[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 242 (Tuesday, December 19, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60194-60195]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27301]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0318; FRL-9970-40]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Renewal of an 
Existing Collection (EPA ICR No. 1250.11); 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: ``Request for Contractor Access to TSCA CBI'' and 
identified by EPA ICR No. 1250.11 and OMB Control No. 2070-0075, 
represents the renewal of an existing ICR that is scheduled to expire 
on August 31, 2018. 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 20, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0318, 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: Chandler Sirmons, Information 
Management Division (7407M), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 
Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, 
DC 20460-0001; telephone number: (202) 564-1138; 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.

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

    Title: Request for Contractor Access to TSCA CBI.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1250.11.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0075.
    ICR status: This ICR is currently scheduled to expire on August 31, 
2018. 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

[[Page 60195]]

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: Certain employees of companies working under contract to 
EPA require access to TSCA confidential business information collected 
under the authority of TSCA in order to perform their official duties. 
The Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT), which is 
responsible for maintaining the security of TSCA confidential business 
information, requires that all individuals desiring access to TSCA CBI 
obtain and annually renew official clearance to TSCA CBI. As part of 
the process for obtaining TSCA CBI clearance, OPPT requires certain 
information about the contracting company and about each contractor 
employee requesting TSCA CBI clearance, primarily the name, Social 
Security Number and EPA identification badge number of the employee, 
the type of TSCA CBI clearance requested and the justification for such 
clearance, and the signature of the employee to an agreement with 
respect to access to and use of TSCA CBI. This information collection 
applies to the reporting activities associated with contractor 
personnel applying for new or renewed clearance for TSCA CBI.
    Responses to the collection of information are voluntary but 
failure to provide the requested information will prevent a contractor 
employee from obtaining clearance for TSCA CBI. Respondents may claim 
all or part of a response 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.
    Burden statement: The annual public reporting and recordkeeping 
burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1.6 
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 companies under contract to the Environmental Protection 
Agency to provide certain services, whose employees must have access to 
Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) confidential business information 
to perform their duties.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 21.
    Frequency of response: Annually.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
1.0.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 341 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $19,305. This includes an estimated 
burden cost of $19,305 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 a decrease of 142 hours in the total estimated respondent 
burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently approved by 
OMB. This decrease reflects a decrease in the number of contractor 
employees that need TSCA CBI clearance. 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: November 29, 2017.
Charlotte Bertrand,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical 
Safety and Pollution Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2017-27301 Filed 12-18-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6560-50-P