[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 164 (Friday, August 25, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 40577-40578]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17986]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0264; FRL-9966-65-OEI]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Reporting and 
Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement Worker Protection; Submitted to 
OMB for Review and Approval; Comment Request

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: EPA has submitted the following information collection request 
(ICR) to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA): 
``Reporting and Recordkeeping for Asbestos Abatement Worker 
Protection'' and identified by EPA ICR No. 1246.13 and OMB Control No. 
2070-0072. 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 in 
this document. EPA did not receive any comments in response to the 
previously provided public review opportunity issued in the Federal 
Register on January 3, 2017 (82 FR 115). With this submission, EPA is 
providing an additional 30 days for public review.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 25, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0264, to both EPA and OMB as follows:
     To EPA online using http://www.regulations.gov (our 
preferred method) or by mail to: EPA Docket Center, Environmental 
Protection Agency, Mail Code 28221T, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460.
     To 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 
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. Do not submit electronically any 
information you consider to be CBI or other information whose 
disclosure is restricted by statute.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Colby Lintner, Environmental 
Assistance Division (7408M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., 
Washington, DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 554-1404; email 
address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Docket: Supporting documents, including the ICR that explains in 
detail the information collection activities and the related burden and 
cost estimates that are summarized in this document, are available in 
the docket for this ICR. The docket can be viewed online at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the EPA Docket Center, West William 
Jefferson Clinton Bldg., Rm. 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.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on August 31, 
2017. Under OMB regulations, the Agency may continue to conduct or 
sponsor the collection of information while this submission is pending 
at OMB.
    Under PRA, 44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq., 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 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

[[Page 40578]]

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.
    Respondents/Affected Entities: State and local government employers 
in 24 states, DC, 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.
    Respondent's obligation to respond: Mandatory (see 40 CFR 763 
Subpart G). Respondents may claim all or part of a notice 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.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 23,437.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total burden: 372,969 hours (per year). Burden is defined 
at 5 CFR 1320.3(b).
    Estimated total costs: $ 15,763,007 (per year), includes no 
annualized capital investment or maintenance and operational costs.
    Changes in the estimates: There is a net increase of 9,452 hours in 
the total estimated respondent burden compared with that identified in 
the ICR currently approved by OMB. This increase 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.

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

Courtney Kerwin,
Director, Collection Strategies Division.
[FR Doc. 2017-17986 Filed 8-24-17; 8:45 am]
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