45 minutes per 
respondent for handler training. This total estimate includes the third 
party WPS training and notification requirements. Burden is defined in 
5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Agricultural workers, pesticide 
handlers, employers in farms, nurseries, forestry, and greenhouse 
establishments e.g., agricultural employers in farms; and (NAICS 111), 
and agricultural employers in the greenhouse and forestry sector (NAICS 
115).
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 309,085.
    Frequency of Response: As needed.
    Estimated Total Annual Hour Burden: 1,827,493 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Cost: $92,729,052.
    Changes in the Estimates: There is an increase of 51,362 hours in 
the total estimated burden currently identified in the OMB Inventory of 
Approved ICR Burdens. This increase is due to an adjustment in the 
assumptions and a minor correction in the calculations clarified in the 
supporting statement.

    Dated: September 29, 2011.
John Moses,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2011-25760 Filed 10-4-11; 8:45 am]
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