[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 3, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 115-116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31821]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0264; FRL-9957-21]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing Collection (EPA ICR No. 1246.13); 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: ``Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement 
Worker Protection'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 1246.13 and OMB 
Control No. 2070-0072, 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 March 6, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0264, 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: Lea 
Carmichael, National Program Chemicals Division (7404T), Office of 
Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 
Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: 
(202) 564-4689; 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.

[[Page 116]]

II. What information collection activity or ICR does this action apply 
to?

    Title: Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement Worker 
Protection.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1246.13.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0072.
    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: EPA's asbestos worker protection rule is designed to 
provide occupational exposure protection to state and local government 
employees who are engaged in asbestos abatement activities in states 
that do not have state plans approved by the Occupational Safety and 
Health Administration (OSHA). The rule provides protection for public 
employees not covered by the OSHA standard from the adverse health 
effects associated with occupational exposure to asbestos. 
Specifically, the rule requires state and local governments to monitor 
employee exposure to asbestos, take action to reduce exposure to 
asbestos, monitor employee health and train employees about asbestos 
hazards.
    The rule includes a number of information reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements. State and local government agencies are 
required to provide employees with information about exposures to 
asbestos and the associated health effects. The rule also requires 
state and local governments to notify EPA before commencing any 
asbestos abatement project. State and local governments must maintain 
medical surveillance and monitoring records and training records on 
their employees, must establish a set of written procedures for 
respirator programs and must maintain procedures and records of 
respirator fit tests. EPA will use the information to monitor 
compliance with the asbestos worker protection rule. This request 
addresses these reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR 763 Subpart G). 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 the Toxic Substances Control Act 
(TSCA) and 40 CFR part 2.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 0.32 
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 state and local government employers in 24 states, the 
District of Columbia, and certain U.S. Territories that have employees 
engaged in asbestos-related construction, custodial and brake and 
clutch repair activities without OSHA-approved state plans.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 23,437.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
49.9.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 372,969 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $ 15,763,007. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $ 15,763,007 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 overall increase of 9,452 hours in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This change reflects an increase of 24,371 hours to 
account for updates made from previous ICRs to standardize methodology 
and a decrease of 14,919 hours due to Maine's new status of having an 
OSHA-approved state plan whereby its entities are no longer covered 
under this ICR. 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: December 22, 2016.
James Jones,
Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution 
Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2016-31821 Filed 12-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P