[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 225 (Wednesday, November 21, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 69823-69824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28208]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0631; FRL-9361-9]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

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 for a new 
Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB). This ICR is entitled: ``Pesticide Spray Drift Reduction 
Technologies,'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 2472.01 and OMB Control 
No. 2070-NEW. Before submitting the ICR to OMB for review and approval, 
EPA is soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed 
information collection that is summarized in this document. The ICR and 
accompanying material are available in the docket for public review and 
comment.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before January 22, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2012-0631 by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online

[[Page 69824]]

instructions for submitting comments. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) 
or other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.
     Mail: OPP Docket, Environmental Protection Agency Docket 
Center (EPA/DC), (28221T), 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 
20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: To make special arrangements for hand 
delivery or delivery of boxed information, please follow the 
instructions at http://www.epa.gov/dockets/contacts.htm.
    Additional instructions on commenting or visiting the docket, along 
with more information about dockets generally, is available at http://www.epa.gov/dockets.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathryn Boyle, Field and External 
Affairs Division, (7506P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 305-6304; fax number: (703) 305-5884; 
email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. What information is EPA particularly interested in?

    Pursuant to PRA section 3506(c)(2)(A) (44 U.S.C. 3506(c)(2)(A)), 
EPA specifically solicits comments and information to enable it to:
    1. 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.
    2. Evaluate the accuracy of the Agency's estimates of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used.
    3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected.
    4. 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.

II. What information collection activity or ICR does this action apply 
to?

    Affected entities: Entities potentially affected by the voluntary 
collection activities under this ICR include pesticide application 
equipment manufacturers, chemical manufacturers, pesticide registrants, 
university researchers, and others who have an interest in reducing 
spray drift. The North American Industrial Classification System 
(NAICS) code for the principal respondents is:

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Producers of pesticide products...............................     32532
Crop Production...............................................       111
Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, Life       541710
 Sciences.....................................................
Colleges, universities, and professional schools..............    611310
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    This listing is not intended to be exhaustive, but rather provides 
a guide for readers regarding entities likely to be affected by this 
action.
    Title: Pesticide Spray Drift Reduction Technologies.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 2472.01.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-NEW.
    ICR status: This ICR is for a new information collection activity. 
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 Code of Federal Regulations (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 for certain EPA 
regulations is consolidated in 40 CFR part 9.
    Abstract: EPA intends to initiate a voluntary information 
collection for research to verify the effectiveness of application 
technologies for agricultural pesticide sprays that have the potential 
to significantly reduce pesticide spray drift. The focus of this 
research is on technologies, including spray nozzles, shrouds and 
shields, and drift reducing adjuvant chemicals used for aerial or 
groundboom applications to row and field crops. Collectively these 
technologies are referred to as drift reduction technologies (DRTs). 
The voluntary program would encourage the identification and use of 
DRTs that can substantially reduce drift of pesticide spray droplets 
from the target application site (e.g., a corn field) downwind to non-
target areas. Exposures and adverse effects to humans, wildlife, and 
crops and other vegetation from pesticide spray drift are well 
recognized. Published research suggests 1-10% or more of applied 
agricultural pesticide sprays drift from the target field. EPA believes 
there are application technologies that have the potential to 
significantly reduce the amount of spray drift. As these technologies 
are identified, their drift-reducing potential needs to be verified.
    Burden statement: The average cost per response is $10,476. Burden 
is defined in 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    The ICR, which is available in the docket along with other related 
materials, provides a detailed explanation of the collection activities 
and the burden estimate that is only briefly summarized here:
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 12 companies.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1 
or 2 submissions by each company.
    Estimated total annual costs: $73,000. There are no costs for 
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

III. 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. 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.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: November 5, 2012.
 James Jones,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2012-28208 Filed 11-20-12; 8:45 am]
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