[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 2, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 114-116]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-28316]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

[EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0319; FRL-9971-34]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed Collection 
(EPA ICR No. 1365.11); 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: ``Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools Rule and 
Revised Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan Rule'' and identified by EPA 
ICR No. 1365.11 and OMB Control No. 2070-0091, 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

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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 5, 2018.

ADDRESSES: Submit your comments, identified by docket identification 
(ID) number EPA-HQ-OPPT-2017-0319, 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.

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

    Title: Asbestos-Containing Materials in Schools Rule and Revised 
Asbestos Model Accreditation Plan Rule.
    ICR number: EPA ICR No. 1365.11.
    OMB control number: OMB Control No. 2070-0091.
    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 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 Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA) 
requires local education agencies (LEAs) to conduct inspections, 
develop management plans, and design or conduct response actions with 
respect to the presence of asbestos-containing materials in school 
buildings. AHERA also requires states to develop model accreditation 
plans for persons who perform asbestos inspections, develop management 
control plans, and design or conduct response actions. This information 
collection addresses the burden associated with recordkeeping 
requirements imposed on LEAs by the asbestos in schools rule, and 
reporting and recordkeeping requirements imposed on states and training 
providers related to the model accreditation plan rule.
    Responses to the collection of information are mandatory (see 40 
CFR parts 763, Subpart E). Respondents may claim all or part of a 
document 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 19.3 
hours per response for schools, 140 hours per response for states, and 
5.5 hours per response for training providers. 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 local education agencies (LEAs, e.g., elementary or 
secondary public school districts or a private school or school 
system); asbestos training providers to schools and educational 
systems; state education departments or commissions; or state public 
health departments or commissions.
    Estimated total number of potential respondents: 133,214.
    Frequency of response: On occasion.
    Estimated total average number of responses for each respondent: 
1.0.
    Estimated total annual burden hours: 2,554,913 hours.
    Estimated total annual costs: $ 97,276,877. This includes an 
estimated burden cost of $ 97,276,877 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 increase of 67,509 hours in the total estimated 
respondent burden compared with that identified in the ICR currently 
approved by OMB. This increase reflects a change in the methodology to 
calculate the number of schools with friable asbestos-containing 
materials (ACM); a revision to the life span of schools using average 
functional age to determine the remaining life of school buildings; and 
a change in the rate of removal of friable ACM. See the Supporting 
Statement for details. 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

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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 5, 2017.
Charlotte Bertrand,
Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Chemical 
Safety and Pollution Prevention.
[FR Doc. 2017-28316 Filed 12-29-17; 8:45 am]
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