[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 54 (Monday, March 21, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15107-15108]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06314]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0047; FRL-9942-83]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection 
(EPA ICR No. 2531.01); 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 the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is 
planning to submit an Information Collection Request (ICR) to the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The ICR, entitled: ``School 
Integrated Pest Management Awards Program'' and identified by EPA ICR 
No. 2531.01 and OMB Control No. 2070--NEW, represents a new request. 
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 May 20, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0047, 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: 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.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: Lily G. Negash, Field & External 
Affairs Division (7506P), Office of Pesticide Programs, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-
0001; telephone number: (703) 347-8515; 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: School Integrated Pest Management Awards Program.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 2531.01.
    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: This new ICR covers information collection activities 
associated with EPA's award program that encourages the use of 
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) as the preferred approach to pest 
control in the nation's schools. IPM is a smart, sensible, and 
sustainable approach to pest control that emphasizes the remediation of 
pest conducive conditions. IPM combines a variety of pest management 
practices to provide effective, economical pest control with the least 
possible hazard to people, property, and the environment. These 
practices involve exclusion of pests, maintenance of sanitation, and 
the judicious use of pesticides. The EPA's statutory authorities for 
this collection of information are set forth in the Pollution 
Prevention Act of 1990,

[[Page 15108]]

the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and 
the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) of 1996.
    The Agency's IPM implementation efforts are based on a wholesale 
approach aimed at kindergarten through 12th grade public and Tribal 
schools. The Agency intends to use the information collected through 
this ICR to encourage school districts to implement IPM programs and to 
recognize those that have attained a notable level of success. Because 
IPM implementation occurs along a continuum, the School IPM (SIPM) 
incentive program will recognize each milestone step a school district 
must take to begin, grow, and sustain an IPM program.
    This program has five awards categories--Great Start, Leadership, 
Excellence, Sustained Excellence, and Connector. The first four 
categories are stepwise levels that are reflective of the effort, 
experience, and, ultimately, success that results from implementing 
EPA-recommended IPM tactics that protect human health and the 
environment. Schools with pest infestations are not only exposed to 
potential harm to health and property, but also to stigmatization. The 
School IPM recognition program will give districts across the nation 
the opportunity to receive positive reinforcement through public 
recognition of their efforts in implementing pest prevention and 
management strategies.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 16.5 
hours annually 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 school districts, or other entities represent by them.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: Annual average of 
53.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
One per application.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 870 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $72,000. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $72,000 and an estimated cost of $0 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 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 person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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

    Dated: March 4, 2014.
James Jones,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2016-06314 Filed 3-18-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P