[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 197 (Friday, October 10, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 61302-61303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24149]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0597; FRL-9917-00]


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 an Information 
Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). 
The ICR, entitled: PCBs, Consolidated Reporting and Record Keeping 
Requirements and identified by EPA ICR No. 1446.11 and OMB Control No. 
2070-0112, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled 
to expire on August 31, 2015. 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 December 9, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2014-0597, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online 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: Document Control Office (7407M), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), Environmental Protection Agency, 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.html.
    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: For technical information contact: 
Toiya Goodlow, National Program Chemicals Division (7404-T), Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave., NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 566-2305; 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:

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

[[Page 61303]]

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?

    Title: PCBs, Consolidated Reporting and Record Keeping 
Requirements.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1446.11.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0112.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on August 31, 
2015. 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: Section 6(e)(1) of the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA), 15 USC 2605(e), directs EPA to regulate the marking and 
disposal of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Section 6(e)(2) bans the 
manufacturing, processing, distribution in commerce, and use of PCBs in 
other than a totally enclosed manner. Section 6(e)(3) establishes a 
process for obtaining exemptions from the prohibitions on the 
manufacture, processing, and distribution in commerce of PCBs. Since 
1978, EPA has promulgated numerous rules addressing all aspects of the 
life cycle of PCBs as required by the statute. The regulations are 
intended to prevent the improper handling and disposal of PCBs and to 
minimize the exposure of human beings or the environment to PCBs. These 
regulations have been codified in the various subparts of 40 CFR 761. 
There are approximately 100 specific reporting, third-party reporting, 
and recordkeeping requirements covered by 40 CFR 761.
    To meet its statutory obligations to regulate PCBs, EPA must obtain 
sufficient information to conclude that specified activities do not 
result in an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. 
EPA uses the information collected under the 40 CFR 761 requirements to 
ensure that PCBs are managed in an environmentally safe manner and that 
activities are being conducted in compliance with the PCB regulations. 
The information collected by these requirements will update the 
Agency's knowledge of ongoing PCB activities, ensure that individuals 
using or disposing of PCBs are held accountable for their activities, 
and demonstrate compliance with the PCB regulations. Specific uses of 
the information collected include determining the efficacy of a 
disposal technology; evaluating exemption requests and exclusion 
notices; targeting compliance inspections; and ensuring adequate 
storage capacity for PCB waste. This collection addresses the several 
information reporting requirements found in the PCB regulations.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR part 761). Respondents may claim all or part of a response 
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 this collection of information is estimated to average 1.36 
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 persons who currently possess PCB items, PCB-contaminated 
equipment, or other PCB waste.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 548,298.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
1.0.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 745,926 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $29,778,544. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $29,778,544 and an estimated cost of $0 for 
capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.

III. Are there changes in the estimates from the last approval?

    There is an increase of 60,591 hours in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This increase reflects EPA's revisions to the 
estimated total number of respondents, resulting from new data gathered 
for this ICR effort as well as another recent PCB regulatory analysis, 
plus updated Agency data regarding total numbers of regulated entities. 
The ICR supporting statement provides a detailed analysis of the change 
in burden estimate. This change is an adjustment.

IV. 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 document 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 technical person listed under 
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Authority: 44 U.S.C. 3501 et. seq.

    Dated: October 1, 2014.
James Jones,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2014-24149 Filed 10-9-14; 8:45 am]
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