[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 138 (Wednesday, July 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42305-42306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17486]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OEI-2012-0547, FRL-9520-4]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request; Regulations.gov Information Collection

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), this 
document announces that EPA is planning to submit a request to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to renew the following existing 
Information Collection Request (ICR): Regulations.gov Information 
Collection, OMB Control Number 2025-0008, EPA ICR Number 2357.04. 
Before submitting this ICR to OMB for review and approval, EPA is 
soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information 
collection as described below.

DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before September 17, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID No. EPA-HQ-OEI-
2012-0547, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our preferred 
method), by email to [email protected], by mail to: EPA Docket 
Center, Environmental Protection Agency, mail code 28221T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, or by hand delivery: EPA 
Docket Center, EPA West Bldg, Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460. Such deliveries are only accepted during the 
Docket's normal hours of operation.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Shanita Brackett, OEI/OIC/CStD at the 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., (2822T), 
Washington, DC 20460; telephone number (202) 566-1008; fax number (202) 
566-1008: email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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) on 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 ICR title on the 
first page of your response. You may also provide the Federal Register 
citation.

What Information Collection Activity or ICR does this apply to?

    Title: Regulations.gov Information Collection. OMB Control Number: 
2025-0008.
    Abstract: In response to the Presidential memorandum, the 
eRulemaking Program launched the Regulations.gov `feedback exchange' 
Web site in May 2009. This interactive Web site showcases new 
technologies being considered for the Regulations.gov `feedback 
exchange' and Regulations.gov, as well as other agency-specific 
initiatives and rulemaking activities. The `feedback exchange' serves 
as a learning laboratory for open government, enabling the public to 
provide input on the Regulations.gov interface, build a community of 
practice on the Federal regulatory development process, and ensure that 
the eRulemaking Program can efficiently manage federal resources by 
testing new tools before they are launched. New technologies considered 
for the Regulations.gov `feedback exchange' and Regulations.gov 
include: User Profiles; Comment Threads and Wikis; Ratings, Polls, and 
Tagging; an interactive Educational Tool; and Information Export and 
Sharing capabilities, such as application programming interfaces (or 
APIs). These technologies have been deployed iteratively, with some 
components deployed upon the site's original release in May 2009, and 
others deployed during updates throughout the last three years. Other 
components are still being considered and will be released during 
subsequent upgrades to the Regulations.gov `feedback exchange' and 
Regulations.gov. User profiles enable the public to register on the 
site and pre-load submitter information for later use as well as save 
their own

[[Page 42306]]

personalized searches, RSS feeds, and email alerts without the use of 
persistent cookies. Comment Threads allow the public to enter into 
virtual conversations with one another about a topic. Wikis enable the 
public to collaboratively develop and modify narrative descriptions 
about a topic. Ratings and Polls allow the public to indicate a 
preference for a topic or issue via the selection of stars or thumbs 
up/thumbs down icons which graphically provide an at-a-glance 
indication of public sentiment and can simplify navigation. Tagging 
provides the public with the ability to tag or label information they 
or someone else has posted to the site to ease navigation and to 
promote the formation of common interest categories. The Educational 
Tool informs the public about the Federal rulemaking process through 
interactive text and images. The Data Export capability and APIs enable 
the public to download and review the contents of a rulemaking docket 
as well as mix and match such information with other information in new 
and innovative ways. The Regulations.gov ``feedback exchange'' relies 
on feedback from Government, Industry, Academia and Citizenry to 
improve Regulations.gov as time goes on.
    Burden Statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 35 
hours per year. 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:
    Affected Entities: Anyone that chooses to visit Regulations.gov.
    Estimated Total Number of Potential Respondents: 1,000.
    Estimated Total Number of Potential Responses: 7,000.
    Frequency of Response: Occasionally.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 35 hours.
    Estimated Total Annual Capital and Operations and Maintenance 
Costs: $30,000.

What is the next step in the process for this ICR?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICR as 
appropriate. The final ICR package 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 ICR 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 
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

John Moses,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2012-17486 Filed 7-17-12; 8:45 am]
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