[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 118 (Friday, June 19, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 35349-35350]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14946]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0236; FRL-9928-94]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal and 
Comment Request; TSCA Section 8(a) Preliminary Assessment Information 
Rule (PAIR)

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: ``TSCA Section 8(a) Preliminary Assessment 
Information Rule (PAIR)'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 0586.13 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0054, represents the renewal of an existing ICR that 
is scheduled to expire on March 31, 2016. 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 August 18, 2015.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2015-0236, 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: 
Mike Mattheisen, Chemical Control Division (7405 M), Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 564-3077; 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 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: TSCA Section 8(a) Preliminary Assessment Information Rule 
(PAIR).
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 0586.13.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0054.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on March 31, 
2016. 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 8(a) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) 
authorizes EPA to promulgate rules under which manufacturers, importers 
and processors of chemical substances and mixtures must maintain 
records and submit reports to EPA. EPA has promulgated the Preliminary 
Assessment Information Rule (PAIR) under TSCA section 8(a). EPA uses 
PAIR to collect information to identify, assess and manage human health 
and environmental risks from chemical substances, mixtures and 
categories. PAIR requires chemical manufacturers and importers to 
complete a standardized reporting form to help evaluate the potential 
for adverse human health and environmental effects caused by the 
manufacture or importation of identified chemical substances, mixtures 
or categories. Chemicals identified by EPA or any other federal agency, 
for which a justifiable information need for production, use or 
exposure-related data can be satisfied by the use of the PAIR are 
proper subjects for TSCA section 8(a) PAIR rulemaking. In most 
instances the information that EPA receives from a PAIR report is 
sufficient to satisfy the information need in question. This 
information collection addresses the reporting and recordkeeping 
requirements associated with TSCA section 8(a).
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR parts 712, 766, and 792). Respondents

[[Page 35350]]

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 31.5 
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 companies that manufacture, process or import chemical 
substances, mixtures or categories.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 1.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 31.5 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $2,388. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $2,388 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 a decrease of 916 hours in the total estimated respondent 
burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by 
OMB. This decrease reflects additional both adjustment changes from a 
reduction in the assumed number of PAIR reports filed annually, and 
program changes resulting from mandatory electronic submissions of PAIR 
reports. In recent years (FY 2011-FY 2014), EPA has received no PAIR 
submissions and, for the purposes of this analysis, EPA assumes an 
annual rate of one submission per year. At the time OMB last renewed 
this ICR, EPA estimated an average of 33 reports from 14.8 submitters 
based on fiscal year 2006-2010 data. The ICR supporting statement 
provides a detailed analysis of the change in burden estimate. This 
change is both an adjustment and a program change.

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: June 10, 2015.
James Jones,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2015-14946 Filed 6-18-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P