[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 228 (Monday, November 28, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 85560-85561]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-28517]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0078; FRL-9955-34-OEI]


Information Collection Request Submitted to OMB for Review and 
Approval; Comment Request; Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program 
Annual Measures Reporting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: The Environmental Protection Agency has submitted an 
information collection request (ICR), ``Pesticide Environmental 
Stewardship Program Annual Measures Reporting'' (EPA ICR No. 2415.03, 
OMB Control No. 2070-0188) 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.). This is a proposed extension of the ICR, 
which is currently approved through November 30, 2016. Public comments 
were previously requested via the Federal Register (81 FR 15105) on 
March 21, 2016 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 December 28, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, referencing Docket ID Number EPA-HQ-
OPP-2016-0078, 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: Lily G. Negash, Office of Pesticide 
Programs,

[[Page 85561]]

Field & External Affairs Division, 7605P, Environmental Protection 
Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460; telephone 
number: 703-347-8515; email address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supporting documents which explain in detail 
the information that 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 EPA Docket Center, WJC 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 is requesting renewed approval to offer voluntary 
participation in the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program 
(PESP). The program uses the information collected to establish partner 
membership, develop stewardship strategies, measure progress towards 
stewardship goals, and award incentives. PESP is an EPA partnership 
program that encourages the use of integrated pest management (IPM) 
strategies to reduce pests and pesticide risks. IPM is an approach that 
involves making the best choices from among a series of pest management 
practices that are both economical and pose the least possible hazard 
to people, property, and the environment.
    While most PESP members are entities that are pesticide end-users, 
several others are organizations which focus on training, educating, or 
influencing pesticide users. To become a PESP member, a pesticide user 
entity or an organization submits an application and a five-year 
strategy. The strategy outlines how environmental and human health risk 
reduction goals will be achieved through IPM implementation or 
education. The program encourages PESP members to track progress 
towards IPM goals such as: Reductions in unnecessary use of pesticides, 
cost reductions, and knowledge shared about IPM methodologies. Entities 
participating in PESP also benefit from technical assistance, and 
through incentives for achievements at different levels.
    PESP is EPA's non-regulatory approach to meeting the goals of the 
Pollution Prevention Act (PPA), the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and 
Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), and the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) to 
reduce pesticide risks in agricultural and non-agricultural settings. 
Section 2(b) of the PPA of 1990, 42 U.S.C. 13101(b), sets forth ``the 
national policy of the United States that pollution should be prevented 
or reduced at the source whenever feasible.'' Section 3 defines source 
reduction as any practice that ``reduces the amount of any hazardous 
substance . . . released into the environment'' and ``reduces the 
hazards to public health and the environment associated with the 
release of such substances.''
    Section 3 of FIFRA requires EPA to regulate pesticides to prevent 
``unreasonable adverse effects'' on human health and the environment. 
Further, FQPA of 1996 (7 U.S.C. 136r-1) requires the U.S. Department of 
Agriculture and EPA to implement programs in research, demonstration, 
and education to support the adoption of IPM, make information on IPM 
widely available to pesticide users, use IPM techniques in carrying out 
pest management activities, as well as promote IPM through procurement, 
regulatory policies and other activities.
    Form Numbers: Strategy/Progress Reporting Form for PESP Members 
that are Not Commercial/Residential Pest Control Services (EPA Form No. 
9600-01); PESP Membership Application Form (EPA Form 9600-02); and PESP 
Strategy/Progress Reporting Form for Residential/Commercial Pest 
Control Service Providers (EPA Form No. 9600-03).
    Respondents/affected entities: Entities potentially affected by 
this ICR are pesticide user companies and organizations, or entities 
that practice IPM or promote the use of IPM through education and 
training.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Voluntary, required to obtain 
or retain a benefit.
    Estimated number of respondents: 419 (total).
    Frequency of response: Annually and on occasion.
    Total estimated burden: 47,665 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.03(b).
    Total estimated cost: $3,126,949 (per year), includes $0 annualized 
capital or operation & maintenance costs.
    Changes in the estimates: There is an increase of 4,642 hours in 
the total estimated respondent burden compared with the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This increase is an adjustment of EPA's projection 
based on historical information about PESP membership.

Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Regulatory Support Division.
[FR Doc. 2016-28517 Filed 11-25-16; 8:45 am]
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