[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 250 (Thursday, December 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 95987-95988]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31633]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0506; FRL-9957-04]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing Collection (EPA ICR No. 2472.02 and OMB Control No. 2070-
0191); 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: ``Pesticide Spray Drift Reduction Technologies'' and 
identified by EPA ICR No. 2472.02 and OMB Control No. 2070-0191, 
represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire 
on August 31, 2017. 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 February 27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPP-2016-0506, 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: Ram[eacute] Cromwell, Field and 
External Affairs Division (7506P), Office of Pesticide Programs, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number (703) 308-9068; 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.

[[Page 95988]]

    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: Pesticide Spray Drift Reduction Technologies.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 2472.02.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0191.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on August 31, 
2017. 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: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA or the Agency) 
is seeking approval for an ICR. EPA has initiated a voluntary 
information collection for studies to verify the effectiveness of 
application technologies for agricultural pesticide sprays that have 
the potential to significantly reduce pesticide spray drift. The focus 
of these studies is on technologies, such as spray nozzles, shrouds and 
shields, and nozzle/drift reducing adjuvant/pesticide formulation 
specific combinations, which are used for aerial or groundboom 
applications to row and field crops. Collectively these technologies 
are referred to as drift reduction technologies (DRTs). This voluntary 
program encourages the identification and use of DRTs that can 
substantially reduce drift of pesticide spray droplets from the target 
application site (e.g., a corn field) downwind to non-target areas. 
Exposures and adverse effects to humans, wildlife, and crops and other 
vegetation from pesticide spray drift are well recognized. Published 
research suggests 1-10% or more of applied agricultural pesticide 
sprays drift from the target field. EPA has seen data supporting 
application technologies that will have the potential to significantly 
reduce the amount of spray drift. Studies conducted to measure spray 
drift reduction would verify the percent reduction achieved, and thus 
identify these technologies. EPA, with input from a variety of 
stakeholders, has developed a testing protocol appropriate to the needs 
of this voluntary program.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 124 
hours per response for a wind tunnel study and 495 hours per response 
for a field study. 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 the 
voluntary collections activities under this ICR include pesticide 
application equipment manufacturers, chemical manufacturers, pesticide 
registrants (NAICS code 32532), research and development in the 
physical, engineering, life sciences (NAICS 541710), and college, 
universities, and professional schools (NAICS 611310).
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 12 companies.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 1.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 1,361 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $96,250.
    There is no cost for capital investment or maintenance and 
operational costs.

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

    This represents an increase of 822 hours and $23,250 from the 
previous Pesticide Spray Drift Reduction Technologies ICR. The change 
in the burden and costs from the previous ICR are due to an additional 
field study expected to be submitted; updating cost information for 
wind tunnel studies; and changing the methodology to calculate the 
respondent's burden and costs, by using 35% of the total test cost as 
an estimate of total paperwork costs, then using the cost estimate to 
back-calculate the burden hour distribution for each labor category 
using fully loaded wage rates which were updated from the previous ICR. 
These changes are 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 person listed under FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

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

    Dated: December 22, 2016.
James Jones,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2016-31633 Filed 12-28-16; 8:45 am]
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