[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 5399]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02039]



[[Page 5399]]

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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2012-0915; FRL-9906-11-OEI]


Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and 
Approval; Comment Request; Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos 
Abatement Worker Protection

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted a new 
information collection request (ICR), ``Reporting and Recordkeeping for 
Asbestos Abatement Worker Protection'' (EPA ICR No. 1246.12, OMB 
Control No. 2070-0072) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (44 
U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). Public comments were previously requested via the 
Federal Register (78 FR 48431) on August 8, 2013, during a 60-day 
comment period. This notice allows for an additional 30 days for public 
comments. A fuller description of the ICR is given below, including its 
estimated burden and cost to the public. 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.

DATES: Additional comments may be submitted on or before March 3, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OPPT-2012-0915, to (1) EPA online using www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method), by email to [email protected] or by mail to: EPA 
Docket Center, Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460, and (2) OMB via email to 
[email protected]. Address comments to OMB Desk Officer for 
EPA.
    EPA's policy is that all comments received will be included in the 
public docket without change including any personal information 
provided, unless the comment includes profanity, threats, information 
claimed to be Confidential Business Information (CBI) or other 
information whose disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pamela Myrick, Deputy Director, 
Environmental Assistance Division, Office of Pollution Prevention and 
Toxics, Mail code: 7408-M, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone number: 202-554-
1404; fax number: 202-564-8251; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that the EPA will be collecting are available in the 
public docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at 
www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, EPA West, 
Room 3334, 1301 Constitution Ave. NW., Washington, DC. The telephone 
number for the Docket Center is 202-566-1744. For additional 
information about EPA's public docket, visit http://www.epa.gov/dockets.
    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 763 Subpart G). 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 and 40 CFR Part 2.
    Form Numbers: None.
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this action 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.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory.
    Estimated number of respondents: 22,488 (total).
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 363,517 hours per year. Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $14,548,910 per year, includes $0 annualized 
capital or operation and maintenance costs.
    Changes in the estimates: There is a very minor decrease of 6 
burden hours per year compared with that identified in the ICR 
currently approved by OMB (from 363,523 hours to 363,517 hours). This 
change is an adjustment and is explained in the supporting statement.

John Moses,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2014-02039 Filed 1-30-14; 8:45 am]
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