[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 153 (Thursday, August 8, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48431-48433]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19221]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[FRL-9392-5]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection of 
Several Currently Approved Collections; 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 two Information 
Collection Requests (ICRs) to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB). The first ICR, titled: ``Reporting and Recordkeeping for 
Asbestos Abatement Worker Protection'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 
1246.12 and OMB Control No. 2070-0072, represents the renewal of an 
existing ICR that is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2014. The second 
ICR, titled: ``Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools Rule and 
Revised Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan Rule'' and identified by EPA 
ICR No. 1365.10 and OMB Control No. 2070-0091, represents the renewal 
of an existing ICR that also is scheduled to expire on May 31, 2014. 
Before submitting the ICRs to OMB for review and approval, EPA is 
soliciting comments on specific aspects of the proposed information 
collections that are summarized in this document. The ICRs and 
accompanying materials are available in the docket for public review 
and comment in the relevant dockets identified in this document for the 
ICR.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 7, 2013.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by the docket 
identification (ID) number for the corresponding ICR as identified in 
this document, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001.
     Hand Delivery: OPPT Document Control Office (DCO), EPA 
East Bldg., Rm. 6428, 1201 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. ATTN: 
Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2012-0915. The DCO is open from 8 a.m. to 
4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. The telephone 
number for the DCO is (202) 564-8930. Such deliveries are only accepted 
during the DCO's normal hours of operation, and special arrangements 
should be made for deliveries of boxed information.
    Instructions: Direct your comments to the docket ID number for the 
corresponding ICR as identified in this document. EPA's policy is that 
all comments received will be included in the docket without change and 
may be made available online at http://www.regulations.gov, including 
any personal information provided, unless the comment includes 
information claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or 
other information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Do not 
submit information that you consider to be CBI or otherwise protected 
through regulations.gov or email. The regulations.gov Web site is an 
``anonymous access'' system, which means EPA will not know your 
identity or contact information unless you provide it in the body of 
your comment. If you send an email comment directly to EPA without 
going through regulations.gov, your email address will be automatically 
captured and included as part of the comment that is placed in the 
docket and made available on the Internet. If you submit an electronic 
comment, EPA recommends that you include your name and other contact 
information in the body of your comment and with any disk or CD-ROM you 
submit. If EPA cannot read your comment due to technical difficulties 
and cannot contact you for clarification, EPA may not be able to 
consider your comment. Electronic files should avoid the use of special 
characters, any form of encryption, and be free of any defects or 
viruses.
    Docket: All documents in the docket are listed in the docket index 
available at http://www.regulations.gov. Although listed in the index, 
some information is not publicly available, e.g., CBI or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute. Certain other 
material, such as copyrighted material, will be publicly available only 
in hard copy. Publicly available docket materials are available 
electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, or, if only available in 
hard copy, at the OPPT Docket. The OPPT Docket is located in the EPA 
Docket Center (EPA/DC) at Rm. 3334, EPA West Bldg., 1301 Constitution 
Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The EPA/DC Public Reading Room hours of 
operation are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays. The telephone number of the EPA/DC Public Reading Room 
is (202) 566-1744, and the telephone number for the OPPT Docket is 
(202) 566-0280. Docket visitors are required to show photographic 
identification, pass through a metal detector, and sign the EPA visitor 
log. All visitor bags are processed through an X-ray machine and 
subject to search. Visitors will be provided an EPA/DC badge that must 
be visible at all times in the building and returned upon departure.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical information contact: 
Robert Courtnage, National Program Chemicals Division (7404T), Office 
of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 
1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone 
number: (202) 566-1081; fax number: (202) 566-0473; email address: 
[email protected].
    For general information contact: The TSCA-Hotline, ABVI-Goodwill, 
422 South Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14620; telephone number: (202) 
554-1404; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

[[Page 48432]]

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 Do I Need to Know About PRA?

    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.

III. Which ICRs Are Being Renewed?

    EPA is planning to submit two currently approved ICRs to OMB for 
review and approval under PRA. In addition to specifically identifying 
the ICRs by title and corresponding ICR, OMB and docket ID numbers, 
this unit provides a brief summary of the information collection 
activity and the Agency's estimated burden. The Supporting Statement 
for each ICR, a copy of which is available in the corresponding docket, 
provides a more detailed explanation.

A. Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2012-0915

    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement Worker 
Protection.
    ICR number: 1246.12.
    OMB control number: 2070-0072.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on May 31, 
2014.
    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 part 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.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.32 
hours per response. 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:
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this ICR are state and local government employers in 25 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.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 22,488.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
51.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 363,523 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $14,548,910. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $ 14,548,910 and an estimated cost of $0 for 
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

B. Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2012-0916

    Title: Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools Rule and Revised 
Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan Rule.
    ICR number: 1365.10.
    OMB control number: 2070-0091.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on May 31, 
2014.
    Abstract: The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) 
requires local education agencies (LEAs) to conduct inspections, 
develop management plans, and design or conduct response actions with 
respect to the presence of asbestos-containing materials in school 
buildings. AHERA also requires states to develop model accreditation 
plans for persons who perform asbestos inspections, develop management 
control plans, and design or conduct response actions. This information 
collection addresses the burden associated with recordkeeping 
requirements imposed on LEAs by the asbestos in schools rule, and 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements imposed on states and training 
providers related to the model accreditation plan rule.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 763, subpart E). Respondents may claim all or part of a 
document confidential. EPA will disclose information that is covered by 
a claim of confidentiality only to the extent permitted by, and in 
accordance with, the procedures in TSCA section 14 and 40 CFR part 2.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for

[[Page 48433]]

this collection of information is estimated to range between 5.5 hours 
and 140 hours per response, depending upon the nature of the 
respondent. 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:
    Respondents/Affected Entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this ICR are local education agencies (LEAs, e.g., elementary or 
secondary public school districts or a private school or school 
system); asbestos training providers to schools and educational 
systems; state education departments or commissions; or state public 
health departments or commissions.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 133,507.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 2,487,439 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $91,829,253. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $9.

IV. Are There Changes in the Estimates from the Last Approvals?

    ICR number: 1246.12. There is no change in the number of hours in 
the total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in 
the ICRs currently approved by OMB.
    ICR number: 1365.10. There is a decrease of 105,449 hours in the 
total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in the 
ICR currently approved by OMB. This decrease reflects EPA's reduced 
estimate of the number of schools containing friable asbestos-
containing materials. This change is an adjustment.

V. What is the Next Step in the Process for these ICRs?

    EPA will consider the comments received and amend the ICRs as 
appropriate. The final ICR packages will then be submitted to OMB for 
review and approval pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.12. EPA will issue another 
Federal Register document pursuant to 5 CFR 1320.5(a)(1)(iv) to 
announce the submission of the ICRs to OMB and the opportunity to 
submit additional comments to OMB. If you have any questions about the 
ICRs or the approval process, please contact the technical person 
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

List of Subjects

    Environmental protection, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: July 31, 2013.
James Jones,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2013-19221 Filed 8-7-13; 8:45 am]
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